Australia’s favourite brews are held in high regard for a reason, but the time has come to give some a fresh twist.

It’s all too easy to rest on one’s laurels when you make a beer as iconic and beloved as, say, VB or Asahi. The beer industry, which is more replete with experimental methods and flavours than ever before, is one in which there’s always an outward pressure to innovate. But there are plenty of classic brewers who’ve been doing the same thing virtually unchanged since time immemorial.

While we’re glad those aren’t going anywhere, it’s exciting to now see some of these same traditionalists thinking of fresh ways to change things up. From some of the nation’s favourite beer peddlers, a brand new range is set to hit your local domestic fridge promising an entirely new way to enjoy some of your long-time treasures.

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VB Xtra VX

Victoria Bitter might be the nation’s favourite drop, so whenever a new spin on the classic is released, it’s met with appropriate scrutiny by beer drinkers. As such, VB Xtra VX is actually the first extension to the line for almost a decade, and we are 1000% here for it. Speaking of percentages, with this new release they’ve charged the VB you know and love up to 6% while reducing the total portion to fit the 250mL grenades we hold dear to our hearts. The flavour is bigger, while remaining balanced, and it’s designed to pair perfectly with some pre-drink snacks.

Asahi 0.0%

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Asahi, who complemented their super crisp Japanese lager with a mid-strength variant last year, have taken the plunge into zero-alc territory with their new Asahi 0.0%. On paper, the move makes sense, as crisp lagers often lend themselves best to the zero% treatment, and this light-bodied offering, with subtle malty and fruity notes, is another brilliant addition to the ever-growing range of zero% beers. That means Asahi now have something for everyone, from zero, to mid, to full-strength beer.

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Better Beer Middy

In a win for beer-drinkers across the country, the Inspired Unemployed boys, who by now are ostensibly very much employed, are back with a new spin on the low-cal, low-carb lager that has become a domestic fridge juggernaut over the last year. In keeping with their ethos of making beers that are light, sessionable and quenching, the Better Beer Middy clocks in at a featherweight 3%, so you can have one or two over dinner without throwing your weeknight out of whack.

Byron Bay Brewery Fruit Lagers

Byron Bay Brewery’s crisp and clean lager has become a summer staple in Australian eskies since its launch a couple of years ago. But rather than building on the range with an increasingly complex array of ales, they’ve kept their focus on beers that are crowd-pleasers across the board, now expanding with a pair of fruit-flavoured beers that combine all the refreshment of a clean lager with a fruit twist to win over non-beer drinkers en masse. The two flavours available – raspberry and passionfruit-mango – are timeless classics made new, bringing a welcome kick of sweetness during those times where a classic beer just doesn’t hit the spot.