New Salamanca bars support Tasmanian microbreweries

A NEW bar is the first in Australia to exclusively serve Tasmanian craft beer on tap.

new bar

A NEW bar is the first in Australia to exclusively serve Tasmanian craft beer on tap as part of the state’s growing scene of craft beer bars.

Society Salamanca does not sell beer from any of the major breweries, but instead focuses on Tasmanian microbreweries.

Also recently opened in ­Salamanca, The Brick Factory sells craft beer, and was the first venue to have Cascade Blue Lager on tap.

Another new Salamanca bar, Waterman’s Beer Market, stocks 140 different craft and small-batch brews.

Tasmanian Hospitality ­Association general manager Steve Old said microbreweries were a growing trend sup­porting the vibrant hospitality industry.

“The craft beer phenomenon has been around for a while, but I think the public is really starting to realise it now,” Mr Old said. “We have two of the oldest and best breweries in the world, and now they are complemented by a range of high-class microbreweries.

“People are realising when it comes to alcohol Tasmania is a world leader.”

Society co-owners Angie Nichols and Emma Davis said a few years ago there were only a few micro­breweries in the state, but now there were 15.

“There’s another six hoping to open in the next six months, too,” Mrs Nichols said.

She said they also stocked a range of Tasmanian spirits, ­including whisky and gin, as well as local wine.

“We are very Tasmanian- focused and our point of difference is that we have no contracted taps — only local craft beer on tap and cider,” she said.

“One hundred years ago in Hobart there were 70 breweries and they were slowly bought out by big companies.

“So we have generations of people who have only drunk Boags and Cascade.”

In June, a beer trail was ­announced, with funding from the State Government and the National Brewers Association.

The emerging beer tourism niche market attracted more than 125,000 travellers in the year to March, according to the Tasmanian Visitor ­Survey.

The state now has a range of beer festivals, including Micro Brew Fest, Beer Lovers Week, Tasmanian International Beerfest, Launceston’s Esk Beerfest and Oktoberfest.