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Australia’s most famous beer has created a limited-edition run of the VB just for the UK cricket fans called England Bitter, touting it as a “big warm beer for our English foes”.

To ensure England’s men’s cricketers are aware of the offer, Carlton & United Breweries (CUB), who produces VB, will also release a rejigged version of its iconic jingle in the great tradition of banter between the two great cricketing nations.

The company had also taken out full-page ads in major Australian newspapers ahead of the third test stater at Headingley.

The move follows on from English coach Brendon McCullum’s refusal to have a beer with the Aussies.

“We know the English are bitter about the Lord’s Test, but when they’re feeling less bitter, we’ve got a beer to shout them, our fresh new England Bitter,” said Marc Lord, marketing manager at VB.

“England Bitter has got their name on it and we’re sending a few slabs to the English cricket team to enjoy once they’ve cooled off. 

“We raise our glass to the whole Australian team for securing a famous win in the second test, and wish them the best of luck in winning the series.”

Free England Bitter t-shirts were also given out to Aussie fans at the Headingley match.

Food & Drink Business

Australia’s food and beverage manufacturing industry is converging on Melbourne this week for foodpro 2026, the country’s leading trade event for processing, packaging and innovation. Held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) from 26-29 July, foodpro 2026 will be opened at 10am on Sunday 26 July by Victorian Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing and Minister for Skills and TAFE, Colin Brooks.

De Bortoli Wines is restructuring its vineyard portfolio across four regions, removing underperforming blocks in the oversupplied Riverina while buying new land in the Yarra Valley and converting most of its King Valley plantings to Prosecco, Pinot Grigio and Sangiovese.

Ready-to-drink cocktail company, Curatif, has completed a crowd-sourced funding campaign of over $1.4 million through OnMarket, supported by 613 investors. The company is gearing up to launch overseas, with a fulfilment partner already in place to take its online model into the UK.