John Boston was a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none.
He crafted Australia’s first beer in 1796 using corn bittered with love-apple stalks at his mill on Bennelong Point. Initial excitement quickly turned sour after the guards in Old Sydney Town tasted the drop. Boston tried his hand at many other things – republican, apothecary, trained surgeon and salt maker. Unable to provide any other value to the colony he departed our shores, but soon came to an end at the hands of the hungry cannibals on an island in the South Pacific.
So let’s celebrate the loveable rogue who tried his hand at everything. Rest assured, 200 years too late for John Boston, we’ve crafted these brews in Honour of the great man in a state-of-the-art brewery ensuring no stalks are included. When you’re savouring your beer at the end of the day take a moment to thank the man who began it all – John Boston, Australia’s First Brewer 1796.
Sometime in the mid-1700’s
John Boston is born in Birmingham, England. As a young
man, he became a staunch republican, which spurred his
decision to leave England.
1793
John Boston recommends himself to the Colonial Office as a surgeon and apothecary, versed in the arts of brewing
2 May 1794
John Boston, alongside his wife and three children, sets sail
for Australia aboard the HMS Surprize.
25 October 1794
The Boston family lands in Sydney and John begins his
trade of salting fish at Broken Bay.
1795
Due to insufficient supplies of salt, John Boston offers his
skills to procure salt from seawater at Bennelong Point.
1796
John Boston brews Australia’s first beer at Bennelong Point.
Initial excitement in Sydney Town quickly turned sour after
tasting the drop.
1800s
Boston eventually used his skills to become an Ocean
Trader in the South Pacific. Legend has it, John came
to his end at the hands of the hungry cannibals in the
South Pacific.
Today
200 years too late for John Boston, we finally got the brew right. So when you’re savouring your beer at the end of the day take a moment to thank the man who began it all.
