Boag's brewery workers call last drinks on long history in Tasmania's north

Beer is not a spirit, but it can become a ghost.

Just ask the workers at Boag's renowned Tasmanian brewery, which is now nearing the end of its own life, and was once allegedly haunted by a spectre that some say could be occasionally glimpsed throughout its halls.

Beer is always good for loosening the tongue, and the story of the Boag's ghost is one of many tales upon which the brewers have been ruminating of late.

Drunk rats and a resident cat in charge of pest control are among other former occupants to feature in anecdotes shared by staff, as they prepare to have their last drinks later this year.

The brewery is a venue synonymous with Tasmania, but its parent company, Lion Australia, announced on Tuesday its plan to cease production in Launceston by November.

The history of Boag's beer dates back more than 145 years.

First opening in Launceston in 1881, it is one of Australia's longest continuously operating brewing locations.

James Boag arrived in Tasmania from Scotland in 1853, working at several breweries along the north of the state.

But he had bigger plans.

He and his son, also named James, purchased a series of breweries along the North Esk River, expanding the Boag's operation quickly to become northern Tasmania's favourite beer.

The brewery was passed down the family throughout the years, before the last descendant of the family, George Boag, retired in 1976.

Investment banker Philip Adkins sold the brewery to Philippines brewing giant San Miguel Corporation in 2000, before Lion purchased it for $325 million in 2007.

Adrian Hinds has worked at the brewery for 23 years and said plenty of fables had been passed along the production lines over the years — including the ghost story.

"But there was a Boag's ghost that used to wander around the old workers' bar.

"People would be sitting there and all of a sudden a door would swing open and things like that."

Although Mr Hinds never witnessed the alleged haunting himself, he suggested that's because drinking on the job was phased out.

"That was just before my time," Mr Hinds said.

"We [also] used to have an on-site cat; he was our rodent mitigation back in the day. I think his name was Oscar."

Duane Smith has worked at the brewery for 13 years and said sharing tales from the past was part of the history of the place. 

He said, like in many industrial venues, the vermin had long been a problem, but often an entertaining one.

"I got told by an older fella that he reckons way back in the day the rats behaved like humans when they're drunk on the product or ingredients," he said.

"You'd see a couple in the corner fighting, a couple in the corner sleeping and a couple in the corner having sex.

'The pure waters are special'

Boag's has long been spruiked as coming from the pure waters of Tasmania and a series of adverts helped the company's premium beverage become one of the most popular beers nationally.

Mr Hinds said the workers on site also did their best to spread the word throughout the city.

"Our waste malt truck, obviously a massive aroma would come from that," Mr Hinds said.

"One other thing I remember [is] we used to have a whistle that used to go across the city and people in the offices would know it's time to have a coffee or a smoke."

Former brewery director Nathan Calman said the history of the brewery would forever be "intertwined" with the history of Launceston.

"Brewing was happening in the buildings behind us here back to the early 1820s which predates even Cascade," he told the ABC outside the venue earlier this week.

"Beer was often a currency that preceded, you know, even coins, notes or gold.

"Liquid gold, maybe."

The great beer divide

Visitors to Tasmania are nowadays often aware of the rivalry between beer drinkers in the north and south of the state.

Beer drinkers in the south pledge allegiance to Cascade, while those in the north prefer a Boag's beverage.

It's an unwritten rule that still stands today, though workers like Adrian Hinds and Duane Smith question its relevance among workers.

"They were one set of breweries at one stage.

"During fires they had down at Cascade and they couldn't actually hold beer, so we were actually holding Cascade beer for them."

Mr Smith believes it stems from the natural rivalry between the north and south, whether it be football teams, the best places to travel or Launceston vs Hobart.

"It's probably built up with the public more than the workers," Mr Smith said.

"There have been times that we've batted for the same team.

"Boag's and Cascade has just been thrown in the ring."

What's the future of the Boag's site?

The iconic Boag's site is one of the most easily recognised parts of Launceston.

The state government has said the 42 workers impacted by the cuts would be the "immediate priority", but the future of the site remains unclear.

A Heritage Tasmania spokesperson said the site was protected by strong and up-to-date heritage statutory protections, and was permanently placed on the register last year. 

"The site has been listed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register since 1999 through five separate entries, which were recently consolidated following title changes and development in the 2000s," a Heritage Tasmania spokesperson said.

"This process resulted in the permanent registration of the whole property on 19 February 2025."

The Boag's Brewhouse is set to remain open and Lion Australia has said it will work closely with all levels of government about the future of the brewery site.

Boag's beer will continue to be brewed, but on the mainland.

A financial consultant has suggested the government try to attract another company to keep the site operational in some capacity.

Corporate adviser David Williams said incentives should be considered to attract other types of drinks companies to the state, with the health drinks market currently booming.