Van Dieman

A few years back, Will Tatchell departed Tasmania to take up a brewing job at Guinness in Ireland. He never made it, the dream position dashed by an email that landed in his inbox while he travelled through Nepal with his dad telling him the job had gone. Undaunted, he continued on to the UK, sent emails to 100 breweries from the Orkneys in the north of Scotland to the south coast of England and landed a place at Milton, in the university city of Cambridge.

"Part of the job was to walk into these colleges with Harry Potter like dining halls and try to sell the brewery's beers," says Will. "The Aussie accent seemed to help!"

Within two weeks of starting, he was brewing by himself, immersing himself in the art of brewing real ales - and developing a love for British ales that he brought back with him to Australia in 2006. Faced with a choice of working for another brewery or starting his own, he chose the latter, installing a brewery on family land outside Evandale. It's a beautiful spot, with the brewery shed set among 100-year-old oak trees (the ones on Van Dieman's labels) in the rolling countryside just south of Launceston.

After 25 trial batches, Will finally released his first beers - a Pale, an Amber and a Stout based on beers he'd brewed in the UK - on Anzac Day in 2009. He continued with the British theme, producing ESBs, IPAs and a Hedgerow ale that uses berries from the farm, all of which either take their name from nearby landmarks or give a nod to their Tassie heritage, before exploring an interest in barrel-aged, sour and estate grown ales. The last of these refers to his mission to develop beers in which every ingredient is grown or sourced on the farm.

Part of the farm was turned over to growing barley for his beers, which they now malt on-site, and, mid-2016, a coolship was installed, while hops have been grown on site for years. It means that, in November 2017, the first of the Estate Ales appeared, each bearing the names of Will and Kalie's three kids, Edward, Oscar and Max.

The Estate Ales arrival coincided with a rebrand and more new beers with a barrel focus too, including a three-year-old wild ale and a barrel and Brett-fermented IPA, and have continued with the installation of a small malthouse on the farm.

For now, Van Dieman's brewery remains a production facility – one that has been constantly expanding since opening – and one where Will's not just using family land. Head in on bottling days and you might find mum and dad lending a hand – and maybe even Will's kids on hand too. If you want to find his beers, chances are you'll have to head to Tassie as such is demand in his home state that Will sells 95 percent of his beers there.

Name
Van Dieman
Address

537 White Hills Road
Evandale
TAS 7258

Phone
(03) 6391 9035
Tours

By arrangement only


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

Van Dieman Regulars

Van Dieman Freycinet Pilsner

Published December 15, 2021
The past couple of years have seen more brewers add a lager – or lager-like "draught" – to their lineup, sometimes as a means of appeasing visitors after something unchallenging and familiar, on occasion with an eye on broadening their appeal outside the crafty bubble. For summer 2021/22, Van Dieman have joined the gang, although it's fair to say Freycinet Pilsner is a far cry from the Mexican cerveza and Tooheys-mimickers on the market. The biggest sidestep comes early on: primary… Read more
Style
Oak-Fermented Pilsner
ABV
4.1%
Bitterness
12 IBU

Van Dieman Early & Late Table Beers

Published December 3, 2018
Use of the term Table Beer is becoming increasingly common among Australian brewers. As with many terms plucked from history – such as farmhouse ale with its origins in the same region of the world – it's a pretty broad church, taking in typically lower alcohol beers once served from jugs with a meal. But, given table beer's origins in parts of France and Belgium, those created locally tend to take inspiration from there too, often using farmhouse yeast strains and favouring malt and yeast-derived… Read more
Style
Table Beers
ABV
3.0% & 4.5%
Bitterness
15 IBU & 31 IBU

Van Dieman Ragged Jack

Ragged Jack is a mountain close to Evandale, the beer that takes its name a traditional English style pale ale. In keeping with the style, it's a copper-coloured affair with a floral, slightly honeyed aroma and a blend of honey and biscuit malt flavours backed up by an earthy, slightly spicy bitterness.… Read more
Style
English Pale Ale
ABV
4.2%

Van Dieman White Hills

A beer that's been tweaked and tweaked and tweaked by Will since its first launch, this is a Belgian witbier style complete with the addition of orange peel and coriander seed in the brewing process. Slightly cloudy, it's designed to be a refreshing quaffer, with light citrus and spicy aromas and a slightly sweet, fruity flavour and only the gentlest of bitterness.… Read more
Style
White Ale
ABV
5.0%

Van Dieman Stacks Bluff

Taking its name from a local escarpment popular with hikers, this is Van Dieman's oatmeal stout, a beer that offers up bags of coffee backed up by some chocolate characters. The use of vanilla pods in the brew adds a subtle smooth vanilla touch too. … Read more
Style
Oatmeal Stout
ABV
5.0%

Van Dieman Jacob's Ladder

A beer with plenty of dark caramel, chocolate - even roasty - charcters that takes its lead from English style amber ales, albeit with a higher carbonation. There's a hint of floral English hops, but little bitterness, in an ale that's all about the malt.… Read more
Style
Amber Ale
ABV
4.2%

Van Dieman Specials

Van Dieman Estate Ales: North Pole & South Pole Porters

Published August 3, 2022
Another milestone for Van Dieman here. Years on from setting out to create "estate ales" – beers made exclusively from ingredients sourced on the family farm south of Launceston, here are the first beers that not only fit that bill but also featured brewery founder Will Tatchell's first farm-made specialty malts. Will has been producing base malt from barley grown and harvested on the land for some time; here, he's taken things a little further and created Munich, Crystal, Chocolate and… Read more
Style
Estate Baltic & Robust Porters
ABV
6.2% & 5.9%
Stockists

Tandy's Alehouse

Buttons Brewing

Boodle Beasley

More TBC

More stockists...

Van Dieman Vandemonium

Published December 15, 2021
Very occasionally, something comes along that's so good you can't believe nobody thought of it before. Now, I'm not saying the name of this beer is up there with the invention of the wheel or the whoopee cushion per se, but, boy, it's close. Indeed, when I made such a comment to the man behind it, Van Dieman's founder Will Tatchell responded with: "Oh, I’ve sat on it for a few years waiting to get around to producing a Hazy Boi." Having finally reached that point, he's not held back either;… Read more
Style
DDH Cryo NEIPA
ABV
7.5%
Bitterness
34 IBU

Van Dieman Deep Roots Oaked XPA

Published September 6, 2021
Even with the pace of beer releases remaining at such a dizzying speed, there's still ways to stand out with a new release – and that point remains true even when you approach a beer style so many of the country's other brewers have made. It feels like Van Dieman's spring 2021 release does just that; it's not only a left-of-centre XPA but a bit of a left-of-centre seasonal from the brewery too. Often, the Tasmanian brewery's releases are expressions of their farm but – aside from wet-hopped beers… Read more
Style
Oaked XPA
ABV
5.7%

Van Dieman Max & Kalie 2021

Published June 18, 2021
With their three kids already honoured with a beer in their name, now it's time for Kalie, Van Dieman founder Will Tatchell's wife, to join the pack. As with their offspring's beers, it's in the shape of another of the farm brewery's estate ales – beers created solely with ingredients grown, sourced and processed on their land. But first, the returning Max, a beer that first appeared in 2017 and quickly became one of Will's personal favourites. Again, it's a combination of homegrown Pilsner malt… Read more
Style
Australian Wild Ales
ABV
5.3% & 4.8%

Van Dieman Elderflower, Wild Nectar & Fence Line

Published November 11, 2020
If there's one thing this trio of Australian spontaneous ales from Van Dieman suggests, it's there's something of a house – or should that be farm – character developing among the gently undulating fields south of Launceston. While there are distinctions to be drawn, despite the different methods by which they came to be, their different ages, and different ingredients, there's a clear line to be drawn between the three too. Chances are you won't try all three at once like we did when sampling… Read more
Style
Australian Spontaneous Ales
ABV
6.5% & 7.1% & 5.9%
Stockists

Order online here

Crafty Cabal members can save 10% on orders

Van Dieman Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush

Published July 28, 2020
What is the world coming to? A fruited sour from Van Dieman in which I don't have to look up the name of the fruit to find out what it is – whatever next? After releases featuring rarities such as medlar and greengage, this time around Will Tatchell looks to lead us a merry dance with mulberries. It's another beer from the brewery's Wilderness Project featuring spontaneously fermented and barrel-aged specialties; here, farm-grown mulberries have been added to liquid that spent close to three years… Read more
Style
Fruited Australian Wild Ale
ABV
6.2%
Bitterness
8 IBU
Stockists

Available for pre-order here.

Van Dieman Eagle Tree

Published April 5, 2020
If you've been playing along with the Isolation Beer Festival celebrating Tasmania's indie brewers – an online affair in the time of COVID-19 taking place as I type these words – then you may well already be familiar with Eagle Tree; it's one of three beers brewer Will Tatchell has been selling in Isolation Packs and also the most recent in Van Dieman's lineup of spontaneously fermented estate ales. If you're not familiar with it, but you're a fan of such beers, you'll want to become acquainted… Read more
Style
Australian Spontaneous Ale
ABV
6.2%

Van Dieman Medlar

Published August 13, 2019
One of the many marvellous things about wild ales is the element of the unknown, the unpredictable, they can possess. Sure, for brewers it might mean a lot of liquid disappearing down the drain after months or years of patience, while for drinkers they may encounter an experience that's not always for them. But it can also lead to moments like my first meeting with Van Dieman's Medlar, the latest wild ale to leave the Tasmanian farm brewery. In quick succession, my thought processes (and hastily… Read more
Style
Fruited Wild Ale
ABV
7.5%
Bitterness
15 IBU
Stockists

Order direct from Van Dieman here

Van Dieman Wilderness Project: Long Shadows & Unpredictable Spring

Published August 9, 2019
The transformation of Van Dieman from a farm-based brewery producing pretty normal beers, other than the odd one featuring ingredients from the Evandale property, into a brewery bottling the farm has been years in the making. The final step in the mission to produce 100 percent estate ales – brewed solely with ingredients grown, sourced and processed on site – was the firing up of a small malting setup, leading to the release of beers such as the trio named after founder Will Tatchell's three… Read more
Style
Australian Spontaneous Ales
ABV
6.0% & 5.9%
Bitterness
Both 12 IBU

Van Dieman Giblin X

Published June 21, 2019
Giblin is the imperial stout that's been in the Van Dieman limited release locker for years. And, like the brewery itself, it's one that's evolving as Will Tatchell's farm-based, estate ale-creating operation moves into a second decade. No longer is it enough to put out an imperial stout brewed with water, malt, hops and yeast, this time around it's a case of homegrown hops and a full year in just-emptied Port barrels. Clearly, the latter made their mark as the first comment by Will Ziebell of this… Read more
Style
Port Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
ABV
10.0%
Bitterness
92 IBU
Stockists

Bottles leaving the brewery mid-July

Kegs rolling out at events over the second half of 2019

Van Dieman Estate Ale: Oscar

Published January 2, 2019
Over the past few years, Will Tatchell has been working towards the creation of a series of Estate Ales, beers brewed with ingredients sourced on his family farm in Evandale, a short drive outside Launceston. The first two examples – Max and Edward – appeared at the end of 2017 and now, with a small, onsite malting operation up and running, they're joined by a third, Oscar. It's tagged a farmhouse IPA, one that features not just homegrown and kilned ale malt but raw barley, Cascade, Pride of… Read more
Style
Estate Farmhouse IPA
ABV
5.2%
Bitterness
45 IBU

Van Dieman Claude

Published December 4, 2018
Picture the scene... It's late summer in Leongatha in the heart of Gippsland's pristine dairy country. There, in an orchard sat amid green, rolling hills, sits a single greengage tree. Up wanders a nine-year-old boy, the youngest of three, under a tumble of blond curls. Hoping no one is looking, reaches up and helps himself to fruit after fruit after fruit, wallowing in the sugary, sweet flesh. Though he doesn't yet know it, childhood nostalgia is made of such moments. "Will!" comes a voice… Read more
Style
Fruited Wild Ale
ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
26 IBU

Van Dieman Bramble

Published December 4, 2018
Van Dieman has been making more and more use of the bounty of its family farm in recent years. And, for Bramble, cast the net a little wider and added some juicy, "almost overripe" blackberries to the mix in another fruited farmhouse style ale. And it's up there as one of the funkier creations to come our way. Indeed, while to taste there's much that's reminiscent of a soft, summery table wine to this barrel-fermented saison – summer and autumn berries, a gentle acidity – on the nose… Read more
Style
Fruited Wild Ale
ABV
7.5%
Bitterness
9 IBU

Van Dieman Old Bubba Hubbard & After Dinner Mint

Published June 19, 2018
It appears Will Tatchell at Van Dieman, in Tasmania, has been pining for his youth, or maybe he's developed a sweet tooth, a reaction to the often dry and funky series of estate ales and barrel aged beers he released at the end of 2017? Whatever the cause, this pairing of beers sits snugly in the colourful camp. Old Bubba Hubbard is the brewery's GABS 2018 entry, one that takes a hefeweizen base as its starting point and looks to end up somewhere in the vicinity of Hubba Bubba bubblegum via the use… Read more
Style
Berry Hefeweizen & Choc Mint Stout
ABV
5.0% & 6.0%
Bitterness
40 IBU & 45 IBU

Van Dieman Tetu & Duchess

Published December 20, 2017
Time to wrap up the last of the four barrel aged beers released by Van Dieman at the end of 2017 with a duo that are perhaps the least alike of the quartet. First up, Tetu, a farmhouse table beer fermented in oak with fresh raspberries and blackberries from the farm. Once you've uncorked the bottle and disgorged its contents (having a butler on hand is recommended), you're presented with a peachy, pinky, orange drop awash with lovely summer berry aromas. It's light on the palate, with a prickly yet… Read more
Style
Barrel Aged Farmhouse Ales

Van Dieman Estate Ale: Max

Published December 14, 2017
There's plenty that has Van Dieman founder Will Tatchell excited about his estate ales project. But, possibly, nothing has excited him as much as Max, one of the three beers he's producing with malt, water, hops and yeast grown on the family farm in Tasmania. At various times in our discussions about the project, Will has declared it to be "pure enjoyment", something he'd have "no problem drinking from 7am to 12am" (we're certain he hasn't got time to do so...), "a pure delight"… Read more
Style
Estate Grown Saison
ABV
5.3%
Bitterness
20 IBU

Van Dieman Estate Ale: Edward

Published December 14, 2017
One of the first two estate ales released by Van Dieman is Edward, brother to Max and very different in nature. Despite being built with many of the same constituent parts, including the same indigenous yeast, Edward is something of a bruiser compared to the light and flighty Max. Described as a hoppy farmhouse ale, it delivers on both fronts. The "hoppy" comes from Van Dieman's Super Pride hops and brings a resinous, drying hop bitterness to the table as well as, presumably, contributing… Read more
Style
Estate Grown Hoppy Farmhouse Ale
ABV
5.4%
Bitterness
35 IBU

Van Dieman Loquacious Barrel Aged Wild Ale

Published December 13, 2017
Loquacious is one of six beers released at the same time at the end of 2017 by Tasmania's Van Dieman, alongside three other barrel aged beers and the brewery's first two "estate ales". It's also the one of the six that, once it was poured into glasses, conjured the least initial excitement thanks to the presence of some "floaties" within the hazy orange liquid. Why were they there? Well, the beer – as hinted at by its title – contains loquat, a member of the citrus family.… Read more
Style
Barrel Aged Loquat Wild Ale
ABV
7.5%
Bitterness
50 IBU

Van Dieman Hedgerow Barrel Aged Sour 2016

Published December 12, 2017
Van Dieman's Hedgerow ale has been around almost as long as the brewery itself and is probably the best way to plot the evolution of the farm-based operation south of Launceston. When it first appeared, it was a beer inspired by the English real ales Will Tatchell had brewed in the UK before returning home, albeit with some unique additions: sloe berries, hawthorn berries and rose hips gathered from the farm. In subsequent years, it was aged in barrels, collecting an Australian International Beer… Read more
Style
Flanders Red Style Ale
ABV
6.1%
Bitterness
20 IBU

Van Dieman Motor Mouth IPA & Summer Berry Grisette

Published January 21, 2016
With each passing year, it seems that Will Tatchell at Van Dieman is having more and more fun. He added a fine barley wine aged for a year in muscat barrels to his lineup late last year, is planning to create an "estate ale" featuring ingredients all sourced on his family's farm and is now embarking on a spot of blending at this summer's Tassie beer festivals. Making up part of those blends are two new releases which you can also enjoy as standalones. The first is Motormouth IPA, named… Read more
Style
IPA & Berry Grisette
ABV
5.5% & 3.4%
Stockists

And select other venues in TAS, ACT & NSW

Van Dieman Barley Wine

Published November 17, 2015
For the most part, Will Tatchell spends his time in the brewery creating pretty traditional brews that wouldn't have been out of place in the small English breweries where he learnt his trade. Then, every now and then, he goes and pulls something a little outrageous out of the hat. Perhaps most notable in the rabbit-from-hat category is the Hedgerow, an annual release that started out as a soft, fruity, malty ale featuring various ingredients plucked from the hedgerows of his family's farm that has… Read more
Style
Barrel Aged Barley Wine
ABV
14.0%
Stockists

Josef Chromy Wines (Van Dieman's "cellar door")

Crafty Brew

Cool Wine, Hobart

Club Hotel, Burnie

Mill Providore, Launceston

Kings Meadows Hotel, Launceston

Edge of the Bay, Coles Bay

Stillwater, Launceston

More stockists...

Van Dieman Brewing Harvest Ales 2015

Published April 24, 2015
For Tasmania's Van Dieman, brewing one beer to celebrate the recent hop harvest just wasn't enough. He's gone for a pair, each one showcasing different locally grown hops in two very different beers, both of which he's brewed in the past. One is the New Harvest White IPA, a hoppy, spicy pale Belgian style that looks to combine the spicy characters of a witbier with layer upon layer of fresh, fruity hops grown on the farm where he brews his beer. The hops doing the majority of the work on the flavour… Read more
Style
Harvest Ales
ABV
7.0% & 5.6%
Bitterness
65 IBU & 45 IBU
Stockists

Pyrmont Point Hotel

Saint John Craft Beer, Launceston

Preachers, Hobart

More stockists...

Van Dieman Giblin Imperial Stout & Enigma IPA

Published August 8, 2014
Clearly Will Tatchell is something of a glutton for punishment - or has a team of eager beavers on hand come packaging day. Because having been inspired to follow the Belgian lead and painstakingly wrap the 2,500 bottles of his Hedgerow Sour in pretty paper, he's done the same with this year's release of his Giblin Imperial Stout. Given many of the imperial stouts coming out from Australian brewers these days tip the scales above 10 percent, this one is a pretty restrained affair; at 7.7 percent… Read more
Style
Imperial Stout & IPA
ABV
7.7% & other
Stockists

Saint John Craft Beer, Launceston

Crown Cellars

Mill Providore, Launceston

Alps & Amici, Launceston

Cool Wine, Hobart

Abbey Bottleshop, Hobart

Club Hotel, Burnie

Slowbeer

More stockists...

Van Dieman Hedgerow 2014

Published July 17, 2014
Tasmanian brewer Van Dieman's Hedgerow has had an interesting development. Originally a soft, malt led annual release that made use of various pickings from around head brewer Will Tatchell's parents' farm, where there brewery is based, in 2012 he decided to place it into pinot barrels too. The result was a delightful, spritzy, fruity and delicate sour that ended up collecting gold at last year's Australian International Beer Awards. It's been a couple of years between Hedgerows and again there has… Read more
Style
Barrel-Aged Sour
ABV
6.6%
Stockists

Saint John Craft Beer, Launceston

Crown Cellars

Mill Providore, Launceston

Alps & Amici, Launceston

Cool Wine, Hobart

Abbey Bottleshop, Hobart

Club Hotel, Burnie

Slowbeer

More stockists...

Van Dieman Harvest Ale 2014

Published March 22, 2014
Recently, we were lucky enough to sample again the last vintage of Van Dieman's barrel-aged sour take on their Hedgerow Ale, a beer that was great when it was straight, utterly wonderful soured, and seemingly getting better with age. Hopefully, there will be a new release soon, but in the meantime Will Tatchell has been keeping busy, with the latest cab off the rank a rather unique Harvest Ale. It's a 7.1 percent ABV white IPA brewed with fresh hops grown on the brewery farm in Evandale and added… Read more
Style
White IPA
ABV
7.1%
Bitterness
55IBU
Stockists

Keg only release around Tasmania

First keg at Saint John Craft beer ' March 22

Van Dieman Dubbel Shot

Published July 3, 2013
This is the first beer of what Van Dieman brewer Will Tatchell hopes to be a series of beers under the Mash Up moniker. The idea is to hook up with as many of his local primary producers in Tasmania to create collaborations that celebrate the colourful nature of the land. First up is this collaboration with Evandale roasters Ritual Coffee that first saw the light at this year's GABS and has since been bottled and sent out around the state. The base beer is a Belgian Dubbel so Will didn't want anything… Read more
Style
Coffee Dubbel
ABV
6.6%
Stockists

Keg

Jack Greene, Hobart

Preachers Bar, Hobart

New Sydney Hotel, Hobart

Alchemy Bar, Hobart

Bottle

Cool Wine, Hobart

The Abbey, Hobart

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Van Dieman Geronimo

Published January 18, 2013
Tasmania's Van Dieman Brewing is releasing an extremely short run beer this weekend. Created in conjunction with Meander Valley Berries, the beer is based upon a Belgian wheat beer style, with the intention being to provide a summer refresher as well as showcasing as much of the fruit flavour as possible. A rather sizeable 120kg of fresh strawberries were added to the beer, where they spent 14 days in the tank. At that point, the beer was transferred to another vessel along with a further 80kg of… Read more
Style
Fruit Wheat Beer
ABV
4.3%
Stockists

Tamar Valley Beer Festival

Festivale

Van Dieman Hedgerow Autumn Ale 2012

Published April 13, 2012
Anyone that's enjoyed the previous edition of Van Dieman's take on harvest ales - using harvested rose hips, hawthorn and sloe berries from around the family farm rather than freshly harvest hops - will be in for something of a surprise this time around. Whereas in the past, there was the addition of a subtle forest fruits like character to a soft, malt-led English style ale, in 2012 it's all about the funk. Instead of racking the beer over the farm pickings for six weeks, brewer Will racked them… Read more
Style
Barrel-Aged Sour Ale
ABV
6.1%
Stockists

Crown Cellars ' Launceston

Alps & Amici ' Launceston

Crown Hotel ' Burnie

Cool Wine ' Hobart

On tap:

Preachers Bar ' Hobart

New Sydney Hotel

More stockists...

Van Dieman Hedgerow

Published November 1, 2011
An annual release from Van Dieman that makes full use of the brewery's farm location. Each year just after the first winter frosts, Will heads around the land collecting berries and fruits from the hedgerows and adds them to this rich, malty ale. The beer spends six weeks maturing on sloes, rose hips and hawthorn berries before bottle conditioning for six months. The process adds a layer of forest fruits to the beer, complementing its spicy, earthy hop character well in our pick of the brewery's… Read more
Style
Fruit Ale
ABV
5.8%
Stockists

Van Dieman