BY: LANA BEST

Cascade Brewery, in the foothills of Mount Wellington, is the oldest brewery still operating in Australia today.

Growing out of a sawmill, its beer is parochially considered to be the bevvy of choice south of the “beer line” at Tunbridge, with Boag’s the honoured drop in the North.

However, the two are inextricably linked, and until the emergence of the craft beer scene and popularity of wine, they both dominated the state’s social drinking scene.

The pure water sourced from Mount Wellington and Tasmanian-grown hops and barley still form the backbone of the brews. The Cascade brewery is also the home of Mercury Cider.

The range of cordials and soft drinks which were originally produced by Cascade Brewery Co are no longer associated with the Brewery.

At its peak in 1983, Cascade/Boags held 95 per cent of the beer market in Tasmania – it’s about one third of that today.

In its 200-year history there’s been fascinating characters, intense drama, inspiring business decisions, devastating fires and award-winning beverages.

Here’s a timeline of some of its key milestones:

1824: British settlers Hugh Macintosh and his brother-in-law Peter Degraves granted 2000 acres of land on kunyani/Mount Wellington by the Government to found the Cascade sawmill to support the development of Hobart.

1826: Peter Degraves jailed for bad debts.

1832: Now a free man, Degraves establishes a brewery on the Cascade site with MacIntosh. Brewed using fresh mountain water from the cascades and quality Tasmanian hops, Cascade Pale Ale soon wins wide acclaim.

1834: Hugh Macintosh dies and fades into obscurity, with the brewery’s foundation primarily associated with Peter Degraves for the next 190 years.

1849: Tasmanian bushranger Nugget Brown reputedly holds up a coach but ignores the passengers’ valuables in favour of a five-gallon keg of Cascade beer.

1850s: Cascade established as Tasmania’s most popular beer.

1852: Degraves dies and his sons take over the business.

1881: Cascade sold to a Melbourne syndicate.

1911: Cascade continues to grow and now controls more than 90 hotels.

1922: Cascade acquires Launceston’s James Boag’s Brewery, which was founded about 40 years earlier, though both breweries operate largely independently.

1967: The Devastating Black Tuesday fires almost destroy the Cascade Brewery. Boags and CUB help by bottling beer for Cascade before production recommences at the site just three months after the fire.

1983: Cascade/Boags have about 95 per cent of Tasmania’s beer market.

1993: CUB acquires Cascade, which is producing about 25 million litres a year, from the Cascade Group. It changes its name to Tasmanian Breweries and retains the James Boag’s. name.

2012: The Cascade Brewery employs 76 FTEs and produces bout 40 million litres a year, 15 million of which is Cascade.

2018: CUB invests $10 million into the site to modernise and expand operations (thee Tasmanian Government contributes $1 million). This helped consolidate it as a craft beer hub, supporting jobs and hundreds of local businesses.

2020: The Cascade Café and Bar opens at Hobart Airport. The Cascade Brewery Bar undergoes a major redevelopment and relaunches with a new menu that uses only Tasmanian meat and fish.

2021: Cascade First Harvest relaunches for the first time in many years, giving Tasmanian beer lovers a beer brewed with fresh hops picked hours earlier.

2024: The Cascade Brewery employs 61 FTEs, plus hospitality staff. Cascade will produce about 19 million litres in 2024. About five million litres of this will be Cascade beer, about six million will be craft, about four million will be cider and the remainder a mix of other CUB beers.

Premier raises glass for brewery milestone

If there was ever an occasion to clink two glasses of beer together in celebration, it was the 200th birthday of Cascade Brewery.

Politicians, brewery workers and business representatives gathered at the brewery in Hobart recently to toast two centuries of endurance, innovation and the spirit of Tasmania.

The Pale Ale followed as Cascade celebrated with live music, the cutting of a birthday cake and a toast to 200 years of standing proud. The 150 guests also heard from Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff and the Deputy Lord Mayor of Hobart, Dr Zelinda Sherlock, about Cascade’s journey from humble sawmill to Tasmanian icon and Australia’s oldest brewery.

Asahi Beverages Group CEO Amanda Sellers recognised the team that produces the iconic drop. “This remarkable anniversary would not be possible without all those who have made Cascade one of Australia’s most enduring brands,” she said.

“From our customers and drinkers to our partners and suppliers, employees and the broader Hobart community – we thank you for your loyal support.”

Cascade is celebrating 200 years by shouting a free beer for the first 200 people at different pubs on the first Friday of the month for the rest of 2024.

Participating pubs will be given a Cascade bell to ring at 4pm to tell patrons they can get a free schooner of Cascade Draught, Cascade Lager, or Cascade Pale Ale.

“We’ve also released limited commemorative Cascade Draught 375mL cans emblazoned with the words ‘Standing proud for 200 years’ that are on sale until the end of the year,” Amanda said.

“And later this year we’ll launch a unique new Cascade beer for Tasmania and the mainland.”

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED