Breheny Brothers beers are being brewed in Hobart for the first time in over 100 years, after the lost brewing history of the Tasmanian Breheny brothers was uncovered by cousins, James and Justin Breheny, in 2021.
Breheny Bros. Breweries was originally formed in the 1890's by the six Breheny brothers – James, Peter, John, Thomas, Edward and Michael – to hold ownership of their breweries in Sale, Warrenheip, Bendigo and Toowoomba.
The company was reformed in 2021 by James and Justin Breheny, grandchildren of James Breheny, in Victoria. They relaunched the Breheny Bros. beers (Bitter, Lager, Stout, Draught, Pale Ale, and Non-alcoholic) in 2022, utilising the original recipes from the 1910's.
James Breheny said bringing any brand back to life is an amazing but difficult process, one that needed to be centralised in Victoria.
“It was always our intention to brew the beer again in Hobart but we needed the volumes to build to make it viable,” said Breheny.
“Our family had an amazing brewing history and taking the recipes that are over one hundred years old and brewing them again was totally amazing, and the results are wonderful. The beers are really smooth and palatable, just what thirsty working people needed back then.”
According to the company, the historic beers were mainstream at their prime, an example of what working class people drank in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They were originally brewed at Tasmanian Co-op Brewery, on Elizabeth Street in Hobart, which is still standing today.
“I couldn’t believe the Breheny Brothers buildings are still in Hobart and Launceston, I must have driven past them a thousand times and had no idea of the family connection,” said Breheny.
“Fortunately Tasmanians have rediscovered the beers too and made brewing again in the state viable. After a long search, Moo Brew is making the Tas Co-Op Brewery beer on a contract basis to the original family recipes.
“So far Co-Op beers are stocked in Hobart both on premise and takeaway with wholesale distribution through ALM and LIQ Distributors in both package and draught form,” he said.
Tasmanian Co Op Stout and Lager are now being produced in kegs and cans in Hobart.
