The Cascade Brewery in South Hobart is a revered Australian icon. The brewery building is built next to the Hobart Rivulet and stands stark against the backdrop of Mount Wellington. This is Australia’s oldest continually operating brewery, established in 1834, although the first Cascade beer was sold in December 1832. The exciting Cascade range of premium beers, now with the distinctive thylacine label, adopted in 1987, is revered by all Aussie beer lovers, when they can get it.
The founders of the Cascade Brewery, Hugh Macintosh and Peter Degraves, were English immigrants who arrived in Hobart in 1824. They were brothers-in-law who established sawmills on the site in 1825. However Degraves was an un-discharged bankrupt and convicted thief in England who tried to escape by migrating to Van Diemen’s Land. But in 1826 he was arrested for the debts he incurred in England and given a 5-year prison sentence. Meanwhile Macintosh took over the running of the sawmills and established the Cascade brewery in 1831 with his nephews, making use of the pure water cascading from Mount Wellington in the Hobart Rivulet. On his release from prison in 1832 Degraves took over and expanded the brewery operation, while Macintosh concentrated on his farming interests in New Norfolk. Macintosh died in 1834, the same year that the existing brewery building was built. Degraves continued to expand and develop both the sawmills and brewery and exported both timber and beer to supply the huge demand during the Victoria gold rush. When Degraves died in 1852, control of the brewery was given to his eldest son Henry who died just 2 years later. Control then passed to Degraves son-in-law Sir James Wilson.
Although it is claimed that Cascade has operated continuously since 1832, that is not quite correct for in February 1967 the brewery building was destroyed in a devastating bush fire that also destroyed homes and properties. But due to the efforts of the Cascade team and local volunteers, the brewery building was rebuilt in 3 months and brewing re-commenced. One month later, on 10th May the beer was flowing again.
Today, the Cascade Brewery is owned by the Foster’s Group that is maintaining the Cascade tradition of producing premium beers.
Cascade is unique among Australian breweries and rare amongst all breweries worldwide in that it operates its own maltings, producing malt for its mainstream beers from locally grown barley. Speciality malts for dark beers and the seasonal range are imported from mainland Australia and from overseas.
There is an extensive range of beers, homebrew and cider produced by the Cascade Brewery, some of which are only available in Tasmania.
The Cascade range of non-alcoholic beverages including fruit syrups, juices, mixers, soft drinks and cordials was acquired by Coca-Cola in 2013.
Conducted tours of the brewery, to be booked in advance, are given every day except Christmas Day and Good Friday, from 10am to 5pm. These tours, for those at least 18 years old, explain the history of the brewery, its craft and operation the ingredients used. And here is the good news, tastings are available at the end of the tour that lasts an hour. Afterwards, for those who still have a thirst, there is a bar and a beer garden. There is also a good restaurant and souvenir shop. Who could possibly resist the chance to visit the oldest brewery in Australia and sample some of the newest products.