Boag's Brewery
Encyclopedia
Boag's Brewery is an Australian brewery
company founded in 1883 by James Boag and his son, also named James, in Launceston
, Tasmania
, Australia
. It is now owned by Lion Nathan Ltd
, a Trans-Tasman subsidiary company of Kirin.
arrived in Australia
with his wife, Janet, and their four children in 1853. The family spent three months in the Victoria
goldfields
, then came to Tasmania
under engagement to John Fawns. James I and his son, James Boag II
, left the Cornwall Brewery in 1878. James II went into partnership with John Glenwright at the Cataract Brewery. James I became the licensee of the All Year Round Hotel.
In 1881 the Esk Brewery was established on the banks of the North Esk River
in Launceston by Charles Stammers Button. John Fawns died, and James Boag III was born.
In 1883, James I and his son, James II, took over the Esk Brewery. J. Boag & Son was officially formed in 1883, as the partnership between James Boag I and his son, to operate the brewery. The company's initial output was seven hogshead
s (80,000 litres) of beer weekly. The name 'Esk Brewery' was retained, although 'Boag's Brewery' became a frequent reference.
In 1887 James Boag II began management of the company on the retirement of his father. A new malthouse was built and weekly production had increased to more than 500 hogsheads with the brewery employing a constant 30 members of staff.
James Boag I died in 1890.
In 1898 J. Boag & Son purchased the Cornwall Brewery and amalgamated it with the Esk Brewery. James Boag II died in 1919 and was succeeded by James Boag III who had been training at Tooth and Co.
's brewery in Sydney
.
In 1924 James Boag III retired temporarily from the company, and returned in 1930 as Managing Director, a position he held until his death in 1944. His obituary in the Examiner reported: "Having been closely connected with business and sporting activities, Mr Boag was known and respected by a wide circle of friends. At the time of his death, he was Managing Director of J. Boag & Son Limited and a Director of Tasmanian Breweries Pty Limited."
George Boag, James III's second son, took over James' seat on the Board of J. Boag & Son.
George Boag was the last Boag working in the business, he retired to Victoria
in 1976, after the death of his wife Gwen.
In the 1990s Boag's launched two new lines of beer — James Boag's Premium Lager
in 1994, and Boag's Strongarm Bitter
in 1997.
In 2000 San Miguel Corporation
acquired J. Boag & Son (previously a publicly listed company
) for $92 million. The existing Tasmanian management was retained to continue running the company; production had increased annually for the previous 3 years and this growth was planned to continue.
In 2002 James Boag's Premium Light was launched nationally and won "New Beer of the Year" at the Australian Liquor Industry Awards. James Boag's Premium Lager was awarded "Best Marketed Beer" at the Australian Liquor Industry Awards. The Boag's Centre for Beer Lovers opened in the historic Tamar Hotel.
In 2004 Boag's Brewery was expanded to occupy the complete block enclosed by William, Tamar and Shield Streets and The Esplanade.
J. Boag and Son currently (2010) employes over 150 people and produces over 76,000,000 litres of beer annually.
San Miguel sold J. Boag & Son to Lion Nathan Ltd
in November 2007 for $325 million.
The Lame Dog Hotel (later known as the Tamar Hotel) was constructed in 1826 and by the 1930s this imposing Georgian-style
building had become one of Launceston's most notable hotels. George Radford and his family were the first to operate a hotel on this site and were here for 26 years. Mary Radford was the first female licensee. In the nineteenth century, it was not unusual for women to run family hotels after the deaths of their husbands. For half of its 150 years, the Tamar Hotel was owned by women. Today the building has been restored to house the Boag's Centre for Beer Lovers.
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
company founded in 1883 by James Boag and his son, also named James, in Launceston
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is now owned by Lion Nathan Ltd
Lion Nathan
Lion Nathan National Foods is the parent company created in October 2009, into which Lion Nathan and National Foods were merged. It is fully owned by Kirin Holdings Company, Limited...
, a Trans-Tasman subsidiary company of Kirin.
Establishment and history
James Boag IJames Boag I
James Boag I was the founder and proprietor of J. Boag & Sons, owner of the Boag's Brewery in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia....
arrived in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
with his wife, Janet, and their four children in 1853. The family spent three months in the Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
goldfields
Gold mining
Gold mining is the removal of gold from the ground. There are several techniques and processes by which gold may be extracted from the earth.-History:...
, then came to Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
under engagement to John Fawns. James I and his son, James Boag II
James Boag II
James Boag II was the son of James Boag I, and co-proprietor of J. Boag & Sons, owner of the Boag's Brewery in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.Educated in Launceston, James Boag II was an energetic entrepreneur...
, left the Cornwall Brewery in 1878. James II went into partnership with John Glenwright at the Cataract Brewery. James I became the licensee of the All Year Round Hotel.
In 1881 the Esk Brewery was established on the banks of the North Esk River
North Esk River
The North Esk River is a river in Tasmania, Australia. It is one of the tributaries of the Tamar River together with the South Esk River. It starts in the Northallerton Valley below Mt Ben Nevis in the states North East joining with the St Patricks River, flowing through Launceston. Launceston's...
in Launceston by Charles Stammers Button. John Fawns died, and James Boag III was born.
In 1883, James I and his son, James II, took over the Esk Brewery. J. Boag & Son was officially formed in 1883, as the partnership between James Boag I and his son, to operate the brewery. The company's initial output was seven hogshead
Hogshead
A hogshead is a large cask of liquid . More specifically, it refers to a specified volume, measured in either Imperial units or U.S. customary units, primarily applied to alcoholic beverages such as wine, ale, or cider....
s (80,000 litres) of beer weekly. The name 'Esk Brewery' was retained, although 'Boag's Brewery' became a frequent reference.
In 1887 James Boag II began management of the company on the retirement of his father. A new malthouse was built and weekly production had increased to more than 500 hogsheads with the brewery employing a constant 30 members of staff.
James Boag I died in 1890.
In 1898 J. Boag & Son purchased the Cornwall Brewery and amalgamated it with the Esk Brewery. James Boag II died in 1919 and was succeeded by James Boag III who had been training at Tooth and Co.
Tooth and Co.
Tooth and Co. was the major brewer of beer in New South Wales, Australia. The company owned a large brewery on Broadway in Sydney from 1835 until 1985, known as the Kent Brewery...
's brewery in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
.
In 1924 James Boag III retired temporarily from the company, and returned in 1930 as Managing Director, a position he held until his death in 1944. His obituary in the Examiner reported: "Having been closely connected with business and sporting activities, Mr Boag was known and respected by a wide circle of friends. At the time of his death, he was Managing Director of J. Boag & Son Limited and a Director of Tasmanian Breweries Pty Limited."
George Boag, James III's second son, took over James' seat on the Board of J. Boag & Son.
George Boag was the last Boag working in the business, he retired to Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
in 1976, after the death of his wife Gwen.
In the 1990s Boag's launched two new lines of beer — James Boag's Premium Lager
Lager
Lager is a type of beer made from malted barley that is brewed and stored at low temperatures. There are many types of lager; pale lager is the most widely-consumed and commercially available style of beer in the world; Pilsner, Bock, Dortmunder Export and Märzen are all styles of lager...
in 1994, and Boag's Strongarm Bitter
Bitter (beer)
Bitter is an English term for pale ale. Bitters vary in colour from gold to dark amber and in strength from 3% to 7% alcohol by volume.-Brief history:...
in 1997.
In 2000 San Miguel Corporation
San Miguel Corporation
Established in 1890 as a brewery, San Miguel Corporation is Southeast Asia's largest publicly listed food, beverage and packaging company with over 17,000 employees in over 100 major facilities throughout the Asia-Pacific....
acquired J. Boag & Son (previously a publicly listed company
Public limited company
A public limited company is a limited liability company that sells shares to the public in United Kingdom company law, in the Republic of Ireland and Commonwealth jurisdictions....
) for $92 million. The existing Tasmanian management was retained to continue running the company; production had increased annually for the previous 3 years and this growth was planned to continue.
In 2002 James Boag's Premium Light was launched nationally and won "New Beer of the Year" at the Australian Liquor Industry Awards. James Boag's Premium Lager was awarded "Best Marketed Beer" at the Australian Liquor Industry Awards. The Boag's Centre for Beer Lovers opened in the historic Tamar Hotel.
In 2004 Boag's Brewery was expanded to occupy the complete block enclosed by William, Tamar and Shield Streets and The Esplanade.
J. Boag and Son currently (2010) employes over 150 people and produces over 76,000,000 litres of beer annually.
San Miguel sold J. Boag & Son to Lion Nathan Ltd
Lion Nathan
Lion Nathan National Foods is the parent company created in October 2009, into which Lion Nathan and National Foods were merged. It is fully owned by Kirin Holdings Company, Limited...
in November 2007 for $325 million.
Beers
- James Boag's Premium Lager — A European style pilsner, AVB 5.0%. Launched in 1994.
- James Boag's Premium Light — A low alcohol European style pilsner, AVB 2.9%. Launched in 2002.
- Boag's Draught — A traditional Australian style of lager, AVB 4.6%. Circa mid 1880’s.
- Boag's Draught Light — A low alcohol Australian style of lager, AVB 2.7%. Launched in 2004.
- James Boag's Pure — A super premium made with 100% Tasmanian ingredients, AVB 4.5%. Launched in 2009.
- Boag's Classic Blonde — A low carbohydrate style of lager, AVB 4.5%. Launched in 2007.
- Boag's Wizard Smith ale — A traditional English Pale Ale, AVB 5.0%. Launched in 2007. Only available in Tasmania.
- Boag's XXX Ale — An Australian style of lager. AVB 4.8%. Launched in 1881. Only available in Tasmania.
- Boag's St George - A premium southern Californian style of lager, AVB 4.8%. Launched in 2004. Production Ceased 2011, Still Available.
- Boag's Honey Porter — A limited edition porter made with Tasmanian leatherwood honey (Currently not in production).
- Every drop of Boag's beer is produced in Launceston, Tasmania, at the Boag's brewery.
- Every beer brewed by Boag's is vegan.
Boag's Centre for Beer Lovers
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
building had become one of Launceston's most notable hotels. George Radford and his family were the first to operate a hotel on this site and were here for 26 years. Mary Radford was the first female licensee. In the nineteenth century, it was not unusual for women to run family hotels after the deaths of their husbands. For half of its 150 years, the Tamar Hotel was owned by women. Today the building has been restored to house the Boag's Centre for Beer Lovers.