Castlemaine Perkins

File:StateLibQld 2 182083 Brewer and politician Patrick Perkins, 1879.jpg

In 1877, brothers Nicholas Fitzgerald and Edward Fitzgerald partnered with a Brisbane commercial firm to buy the site of a failing distillery and establish a brewery, named for the Fitzgeralds' existing Castlemaine Brewery.{{cite book |title=Brisbane Then and Now |last=Gregory |first=Helen |year=2007 |publisher=Salamander Books |location=Wingfield, South Australia |isbn=978-1-74173-011-1 |pages=108–109 }} They began to brew beer there in the following year and the brewery continues production to this day. The first beverage was called XXX Sparkling Ale.{{cite book |title=Building Brisbane's History: Structure, Sculptures, Stories and Secrets |last=Gregory |first=Helen |author2=Dianne Mclay |year=2010 |publisher=Woodslane Press |location=Warriewood, New South Wales |isbn=9781921606199 |pages=200–202 }}

In 1866, Patrick Perkins started the Perkins Brewery in Toowoomba. In 1872, he later extended his operations to Brisbane with the purchase of the City Brewery in 1872.{{cite web|title=Castlemaine Perkins (Fourex) Brewery|url=http://www.exploreaustralia.net.au/Queensland/Brisbane/Inner-West/Milton/XXXX-Brewery#|publisher=Explore Australia Publishing|accessdate=18 January 2014}}

The company restricted its operations entirely to brewing by 1916.{{cite book |title=Living History of Brisbane |last=Hogan |first=Janet |year=1982 |publisher=Boolarang Publications |location=Spring Hill, Queensland |isbn=0-908175-41-8 |pages=47 }} XXXX was introduced with new advertising campaign in 1924 after the brewery employed German brewer, Alhois William Leitner. The advertising included a depiction of a little man wearing a suit with a smile, a wink and a boater hat. The so-called 'Fourex Man' soon became one of the most recognised symbols in Queensland.

In 1928 (long after the death of Patrick Perkins in 1901), the Perkins brewing company was bought by the Castlemaine Brewery with new company being known as Castlemaine Perkins Limited.

In March 1980, Castlemaine Perkins merged with Tooheys to form Castlemaine Tooheys.[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126850508 Castlemaine Tooheys merger is profitable] Canberra Times 8 October 1981 page 24 Bond Corporation purchased Castlemaine Tooheys in 1985.[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122525078 Castlemaine concedes] Canberra Times 28 August 1985 page 1 Castlemaine Tooheys was acquired in 1992 by Lion Nathan.[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127240825 Lion's rating on hold] Canberra Times 20 July 1993 page 11

File:XXXX Brewery Milton.jpgThe large, brick brewery is located on Milton Road opposite the Milton railway station, and is a prominent landmark visible in the surrounding suburbs. In particular the XXXX red neon sign is mounted on the top of the building. The side of the building also a neon XXXX man on the side (visible on Milton Road when travelling out of the city).

The brewery building, Milton Railway Station and trains feature on almost all XXXX packaging directly below the XXXX logo. Over the years bottle labels have depicted steam, diesel and electric trains. Tours of the brewery are regularly run for groups.

In 2009 as part of the Q150 celebrations, the XXXX Brewery was announced as one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland for its role as a "structure and engineering feat".{{Cite web|url=http://statements.qld.gov.au/statement/id/64301|title=PREMIER UNVEILS QUEENSLAND'S 150 ICONS|last=Bligh|first=Anna|authorlink=Anna Bligh|date=10 June 2009|publisher=Queensland Government|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524033717/http://statements.qld.gov.au/statement/id/64301|archive-date=24 May 2017|url-status=|access-date=24 May 2017}}

Castlemaine Perkins was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame in 2009, for its significant contribution to economic development in Queensland.{{Cite web|url=http://leaders.slq.qld.gov.au/inductees/castlemaine-perkins/|title=Castlemaine Perkins|website=Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame|access-date=7 August 2017}}

Castlemaine's signature beer, XXXX Bitter (despite its name a lager), was introduced in 1924. The XXXX had been used for a sparkling ale since 1878.

XXXX Gold is a mid-strength beer.

XXXX Summer Bright Lager is a 4.2% abv low carb pale lager.{{cite news|url=http://www.brewsnews.com.au/2010/01/xxxx-summer-bright-lager-2/|title=XXXX Summer Bright Lager - Brews News|newspaper=Australian Brews News |date=8 January 2010|publisher=|accessdate=21 November 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/lifestyle/summer-daze-xxxx-goes-low-carb-20090910-fimp.html|title=Summer daze: XXXX goes low carb|first=Scott|last=Casey|date=10 September 2009|website=Brisbane Times|accessdate=21 November 2017}}

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• Australian pub
• Beer in Australia
• List of breweries in Australia
• XXXX Island

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• {{cite book |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-52771375 |title=Fifty years in retrospect / Castlemaine Perkins Limited. |date=1937 |publisher=Castlemaine Perkins Limited}}
• {{cite book |url=https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/tqqf2h/alma996927234702061 |title=History of the Castlemaine Perkins Brewery, 1877 - 1993 / compiled by the Public Affairs Department, Castlemaine Perkins Limited |date=1993 |publisher=The Firm}}

• [http://leaders.slq.qld.gov.au/inductees/castlemaine-perkins/ Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame]
• [http://www.australianbeers.com/history/castlemaine.htm Castlemaine's History]
• [http://www.australianbeers.com/beers/xxxx/xxxx.htm XXXX Review]

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Category:Kirin brands

Category:Breweries in Australia

Category:Australian beer brands

Category:Australian companies established in 1878

Category:Food and drink companies established in 1878

Category:Buildings and structures in Brisbane

Category:Manufacturing companies based in Brisbane

Category:Beer brewing companies based in Queensland

Category:Q150 Icons