View source for Cascade Brewery

{{Short description|Oldest operating brewery in Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox brewery
|name           = Cascade Brewery
|image          = Cascade Brewery 1.jpg
|caption        = Cascade Brewery
|location       = [[South Hobart]] [[Tasmania]], Australia
|owner          = [[Asahi Breweries|Asahi]]
|opened         = 1824
|key_people     = Peter Degraves, Major McIntosh 
|production     = {{convert|360000|hL|USbeerbbl|lk=on}}
|active_beers   = 
{{brewbox beer|name=Cascade Premium Lager|style=[[Lager]]}}
{{brewbox beer|name=Cascade Premium Light|style=Low-alcohol [[Lager]]}}
{{brewbox beer|name=Cascade Pale Ale (Green)|style=[[Lager]]}}
{{brewbox beer|name=Cascade Blonde|style=[[Wheat Beer]]}}
{{brewbox beer|name=Cascade Draught|style=[[Lager]]}}
{{brewbox beer|name=Cascade Lager (Blue)|style=[[Lager]]}}
{{brewbox beer|name=Cascade Bitter (Red)|style=Bitter Lager}}
{{brewbox beer|name=Cascade Stout|style=[[Stout]]}}
{{brewbox beer|name=Cascade Bright|style=Bright Ale}}
|seasonal_beers = 
{{brewbox beer|name=Cascade First Harvest |style=Special Ale}}
|other_beers   = }}

The '''Cascade Brewery''' is a [[brewery]] established in 1824 in [[South Hobart]], [[Tasmania]] that is the oldest continually operating brewery in Australia.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Bergman|first=Justin|date=2019-12-05|title=36 Hours in Hobart (and Environs) (Published 2019)|language=en-US|work=[[New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/05/travel/36-hours-in-hobart-and-environs.html|access-date=2021-01-13|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

As well as beer, the site also produces a range of [[Non-alcoholic drink|non-alcoholic products]].<ref name="ccamatil2012">{{cite report|url=http://ccamatil.com/InvestorRelations/AnnualReports/2012/CO27_CCA%20Shareholder%20News%20-%20Double%20Role%20Fold%20Final.pdf |title=CCA - Shareholder news |publisher=[[Coca-Cola Amatil]] |date=October 2012 |access-date=28 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120024602/http://ccamatil.com/InvestorRelations/AnnualReports/2012/CO27_CCA%20Shareholder%20News%20-%20Double%20Role%20Fold%20Final.pdf |archive-date=20 January 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref> It is home to a function centre, as well as operating tourism related ventures including guided tours and a retail outlet.<ref name="perthnow">{{cite news|url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/travel/australia/cascade-brewery-tour-and-mona-in-hobart-tasmania/story-fnjjv15h-1226787869592|title=Cascade brewery tour and MONA in Hobart, Tasmania|newspaper=[[PerthNow]]|date=23 December 2013|access-date=27 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140130025422/http://www.perthnow.com.au/travel/australia/cascade-brewery-tour-and-mona-in-hobart-tasmania/story-fnjjv15h-1226787869592|archive-date=30 January 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==History==
The Cascade estate was originally a saw milling operation, run by a partnership called Macintosh and Degraves Sawmills.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/56187 |title=Medal - Centenary of Macintosh & Degraves Shilling Token, Alfred Chitty, Melbourne, Tasmania, Australia, 1923 - Museums Victoria |access-date=24 May 2019}}</ref> The mills began operation in 1825 and the brewery was founded beside the [[Hobart Rivulet]] in 1832 by Hugh Macintosh (1776–1834) with his nephews Henry and Charles Degraves while Peter Degraves was in Hobart prison serving a five-year sentence.<ref>Memoirs of Ada Hope Wilson Peter Degraves grand daughter</ref><ref name="adb-degraves" />

Until 2011 the conventional history of Cascade Brewery held that the brewery, and the other enterprises at Cascade, had been founded by Peter Degraves. However research by historian Greg Jefferys for his Masters thesis showed that the major partner in the Cascade Mills and Brewery had actually been Major Hugh Macintosh and that Degraves had falsified the history of the brewery after Macintosh's death in 1834.<ref name=gregjeffreys>{{cite journal|url=http://eprints.utas.edu.au/11730/1/Jefferys.pdf|title=Hugh Macintosh and Peter Degraves: the story of an Officer and a Gentleman.|author=Gregory Jeffreys|date=May 2011|access-date=28 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141206163734/http://eprints.utas.edu.au/11730/1/Jefferys.pdf|archive-date=6 December 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Macintosh was a retired [[East India Company]] officer who emigrated from England on his ship ''Hope'' in 1824 with his business partner Peter Degraves (1778–1852). Degraves was an undischarged bankrupt and a convicted thief.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stradbrokeislandgalleon.com/peter-degraves.html|title=Peter Degraves; Hobart's founder of the Cascade Brewery and Hobart's Theatre Royal and a serious historic enigma.|access-date=28 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324001725/http://www.stradbrokeislandgalleon.com/peter-degraves.html|archive-date=24 March 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 1826, charges were laid against Degraves for debts incurred in England, and he was taken into custody until 1832. As a result of Degraves' arrest, Macintosh dissolved the partnership, paid all of the partnership's outstanding debts,<ref>''[[Hobart Town Gazette]]'' 22 October 1825 page 2</ref> and took over the running of the sawmills with his two nephews as well as expanding his farming interests near [[New Norfolk]].<ref name=gregjeffreys/>
[[File:1 peter degraves.jpg|thumb|Peter Degraves]]
After his release in 1832, Peter Degraves took over running and expanding the brewery on the property owned by himself and Macintosh.<ref name="heroes">{{cite book|title=Heroes and Villains: the untold story of the founders of Cascade Brewery|author=Greg Jefferys|year=2013 |publisher=J.A.G. Publications |isbn=9780646910468}}</ref><ref name="adb-degraves">{{cite book|chapter-url=http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A010287b.htm|title=Biography - Peter Degraves - Australian Dictionary of Biography|chapter=Degraves, Peter (1778–1852) |work=anu.edu.au|publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |access-date=19 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414194052/http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A010287b.htm|archive-date=14 April 2011|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Macintosh moved to his farm on the banks for the Derwent River where he pursued his interests in viticulture and Merino sheep.

During this period, Macintosh supported Henry Savery, who wrote Australia's first novel.<ref name=heroes/>{{Clarify|reason=Made an assumption that Macintosh did this, although the prior text was grammatically confusing/ambiguous.|date=June 2023}} After Macintosh's death in December 1834, his half-share of the Cascade estate passed to his son William Macintosh who lived in Madras, India. Degraves offered to buy William's share but never paid his nephew, and William died a pauper in 1840, still owed a small fortune by his wealthy uncle Peter Degraves.<ref>Will of William Macintosh British Library BL-BIND-L-AG-34-29-244-00162.JPG</ref> After Macintosh's death, Degraves continued to expand both the milling and brewing operations at the Cascade, exporting both timber and beer to mainland Australia, particularly to [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]] where the gold rush created huge demands for both timber and beer.<ref name="adb-degraves" />

After Degraves' death, Cascade passed into the control of his eldest son, Henry Degraves. However, Henry Degraves died two years after his father and the management of the brewery passed to James Wilson, husband of Degraves' youngest daughter, Deborah Hope Degraves. Until 2020 it was owned by [[AB InBev]], through its Australian subsidiary [[Carlton & United Breweries]]. Cascade was included in the June 2020 purchase of Carlton & United by [[Asahi Breweries|Asahi]].<ref>[https://www.afr.com/companies/retail/asahi-buys-carlton-and-united-breweries-for-16b-20190719-p528xa Asahi buys Carlton & United Breweries for $16b] ''[[Australian Financial Review]]'' 19 July 2019</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220301164451/https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/public-registers/documents/Asahi-CUB%20-%20Public%20Competition%20Assessment.pdf Asahi Group Holdings - proposed acquisition of Carlton & United Breweries] [[Australian Competition & Consumer Commission]] 18 May 2020</ref>  Cascade produces a range of [[beer]]s, [[cider|apple cider]] and non-alcoholic beverages including apple juice, blackcurrant syrup and [[carbonation|carbonated]] beverages.

In 1967 the building housing the brewery was almost completely destroyed by the bushfires that devastated south-east Tasmania. With a rebuild to commence in no time at all, the brewery was back up and running a mere three months later.<ref>Callum J. Jones {{cite web|title=The Cascade Brewery: A Short History|date=17 April 2020|publisher=[[Tasmanian Times]]|access-date=22 April 2020|url=https://tasmaniantimes.com/2020/04/the-cascade-brewery-a-short-history/}}</ref>

The image adopted for its label in 1987, [[Henry Constantine Richter]]'s nineteenth-century illustration of the [[Tasmanian Tiger]] is from [[John Gould]]'s ''[[The Mammals of Australia]]''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100205152506/http://www.abc.net.au/rn/ockhamsrazor/stories/2004/1130006.htm John Gould's place in Australian culture] [[Radio National]] 13 June 2004</ref>

Cascade is unique among Australian breweries and rare among breweries worldwide in that it operates its own maltings, producing [[malt]] for its mainstream beers (including Premium Lager and Pale Ale) from locally grown barley. Specialty malts for dark beers and the seasonal range are imported from mainland Australia and from overseas. The Cascade name is also given to the sporting event 'The Cascade Cup'.

The Cascade Brewery is designated on the [[Tasmanian Heritage Register]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://heritage.tas.gov.au/Documents/THROnline_Jan2021.pdf |title=Permanent and Provisional Registrations as at 22 Jan 2021 |access-date=2022-08-22 |publisher=Tasmanian Heritage Register |archive-date=24 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924092950/https://heritage.tas.gov.au/Documents/THROnline_Jan2021.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Beers==
{{ref improve section|date=May 2025}}
[[File:Thylacinus cynocephalus (Gould).jpg|thumb|Featured on the label, the illustration of the [[Tasmanian Tiger]] from [[John Gould]] and [[Henry Constantine Richter]], in ''[[The Mammals of Australia]]'']]
===Premium range===
* Cascade Premium Lager is an [[Australian lager|Australian-style lager]], hopped with Australian "Summer" hops to give the beer a distinct spicy flavour. Alcohol Content: 4.5%<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cascadebreweryco.com.au/#/products/cascade-premium|title=Cascade Brewery|work=cascadebreweryco.com.au|access-date=19 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219044819/https://cascadebreweryco.com.au/#/products/cascade-premium|archive-date=19 December 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Originally, 5.2%.
* Cascade Premium Light is a low-alcohol lager, which is currently the biggest selling light beer in Australia. Alcohol Content: 2.6%<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cascadebreweryco.com.au/#/products/cascade-premium-light|title=Cascade Brewery|work=cascadebreweryco.com.au|access-date=19 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219044819/https://cascadebreweryco.com.au/#/products/cascade-premium-light|archive-date=19 December 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Degrave's Collection:
* Cascade Pale Ale, also known as "green" or simply "Pale", is in fact an Australian-style lager, not an ale. The Pale Ale name has been used since the brewery was established and was originally an ale style beer. The Pale Ale has an excellent balance of the famous "Pride of Ringwood" Hop and Pale Malt giving the beer a fruity mid palette and spicy end palette. Alcohol Content: 5.0% (originally 5.2%)
* Cascade Stout is a stout beer, commonly drunk by an older audience. The Cascade Stout is brewed with a blend of different malts and grains including roasted barley, which gives the brew chocolate and coffee overtones. Alcohol Content: 5.8%
* Cascade Blonde is 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 in this brew gives the beer a citrus like mid palette. Alcohol Content: 4.8%
* Cascade Pure was launched as "Cascade Green" Carbon Neutral Beer in March 2008. It is a low carbohydrate, preservative free beer. Cascade use accredited schemes to offset production emissions, and use vegetable inks on the label and a lightweight bottle. In 2008, it won the Tasmanian Premier's Award for Climate Action.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cascadebreweryco.com.au/#/products/cascade-pure|title=Cascade Brewery|work=cascadebreweryco.com.au|access-date=19 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219044819/https://cascadebreweryco.com.au/#/products/cascade-pure|archive-date=19 December 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The name change to Cascade Pure took place in November 2010 and was an odd choice after only two years—rival [[Boags]] already offer a "Pure" beer. Cascade's media release said the change was "to reflect not only the environmental credentials of the 100 per cent carbon neutral beer and its great taste, neither of which will change, but also the quality of the local Tasmanian ingredients used in the brew with nothing artificial added".<ref name="brewsnews.com.au">{{cite web|url=http://www.brewsnews.com.au/2010/11/cascade-reveals-new-look-in-new-campaign/|title=Cascade reveals new look in new campaign|work=Australian Brews News|date=November 2010 |access-date=19 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205154224/http://www.brewsnews.com.au/2010/11/cascade-reveals-new-look-in-new-campaign/|archive-date=5 December 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Alcohol content: 4.5%

This range was launched in September 2005, it consists of existing products with more focused marketing and labeling. There was a further major overhaul of the brand in 2010.<ref name="brewsnews.com.au"/>

===Tasmanian range===
* Cascade Draught is a traditional full strength lager. It is Tasmania's best selling beer on tap. In Tasmania it is the most commonly found Cascade product on tap (draught). Alcohol Content: 4.7%
* Cascade Lager, also known as "blue", is a traditional full strength lager. This is Tasmania’s best selling caned and bottled beer. It has a cult following, particularly among uni students. Alcohol Content: 4.8%
* Cascade Bitter, also known as "red", is a bitter lager. Alcohol Content: 4.4%
* Cascade Export Stout, is similar to the stout featured in the Degrave's Collection however is brewed with a shorter maturation time and has a slightly stronger flavour. Alcohol Content: 5.8%

These beers are only available in Tasmania.

Seasonal & limited edition beers:

Cascade has also produced an annual premium beer since 2002, "First Harvest", which has an extremely limited production. "First Harvest" refers to the first yield of Tasmanian hops, in which the actual unkilned hops flowers are used for the brew. First Harvest, which is brewed to a different recipe every year, is brewed as an ale.

From 2003 until the launch of Degrave's collection Cascade produced a range of [[seasonal beer]]s:

* Cascade Summer Blonde now Cascade Blonde.
* Cascade Autumn Amber now Cascade Amber.
* Cascade Winter Warmer a dark wheat beer. Winter Warmer was available as a seasonal beer in Tasmania for at least 10 years, but only on tap at selected pubs.
* Cascade Spring Fest a Bavarian helles style lager.

===Homebrew range===
* Spicy Ghost Draught
* Golden Harvest Lager
* Imperial Voyage Pale Ale
* Chocolate Mahogany Porter

==Non-alcoholic beverages==

The non-alcoholic range of products ([[Cascade Beverages]]) was acquired by [[Coca-Cola Amatil]] in the third quarter of 2013.<ref name="ccamatil2012" />

* Fruit Syrups - range includes Raspberry and Ultra-C Blackcurrant Syrup, made from Tasmanian grown blackcurrants.
* Apple Isle Sparkling Apple Juice
* Quality Mixers - range includes Lime & Soda, Tonic Water, Soda Water, Cranberry, Dry Ginger Ale
* Classic Adult Sparkling Flavours - range includes Sarsaparilla, Lemon, Ginger, Lemon Lime & Bitters
* Cordials - Lemon, Raspberry, Lime
* "Traditional" Flavours, including Raspberry, Saraparilla and Ice Cream

==See also==
{{Portal|Beer|Australia|Companies}}
*[[Australian pub]]
*[[Beer in Australia]]
*[[List of breweries in Australia]]
*[[Tasmanian beer]]
*[[Cascades FC]]
*[[List of oldest companies in Australia]]

==References==

===Notes===
{{Reflist|2}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
*{{Deutsher-BrewAust-2nd}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
*[https://www.cascadebreweryco.com.au/ Company website]

{{Hobart landmarks|state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|42|53|45|S|147|17|33|E|display=title}}

[[Category:Asahi brands]]
[[Category:Australian beer brands]]
[[Category:Beer brewing companies based in Tasmania]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Hobart]]
[[Category:Carlton & United Breweries]]
[[Category:Companies based in Hobart]]
[[Category:Commercial buildings completed in 1832]]
[[Category:Culture in Hobart]]
[[Category:Drink companies of Australia]]
[[Category:Old Colonial Georgian architecture in Australia]]
[[Category:Tasmanian Heritage Register]]
[[Category:1824 establishments in Australia]]