IBD Convention Pre and Post Tours

The IBD 2025 Convention presents an exceptional opportunity for attendees to immerse themselves in the world of brewing and distilling through exclusive pre and post-convention tours. At tour 1, participants can explore Tasmania’s renowned Greenbanks and Lark distilleries, witnessing the craftsmanship behind some of Australia’s finest spirits. Tour 2 includes a visit to Hop Products Australia’s Bushy Park farm, a historic and iconic location in the hop industry. With the Tasmanian hop harvest in full swing, visitors will have the rare chance to experience the harvest in action, gaining firsthand insight into the vital ingredients that define exceptional beer. This is a unique blend of education, tradition, and the breathtaking Tasmanian landscape.

Monday 3 March and Friday 7 March.

Pre and Post Tours 1 Brewing

HPA hop harvest at Bushy Park Estates

Every March, hundreds of brewers descend on Hobart and make the pilgrimage to Bushy Park Estates to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of hop harvest. Soon you could be joining us for a journey from paddock to pint as we follow HPA’s Aussie hops from the field through each stage of the production process, from breeding and picking to kilning and baling. You’ll meet HPA’s growers, tour their farm and facilities, and learn about new varieties coming down the hop breeding program pipeline.

We’ll finish the tour with a gourmet BBQ lunch beside the scenic Text Kiln, built by Ebenezer Shoobridge and his family in 1867. Enjoy a local beer showcasing HPA’s Aussie hops as you absorb the biblical scripture that adorns the Text Kiln’s walls or try to spy the resident platypus in the nearby pond.
Ebenezer Shoobridge established Bushy Park Estates as a hop farm in 1867, planting 3 hectares that produced 3 tonnes of hops. HPA purchased the property in 1988. Since then, Bushy Park Estates has become a modern, intensive agribusiness spread over 270 hectares capable of producing more than 431 tonnes of hops each year.
We hope you’ll join us for the pre and post-IBD farm tours. It’ll be one big celebration of Aussie agriculture and Aussie beer.
Agenda
Hop Harvest Tour
Cost $50.00
Register Here
Both pre and post-tours have limited numbers, get in fast to secure your attendance.

Pre and Post Tour 2 Distilling

Greenbanks and Lark Distillery
In a region known for its vast number of malt distilleries, Greenbanks Tasmanian Whisky Co. was established to prove that extraordinary Tasmanian whisky can be produced not only from malted barley, but from other grains as well.
The centrepiece of Greenbanks Distillery is their 24” Vendome continuous distillation system, serviced by world-class process engineering and automation systems designed and installed by Tasmanian businesses Kolmark Engineering and SAGE Automation.
Hosted by head distiller, John Slattery, the tour will look at Greenbanks whisky-making process from end to end, highlighting their on-grain fermentation and distillation processes and integration into the Tasmanian agricultural lifecycle. The tour will conclude with a 15-minute Q&A to unpack your technical questions.
The second stop is the acclaimed Lark Distillery at Pontville. Join head distiller Chris Thompson for a 45-minute guided experience through the iconic LARK Brand home and hear about Australia’s oldest and most innovative single malt whisky distillery.
On this fun and informative whisky adventure, you will dive deeper into the art and science of whisky and discover some of the secrets to making truly great single-malt whisky.
  • You’ll get to taste three Lark whiskies along the way
  • Walk through the process of making single-malt whisky
Cost $ 150.00
Register Here