Few beers are as deeply ingrained in Australian culture as Victoria Bitter, and this is our clone recipe built to capture every bit of what makes it iconic. Clean, crisp and unmistakably Australian — the Original Vic Bitter is a full-strength, full-flavoured lager-style bitter that delivers the balanced malt sweetness and resinous hop bite the original is famous for. The secret lies in the hops: Pride of Ringwood, grown in both Tasmania and Victoria, is the variety that defined the character of VB for generations. Pair that with New Zealand-grown pale malt, a Californian-style lager yeast fermented cool and clean, and you’ve got the closest thing to cracking open a cold one straight off the production line — except you brewed it yourself

Stats about this Brew. Please note they are approximate

• OG: 1.040
• FG: 1.008 - 1.010
• ABV: approximately - 4.5%
• Resinous & fruity with medium balanced bitterness
• Golden amber colour
• Style: Australian Bitter 
• Fermentation Range: 18 - 20°C
• Colour EBC: 6 – 8
• IBUs: 25 - 30 balanced hoppy bitterness
• Original Gravity: 1.040 – 1.042
• Final Gravity: 1.010 – 1.012
• ABV: 4.4 – 4.6%
• Volume 21lt
• Recipe Style: Malt Extract Beer Kit

Tasting Notes

• Hop Aroma & Flavour: Bitter resin, fruit flavour with a spicy kick
• Appearance:  Light golden with a low, frothy white head
• Mouthfeel: Smooth & refreshing with a light bitter finish.

Ingredients

• Hopped Lager Malt 1.7kg
• Light Malt Blend 1kg
• Pride of Ringwood Hops
• Californian Lager Yeast

Why this is a Favourite

Victoria Bitter is Australia’s most recognisable beer — and brewing your own version of it carries a satisfaction that’s hard to put into words. This recipe has been developed to faithfully replicate the character of the original, using the same hop variety that has defined Australian bitters for decades. The malt extract format keeps brew day straightforward without cutting corners on quality, and the Californian lager yeast fermented at 20°C produces the same clean, crisp profile the brand has built its reputation on. Full step-by-step instructions are included in the box, so you’ll know exactly what to do from start to finish.

Perfect For

• Home brewers who want to nail a true-to-form Australian classic
• Anyone who loves clean, crisp, ice-cold lager-style bitters
• Those who want a no-fuss malt extract brew that produces reliably great results
• Sharing with mates who appreciate a well-made, familiar-tasting beer

FAQ's

Is this a true VB clone or just inspired by it?

It’s as close as a home brew kit can get. We’ve used the same hop variety — Pride of Ringwood — that has defined VB since its early days, combined with a pale malt base and Californian lager yeast fermented cool and clean. The result is a beer that captures the essential character of the original: that crisp bitterness, clean finish and familiar golden pour. It won’t be identical because commercial brewing uses industrial-scale processes, but for a home brew clone it’s as authentic as it gets.

What equipment do I need to brew this kit?

You’ll need a basic home brewing setup: a fermenter of at least 23 litres, an airlock, a hydrometer, sanitiser, a thermometer and bottles or a keg for packaging. If you’re just getting started, our starter kits bundle everything you need together in one convenient pack.

How long does it take from brew day to drinking?

Plan for around 2–3 weeks in total. Fermentation generally takes 7–10 days, followed by at least a week of bottle conditioning before the beer is ready to drink. A lager-style bitter like this benefits from a little extra conditioning time — the longer you leave it, the cleaner and crisper it gets.