For years, Hobart Brewing’s Red Shed at Macquarie Point was one of the city’s most recognisable beer destinations.

Now the brewery has started again.

Hobart Brewing has relocated its brewing operation and taproom to Argyle Street in North Hobart, taking over the former Overland Brewers & Distillers site.

The move became necessary as redevelopment of the Macquarie Point precinct proceeds ahead of Hobart’s proposed new stadium. The brewery poured its final beers at the Red Shed in June before preparing the new site.

The doors are now open, giving visitors another reason to explore North Hobart.

And while leaving such an established location could easily have been viewed as a setback, there’s an interesting upside.

A smaller brewing system can provide greater flexibility, allowing a brewery to produce smaller batches and experiment with a broader range of beers rather than constantly needing to fill large tanks.

It’s also another example of the changing role of breweries in Australian cities.

Modern breweries aren’t simply factories where beer happens to be made. Increasingly they’re neighbourhood gathering places — somewhere to eat, meet friends, listen to music and experience beer close to where it’s produced.

Hobart Brewing’s new home sits squarely within that model.

The brewery also continues to operate Hobart’s historic Hope & Anchor Tavern, giving it two very different ways of presenting Tasmanian beer to visitors.

Losing the Red Shed undoubtedly closes an important chapter in Hobart’s modern beer history.

But Argyle Street marks the beginning of another.

And for beer travellers, that’s probably reason enough to add North Hobart to the itinerary.