Next year, the iconic Victoria Bitter will be brewed with 100 per cent offset solar electricity.
Yesterday (12 September), VB drinkers were given a heads up that something about the beer was changing, in a nod to the failed attempt to change the beer's recipe in 2012.
The Brand's marketing director Chris Maxwell said, “We haven’t changed the beer for a number of years, and for good reason. We’re very conscious of the public outcry when we last tweaked Victoria Bitter, and we’ve spent a significant amount of time testing our latest update internally and with some of our loyal drinkers.
“We know that change is never easy, but we’re confident that we’ve got this right and that the change we’re making to Victoria Bitter is for the better.”
Today, all was revealed. Power generated from the Karadoc Solar Farm will be used under a 12-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), to power the brewing of more than a hundred million litres of Victoria Bitter.
Maxwell said: “Australia’s most iconic beer will soon be one of the most sustainable too. For over 165 years we’ve been satisfying the hard-earned thirsts of hard-working Australians who have had the sun beating down on their backs.
“Now we’re going to get the sun working for us.”
As a brand that is manufactured in Australia, we need to do our bit for the environment to ensure we can continue brewing for centuries to come.
“In the last year we have removed all plastic from our can packaging and we are proud that the iconic stubby uses less glass than any other similar sized beer due to its efficient design. This means less energy required to produce and distribute all around the country.
The Karadoc Solar Farm is one of Victoria’s largest solar farms, producing 112 MW of power. It is also the largest installation for its German owner, BayWa r.e. Solar, in the world.
Carlton United Breweries started its transition to solar in 2018.