Brisbane scientists are brewing their own crude version of XXXX as part of a two-year study to determine the famous beer's molecular structure.

Researchers from UQ's Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation have partnered with XXXX owner Lion and international malting company Cargill Malt to profile every carbohydrate, protein and yeast molecule in a glass of beer.

The aim is not to alter the famous XXXX taste, but modify elements of its appearance. Credit:Jim Rice

While a high-tech beer analysis may sound like an intensive taste-test, senior research fellow Dr Glen Fox said in fact it was done through a laboratory process called "system biology".

"It's about understand each component, what it's going to bring to the formula, then balancing all of those components to make sure everything's consistent," he said.