Scottsdale’s Little Rivers Brewing Co has become a staple of the Tasmanian craft beer scene, since it was founded in 2014.
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After starting his career as a winemaker, Little Rivers owner, and head brewer, Chris Carins discovered his true love while working at Burleigh Brewing Co in the Gold Coast.
However, after two years of living on the Coast, his now-wife Jessica longed to return to Scottsdale.
“I said, ‘We're only moving back if we start a brewery’,” Chris recalled.
Mrs Carins was only too happy to oblige.
“After a week or two, demand went nuts so I had to quit my job and be a full time brewer.”
Three years later and Little Rivers now produce approximately 300,000 litres of beer every year.
Its core range consists of five different beer varieties – pale ale, golden ale, European dark lager, hefeweizen and a mid-strength pale ale.
However, the Scottsdale brewer is also well-known for creating specialty brews with unique and specific themes.
In particular, Little Rivers has a penchant for creating alcoholic homages to the North East, evidenced by the creation of the Dorset Lager and the Weldborough Chin Chin.
In return, the North East, and particularly Scottsdale, have fully embraced Little Rivers and its continually expanding range.
Anyone who travels through the region will notice that it is very difficult to find any licensed venue that does not stock any of the brewery’s products.
The popularity of Scottsdale’s beer festival Scottstoberfest is further evidence of the region’s burgeoning commitment to the craft beer scene.
However, it hasn’t been a natural transition for the Dorset municipality.
Prior to Little Rivers, most beer drinkers in Scottsdale stuck to stock-standard lagers, and would never touch anything as exotic as an Indian Pale Ale, according to Chris.
“The locals have really got behind us,” he said.
“We've seen the transition [in Scottsdale] from a town where it's all Boags drinkers to actually trying new beers.”
Little Rivers’ rise is symptomatic of a larger movement toward locally produced food and beverages occurring across the country.
People now want more than just the base product – they want to feel like they have a genuine connection with the producer.
“There was only six or seven craft breweries [in Tasmania] when we started, but there's 26 to 30 now,” Chris said.
“People want a story behind whatever they're eating or drinking, and Tassie is perfect for that.
“That's what our generation really look for in their produce now.”