Hope for beer interest to brew up tourism increase

The South Australian Government is hoping emerging interest in micro-brewing will boost tourism in the Riverland.

Wilkadene-Woolshed Brewery has received $18,000 in funding from the SA Government's Tourism Development Support Program for production support.

The brewery also received a grant of $50,000 from the State Government in 2009 to assist with the development of brewing facilities on the site.

The brewery was officially opened at the weekend by the Tourism Minister Leon Bignell who said the venue would provide something new for people visiting the region.

"We know people love coming to South Australia for its fine food and wine but we're seeing breweries pop up now," he said.

"That's not just a South Australian or an Australian trend, we're seeing that throughout North America where people are looking for smaller, high quality beers - it's just another way people can taste the region while they're here."

Brewery manager Sarah Dowdell says they have many plans.

"I think this is really just going to be the beginning for us now," she said.

"We've only just sort of scratched the surface in the last couple of years with what we can do and now that we're officially opened we'll start promoting the place a bit more and hope to have a few more things out here in the warmer months ... with live music and things like that on the weekend and yes, just the beginning."

Source: ABC News, 13 May 2013