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VB Mid

Carlton & United Breweries
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🌍 Australia · Mid-Strength Lager · One of 10 Mid-Strength Lagers in hopIQ

VB Mid is the mid-strength Victoria Bitter, introduced in 2026 and built to hold the bitterness of the original rather than soften it. Pride of Ringwood hops lay an earthy, herbaceous aroma over sweet grain, and the malt backbone stays clean and full enough to carry the snapping bitter finish. Golden straw in the glass, medium-light in body and drier through the middle than the full-strength version.

ABV
3.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Herbal, floral bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Crisp and light-bodied.

Built for the second pour — a clean shape that stays inviting through the round.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Mid-Strength Lager.
Hop character
earthy
herbal
Malt character
malty
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Compare with another beer →

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for VB Mid

◎ Appearance

Golden straw color with bright clarity and lively carbonation. The head forms quickly and recedes to a thin collar with modest lacing. The beer presents a clean, inviting appearance typical of the style.

golden strawbright clarityfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

Pride of Ringwood hops deliver an earthy, herbaceous character that sits prominently over a sweet grain backdrop. The nose is straightforward and dry, with no fruity esters or yeast character interfering. This is a working hop presence—functional and honest rather than perfumed.

earthy hopsherbaceoussweet grain

◐ Taste

The palate opens clean with a light malt sweetness before the bitter snap emerges decisively through the middle. The body remains lean and dry, allowing the full-strength bitterness to register clearly despite the lower ABV. Malt stays in the background, supporting rather than dominating the flavor arc.

snapping bitternessdry palateclean malt

◑ Finish

The finish is brisk and bitter, fading to a dry, herbal aftertaste. Bitterness persists without harshness, and refreshment lingers as the beer clears the palate.

dry finishherbal fade
76
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
77
Appearance
75
Finish
74
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of VB Mid

Serve at 4–7°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 4–7°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Stein
Recommended for this style

The sturdy German stein maintains temperature and keeps carbonation intact. Built for long, convivial drinking.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with VB Mid

About Mid-Strength Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Mid-Strength Lager?

Mid-Strength Lager is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Mid-Strength Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same bitter, earthy, herbal character as VB Mid will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Mid-Strength Lagers in hopIQ