Ruqayyah Snyder
The Cascade Brewery, established in 1824 in South Hobart, Tasmania, is the oldest continually operating brewery in Australia. It has been integral to Australia's brewing history and is considered a source of pride for Tasmania. The brewery has overcome numerous challenges, including devastating bushfires in 1967, and has continued to produce a range of beers and beverages. In addition to its beer production, Cascade also offers non-alcoholic drinks, tourism ventures, and a function centre. Over the years, the ownership of Cascade has changed hands, with AB InBev owning it through Carlton & United Breweries until 2020 when it was purchased by Asahi. The brewery's unique location and use of local ingredients have contributed to its success, making it an iconic part of Australia's beer culture.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year Established | 1824 |
| Location | South Hobart, Tasmania |
| Founder | Peter Degraves |
| Current Owner | Asahi |
| Former Owners | AB InBev, Carlton & United Breweries |
| Products | Beers, Apple Cider, Non-Alcoholic Beverages (Apple Juice, Blackcurrant Syrup, Carbonated Beverages) |
| Awards | Tasmanian Premier's Award for Climate Action (2008) |
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What You'll Learn
Cascade Brewery is Australia's oldest brewery
The Cascade Brewery, established in 1824 in South Hobart, Tasmania, is Australia's oldest brewery and the country's oldest continuously operating brewery. It was founded by Hugh Macintosh and Peter Degraves, who initially ran it as a sawmilling operation called Macintosh and Degraves Sawmills. The brewery itself was founded in 1832 on the Hobart Rivulet and has been producing beer since then.
The Cascade Brewery takes its water from Mount Wellington and uses Tasmanian-grown hops and barley to create its distinctive brews. The pure water, cool climate, and healthy environment provided the ideal conditions for brewing beer, as noted by Cecil Allport in his 1924 book, "A Page From the Past". The brewery has overcome various challenges throughout its history, including the 1967 bushfires that destroyed the building, but it has always managed to maintain its beer production.
Cascade Brewery produces a range of beers, including the popular Cascade Draught, a classic Australian lager, Cascade Pale Ale, Cascade Lager, Cascade Bitter, and Cascade Export Stout. They also offer low-alcohol options like Cascade Premium Light and Cascade Pure, a carbon-neutral beer. Additionally, the brewery produces apple cider and non-alcoholic beverages such as apple juice, blackcurrant syrup, and carbonated drinks.
The site has become a popular tourist destination, offering guided tours, a function centre, and a retail outlet. It is designated on the Tasmanian Heritage Register and is considered a source of pride for Tasmania, contributing significantly to the state's rich beer heritage.
The brewery has had several ownership changes over the years. Initially founded by Peter Degraves, it was later managed by James Wilson, husband of Degraves' daughter. More recently, it was owned by AB InBev through Carlton & United Breweries until 2020 when it was purchased by Asahi. Despite the ownership changes, Cascade Brewery remains an iconic Australian brewery, known for its unique location, history, and diverse range of beverages.
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Beers and non-alcoholic beverages produced by Cascade
Cascade Brewery, established in 1824 in South Hobart, Tasmania, is Australia's oldest continually operating brewery. The brewery was founded beside the Hobart Rivulet in 1832 by Hugh Macintosh with his nephews Henry and Charles Degraves. It was originally a saw milling operation run by a partnership called Macintosh and Degraves Sawmills.
Cascade produces a range of beers, apple cider, and non-alcoholic beverages. Some of the beers produced by Cascade include:
- Stout: A stout beer commonly drunk by an older audience. Cascade Stout is brewed with a blend of different malts and grains, including roasted barley, which gives the brew chocolate and coffee overtones. It has an alcohol content of 5.8%.
- Blonde: A premium lager beer brewed with a blend of barley and wheat malts, then hopped using the "Cascade" Hop to give a light bitterness. The wheat malt gives the beer a citrus-like mid-palette. It has an alcohol content of 4.8%.
- Pure: Launched as "Cascade Green" Carbon Neutral Beer in March 2008, Cascade Pure is a low-carbohydrate, preservative-free beer. It has an alcohol content of 4.5%.
- Draught: A traditional full-strength lager and Tasmania's best-selling beer on tap. It has an alcohol content of 4.7%.
- Lager: Also known as "blue", this is a traditional full-strength lager and Tasmania's best-selling canned and bottled beer. It has an alcohol content of 4.8%.
- Bitter: Also known as "red", this is a bitter lager with an alcohol content of 4.4%.
- Export Stout: Similar to the stout featured in the Degrave's Collection, but with a slightly stronger flavour due to a shorter maturation time. It has an alcohol content of 5.8%.
- Premium Lager: An Australian-style lager hopped with Australian "Summer" hops to give the beer a distinct spicy flavour. It has an alcohol content of 4.5%.
- Premium Light: A low-alcohol lager that is currently the biggest-selling light beer in Australia. It has an alcohol content of 2.6%.
- Pale Ale: Also known as "green" or simply "Pale", this is an Australian-style lager.
- Winter Warmer: A dark wheat beer available as a seasonal beer in Tasmania for at least 10 years, but only on tap at selected pubs.
- Spring Fest: A Bavarian helles-style lager.
The non-alcoholic beverages produced by Cascade include apple juice, blackcurrant syrup, carbonated beverages, and mixers. The Cascade Beverages range, established in 1886, includes fruit syrups, quality mixers, and adult sparkling flavours. Some specific products are:
- Ultra-C Blackcurrant Syrup: Made from Tasmanian-grown blackcurrants from Westerway Farms.
- Tonic Water, Dry Ginger Ale, Soda Water & Lime, Soda Water & Lemon, and regular Soda Water.
- Ginger Beer, Lemon Lime & Bitters, and Sarsaparilla.
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The history of Cascade Brewery
The Cascade Brewery, established in 1824 in South Hobart, Tasmania, is Australia's oldest continually operating brewery. The Cascade estate was initially a sawmilling operation run by a partnership called Macintosh and Degraves Sawmills. The mills began operation in 1825, and the brewery was founded in 1832 beside the Hobart Rivulet by Hugh Macintosh with his nephews Henry and Charles Degraves. Peter Degraves, who was in prison at the time, took over running and expanding the brewery upon his release in 1832.
The Degraves family continued to manage the brewery for several generations. After Peter Degraves' death, Cascade passed into the control of his eldest son, Henry Degraves. Henry Degraves died just two years later, and management of the brewery passed to James Wilson, husband of Degraves' youngest daughter, Deborah Hope Degraves.
The brewery has faced several challenges throughout its history but has always managed to produce a constant supply of beer. In 1967, the building housing the brewery was almost completely destroyed by bushfires that devastated southeast Tasmania. However, the brewery was quickly rebuilt and was back up and running within three months.
Cascade produces a range of beers, including lagers, ales, and stouts, as well as apple cider and non-alcoholic beverages. The pure water sourced from Mount Wellington and Tasmanian-grown hops and barley form the backbone of the brews. Cascade is also known for its commitment to environmental sustainability, as seen with the launch of Cascade Pure, a carbon-neutral beer, in 2008.
Until 2020, Cascade was owned by AB InBev through its Australian subsidiary Carlton & United Breweries. In June 2020, Cascade was included in the purchase of Carlton & United by Asahi.
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The brewery's ownership
The Cascade Brewery was established in 1824 in South Hobart, Tasmania, making it the oldest continually operating brewery in Australia. It was founded by Peter Degraves, who originally set up the site as a sawmilling operation. Degraves spent five of his first seven years in the colony in prison for debt. Despite this setback, his beer became the most popular in Tasmania.
The brewery has had a rich history, with several notable owners and periods of success and hardship. In 1905, the company leased the Adams Brewery and numerous hotels, and by 1911, the Cascade Brewery Company controlled over 90 hotels. In 1922, it acquired the James Boags Brewery. However, financial difficulties arose in the late 1920s due to the cost of a Swiss lager-making plant installation and the impact of the Great Depression.
In 1967, the brewery building was almost completely destroyed by devastating bushfires that swept through southeast Tasmania. Despite this setback, the brewery was quickly rebuilt and resumed operations within three months.
Until 2011, the conventional history of Cascade Brewery held that it had been founded by Peter Degraves. However, research by historian Greg Jefferys revealed that the major partner in the Cascade Mills and Brewery had actually been Hugh MacIntosh, and Degraves had falsified the history after MacIntosh's death in 1834.
Until 2020, the brewery was owned by AB InBev through its Australian subsidiary Carlton & United Breweries. In June 2020, Cascade was included in the purchase of Carlton & United by Asahi, becoming part of the Asahi Group.
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The brewery's location and its significance
The Cascade Brewery is located in South Hobart, Tasmania, and is Australia's oldest brewery. It was established in 1824 and is the oldest continuously operating brewery in the country. The site was originally a sawmilling operation run by a partnership called Macintosh and Degraves Sawmills. The brewery was founded by Hugh Macintosh and his nephews Henry and Charles Degraves in 1832, beside the Hobart Rivulet.
The location of the brewery is significant as it is surrounded by pure air and boasts the coolest climate in Australia, ideal conditions for brewing beer. Additionally, the brewery has access to a pure water supply from Mount Wellington, which, along with Tasmanian-grown hops and barley, forms the backbone of the brews. The water from Mount Wellington is described as coming from "icy cold springs", ensuring a constant supply of cool, pure water for the brewing process.
The Cascade Brewery is designated on the Tasmanian Heritage Register, reflecting its historical and cultural significance to the state. The brewery is also home to Mercury Cider and has a function centre, as well as tourism ventures, including guided tours and a retail outlet.
The brewery has overcome several challenges throughout its history, including the 1967 bushfires that devastated South-east Tasmania. The building was almost completely destroyed, but the team worked quickly to rebuild, and the brewery was up and running again within three months. This resilience and commitment to their craft have contributed to the brewery's longstanding success and reputation in Australia.
Today, Cascade produces a range of beers, ciders, and non-alcoholic beverages, including apple juice, blackcurrant syrup, and carbonated drinks. Their beers, such as Cascade Draught, Lager, Bitter, and Export Stout, are popular in Tasmania and beyond, with some, like Cascade Premium Light, becoming the biggest-selling light beer in Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Cascade is an Australian beer. It is the oldest continually operating brewery in Australia, established in 1824 in South Hobart, Tasmania.
The Cascade Brewery was founded by Peter Degraves in 1832. Until 2020, it was owned by AB InBev through its Australian subsidiary Carlton & United Breweries. In June 2020, it was purchased by Asahi.
Cascade produces a range of beers, including lagers, pale ales, and stouts. Some of their popular beers are Cascade Draught, Cascade Lager, Cascade Bitter, and Cascade Export Stout.
Cascade Brewery sources pure water from Mount Wellington and uses Tasmanian-grown hops and barley for its beers. The brewery also operates its own maltings, producing malt for its mainstream beers from locally grown barley.
