The Albert Brewery and Taproom

In the minds of many children-at-heart, the idea of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory is one of which dreams are made. And in the same way that Cadbury’s have their iconic purple colour, The Albert Brewery in Hobart has adopted a particular shade of blue, an approach that’s helped their brand fast become instantly recognisable.

In the case of Willy Wonka, and indeed Cadbury’s, the factory was a wonder of ingenuity and creativity of chocolate. At The Albert? Well, here the ingenuity and creativity is dedicated to brewing nothing but lagers.

Situated in the emergent, multicultural and increasingly “inner” northern Hobart suburb of Moonah, The Albert’s external beer garden in the car park of an otherwise bland row of brick buildings instantly grabs your eye.

Make your way inside and the venue might not be what you’ve come to expect of an on-site taproom: you're met by a low ceiling and polished surfaces with “The Albert” shining boldly in lights from behind a bar lined with blue decals showcasing their latest lineup of lagers.

It’s designed to be accessible for all types of crowds, with a regular after-work tradie crew knocking back frothies on weekdays, and families flocking in on weekends. Venue manager Dech will be found running the bar most days, chatting with regulars while making newcomers feel welcome in an effortless fashion. And if you're after a feed, later in the afternoon there's a good chance you'll find one of many rotating food truck options set up near the entrance.

The venue also has an exceptionally well-curated music list that is somehow timeless, nostalgic and modern all at once. It’s played through an unusually high-quality sound system – you know when music feels “loud” but you can still hear your neighbour talk without straining? This is that.

Indeed quality is a running theme throughout The Albert Brewery. In a craft beer market largely dominated by ales, The Albert’s mission is to “make lager the hero again.” Working on a marvellous-looking, 50-year-old brewhouse that was once the pilot kit at one of the world's foremost lager breweries, head brewer JJ King – formerly of serial trophy-winners 4 Pines and Green Beacon – is focused on process without shortcuts to ensure their range of beers is as refined as possible.

While some bemoan the patience required to lager correctly, the team at The Albert pride themselves on taking time, likening their product to an artisan sourdough bread versus a mass-produced sandwich loaf. This is good news for those looking for a craft brewery at which their macro-loving mates and relos will find comfort – rarely will a slice of good sourdough ruffle the noses of a white-toast-for-breakfast eater – while there’s room aplenty for those eager to enjoy the subtle complexities this masterful crafting process creates.

If you're reading this and thinking: “Haven’t I seen blue cans of lager around Tassie before?”, don't worry as your mind isn't playing tricks. The Albert Brewery evolved from Boekamp Bier.

The mission and ethos have passed from one incarnation to the next, and the look and feel have matured through this evolution too, with a small, passionate team at the helm to ensure they’re moving in the direction that had so many beer lovers excited with Boekamp's beers first appeared.

With a core lineup of four distinctly different lagers augmented by a rotating selection of limited releases (yes, all lagers!) The Albert Brewery crew is striving to reimagine what lager means in the Australian beer community through a sharp focus on quality, and with an audience beyond the beer cognoscenti in mind.

Talk of a lager renaissance had been building within the country’s craft brewing industry for years; The Albert Brewery is here to ensure it happens.

Dorian Broomhall

Name
The Albert Brewery and Taproom
Address

73-75 Albert Road
Moonah
TAS 7009

Open Hours

Thurs & Fri: 3pm to 10pm
Saturday: midday to 10pm
Sunday: midday to 5pm


This is a directory listing. To find out more, head here

The Albert Brewery and Taproom Regulars

The Albert Lager

The Albert’s original and most widely available release, this Helles-style lager is designed to be both refreshing and full-flavoured. During those rare stretches of Tasmanian summer, many locals have found themselves reaching for an Albert Lager as their default selection either by the pint or the can. It's not easy to find a beer that's perfect for the BBQ and which can be shared with both your Untappd addicted mate and your shandy-drinking nan, but while I'm yet to mix this with lemonade, there's… Read more
Style
Helles-style Lager
ABV
5.0%

The Albert Pilsner

One of the first two beers put into distinctive blue cans by the team at The Albert, the Pilsner is distinctly different to its more commonly-spotted Helles counterpart. When put side by side with The Albert Lager, the floral, spicy hop aromas and broad bitterness are more noticeable, although in keeping with the brewery's ethos, not in any way that's overpowering. It's a step or two further away from the lagers the country's biggest breweries shower us with, yet The Albert's iteration is understated… Read more
Style
Pilsner
ABV
5.2%

The Albert Blue

Sitting in The Moonah Hotel and Cellars, just around the corner from The Albert Brewery, shortly after it opened, there was no shortage of older folks there who'd just knocked off for the afternoon and had rolled into the pub chasing a mid-strength. At the time, the only mid-strength on tap was a sour beer and I remember thinking, “Gee, there’s a big opportunity for a local player here.” Sure enough, just a few weeks later The Albert Blue mid-strength lager was released. The Blue has been… Read more
Style
Mid-Strength Lager
ABV
3.5%

The Albert Dark Lager

The Albert Dark Lager is not the malty and strong affair you might expect to be associated with the name. Dark red in colour, it serves up a pleasant bitterness that balances the sweet toffee and chocolate tones. As the weather in Tasmania invariably turns cooler, this is a fantastic option for anyone after something lighter than a stout or dark ale, yet still seeking a comfort beer to crack indoors. Dorian Broomhall… Read more
Style
Dark Lager
ABV
5.0%

The Albert Brewery and Taproom Specials

The Albert Strong Lager

Published December 1, 2021
If I was in charge of naming beers at The Albert, I’d call this a session barleywine. Except it’s not a barleywine at all, it’s a lager. And, at 6.4 percent ABV, it’s not what you’d call a “settle in for a six-pack” type beer either. However, The Albert's interpretation of the bock style is smooth and mild, with a candied sugar flavour coming through that is reminiscent of the great American barleywines. It's by no means overpowering, though, and certainly dangerously drinkable for… Read more
Style
Bock
ABV
6.4%

The Albert Red

Published November 10, 2021
The Albert's Red is their spin on a Vienna lager, a style as commonly associated with iconic American beers such as Sam Adams Boston Lager, or Brooklyn's flagship Lager, as it is the mountains of Austria. This beer is not to be confused with the Irish red ales that are found in Tasmania more than any other part of the country; Red is sweeter than it is spicy, with some burnt toffee characteristics present, set alongside a low bitterness and a smooth finish. Dorian Broomhall… Read more
Style
Vienna Lager
ABV
4.9%

The Albert Amber

Published November 1, 2021
Similar to the original IPAs and porters in England, brewed hoppier and stronger to withstand journeys across the oceans to the countries invaded by the British Empire, the Märzen style was first brewed in Germany to last through the summer when higher temperatures could otherwise lead to spoiled brews. The Albert’s Amber Lager is their iteration of such beers, with a slightly higher ABV than most in their lineup. Bright amber in colour, you're met by spice and toffee, although the latter is… Read more
Style
Märzen
ABV
5.6%

The Albert Draught

Published October 1, 2021
The Albert's Draught is brewed to offer drinkers the quintessential Aussie draught. Popular with the tradies filing in after work, this unfiltered pale gold lager possesses more of a bready finish than its Helles counterpart. The soft character from the extended period of lagering comes through particularly clearly on this brew, making Draught extremely drinkable and the perfect companion for an animated conversation. Dorian Broomhall… Read more
Style
Aussie Lager
ABV
4.8%