THE STORY

open wednesday - sunday
11.30am - LATE

where it started

Hopfields Brewery was started by a local channel couple, Nick & Bec,  who saw the enormous potential in the iconic and historic ‘Brookfield Shed’.  A long tradition of hop growing and cultivation in the area felt like the ideal place to start brewing beer.  Now, we want to share that beer with you, in a cosy and friendly atmosphere that brings locals and and everyone together.

Framed vintage photograph on wall beside mirror with candle reflection.
Black and white photo of an empty bar with tables, chairs, string lights, and a counter lined with bottles and glassware.

Our name is taken from the road that winds behind the property; Hopfields Road.  A reminder of the once large scale agricultural crop that grew here.

THE VENUE &
IT’S HISTORY

The paddocks directly behind our venue were once lined for acres with Hops.  From the early to mid 20th century, this was one of Tassie premier hop growing regions.  The building (and specifically the room where our fermenters now stand) was used to dry and hang the hops, before turning into a general seed drying shed for Yates. The Brookfield building was taken over in 1994 by Peter & Helen, who lovingly started restoring it in 2004. The building is considered so historically significant that it is Heritage Listed, with the following rationale:

Vintage photo of men with horse-drawn cart loaded with bags in agricultural setting, possibly hops farming.

“The Brookfield Seed Drying Shed is significant as one of very few surviving mid-twentieth century seed drying sheds in Australia. It is also significant for features which demonstrate seed drying technology in the mid-twentieth century, and for its role in demonstrating the evolution of Tasmania's agricultural history. It has strong associations with the Yates company, one of the largest seed-growing businesses in Australia.”

Vintage photograph of a large group of people, including men, women, and children, working in a hop field. The scene depicts people picking hops, and there are hop plants hanging on poles. The workers wear period clothing, suggesting an early 20th-century setting.
Vintage black and white photo showing people harvesting hops. Two individuals are sitting on a horse-drawn cart loaded with sacks, while others are standing or sitting on benches amidst tall hop plants. The scene is from a rural setting, likely early 20th century.