VB which is probably Australia’s most iconic beer’s has brought back a bit of its rich past with the launch of a special edition 1958 style can. Now the can design and 1958 were significant as it was the first time a can was used to hold beer. Sure it wasn’t the smooth thin aluminium we know today it was a fairly crude steel can where the drinker had to puncture the can before being able to taste the refreshing taste. Now for can collectors you need to keep your eyes out, as this isn’t the last of VB’s heritage cans, over the next 12 months Carlton and United plan to bring out a few more commemorative cans to celebrate the beer can.  For those wondering, the beer in the can is the current 2011 VB as fresh and as crisp as ever.  Look out for it in your local bottle shop and keep a couple as reminders of the simpler times.

Back in May nearly 2000 people including some of Australia’s best known celebrities turned up in the streets of the historic gold town of Ballarat in Victoria to star in what is probably Australia’s biggest ever beer commercial. The shoot took two day and took over Lydiard and Sturt Street in Ballarat’s centre. The ad featured a parade with plenty of Australianisms, brass bands, cricketers, rugby and footy stars even a streaker all for one of Australia’s most popular beers VB. VB or Victoria Bitter is brewed by the huge Fosters Group and is Australia’s biggest selling beer and found on tap in most pubs around Australia. In recent years Australian’s started trying some of the more boutique beers and many imported brands, but VB has remained strong. A short while back the brand was grown to include a lower alcohol version called VB Gold and there are stories doing the rounds of a new low carb version not far away. The new VB commercial has just hit the Australian airwaves- take a look at our YouTube version and be on the lookout for someone famous.

VB the true Australian Beer has put out some fantastic advertisements over the year, the recent VB Symphony is a great example. But a few years back they put out a few based on the classic Victoria Bitter ad… ‘matter of fact I’ve got it now’ This one features a big night out on the town with the boys and the classic Aussie nightcap the Kebab- the roasted rotisserie lamb and salad wrapped in a Turkish Bread all smothered in garlic sauce— Mater of fact I could go one now! A perfect way to celebrate Australia Day!

If you have any great nightcap treats, like a kebab, a pizza, a pie floater or hot dog or something even more special drop us a comment http://www.hoppsy.com/send-us-a-tip/

I think we have mentioned before on Hoppsy, everyone outside Australia thinks Fosters when we they think of Australian Beer, unlike the Aussies who really don’t care for the stuff. Fosters is the most successful Australian beer brand all around the world being sold just about everywhere. Today it is brewed in several countries  Australia, and is a huge seller expecially in the UK. We found this great Hong Kong Fosters ad which dates back to the early 1980′s which is a beauty and well worth a look, maybe enjoy watching it with a refreshing Fosters to celebrate our Australia Day week of beers.

Well plenty of people would disagree, but half of Australia think the best cold beer is Vic, Victoria Bitter. VB is Australia’s biggest selling draft beer and is available in just about every pub in the continent. Brewed by Carlton and United Breweries now known as The Fosters Group the beer has a reputation of being a beer for everyone especially the Aussie worker. Originating from Melbourne it was really Melbourne Bitter and Carlton Draft which were the beer drinkers choice, but after great advertising like this old You Tube ad, and marketing into new areas, VB has become the Australian favorite. Well a hard earned thirst needs a big cold beer…you know the rest.

Australia’s Carlton and United Breweries are the latest brewery to try their hand at a beer with salt and lime added. The Carlton Dry Fusion has just been released onto the local market and if the first few weeks of trade are any indication this drink is going to be one of the most popular boutique beers this summer in Australia. The beer is a full strength beer but with 25% lower carbohydrates than normal beer, so not only does it taste great it helps that dreaded beer belly away while lazing on the beach this summer. The dry taste is really enhanced with the twist of freshly squeezed lime and salt giving it a really refreshing taste. The might be a little hard to get until all the bottle shops and pubs stock it, but trust Hoppsy, the wait will be worth it- we really think most beer drinkers and a lot of people who are not too keen on beer will really enjoy it. It should really help open up a new market. 

If you have tried the new Carlton Dry Fusion drop us a line and tell us what you thought of it below

I have never really understood the way of Feng Shui until now, probably because I am Australian and this ad made perfect sense, lets face it all you need in your house is a TV for the footy and cricket, a comfy couch, a toilet close by and a fridge full of beer. I remember Homer Simpson was even intelligent enough to come up with that one years ago- although I think he added some pork rind to the mix (must be the American Touch ? ). Anyway this is a ad for the Australian beer everyone drinks except Australians- Fosters Lager, the world is missing out on so many great Carlton and United beers! – enjoy.