Workers ruminate on the 'Boag's ghost' as brewery reaches end of life

The Boag's Brewery in Launceston is set to cease production in November. (ABC News: Andre Leslie)

Just ask the workers at Boag's renowned Tasmanian brewery, which is now nearing the end of its own life, and was once allegedly haunted by a spectre that some say could be occasionally glimpsed throughout its halls.

Beer is always good for loosening the tongue, and the story of the Boag's ghost is one of many tales upon which the brewers have been ruminating of late.

Drunk rats and a resident cat in charge of pest control are among other former occupants to feature in anecdotes shared by staff, as they prepare to have their last drinks later this year.

A photo of Boag's Brewery bottling machines in the brewery's early years from the Launceston Manuscript Collection. (Supplied: State Library and Archives Tasmania)

The brewery is a venue synonymous with Tasmania, but its parent company, Lion Australia, announced on Tuesday its plan to cease production in Launceston by November.

First opening in Launceston in 1881, it is one of Australia's longest continuously operating brewing locations.

The famed northern Tasmanian brewer announces it will cease production in the state by November.

James Boag arrived in Tasmania from Scotland in 1853, working at several breweries along the north of the state.

He and his son, also named James, purchased a series of breweries along the North Esk River, expanding the Boag's operation quickly to become northern Tasmania's favourite beer.

The brewery was passed down the family throughout the years, before the last descendant of the family, George Boag, retired in 1976.

Investment banker Philip Adkins sold the brewery to Philippines brewing giant San Miguel Corporation in 2000, before Lion purchased it for $325 million in 2007.

Adrian Hinds has worked at the brewery for 23 years and said plenty of fables had been passed along the production lines over the years — including the ghost story.

"But there was a Boag's ghost that used to wander around the old workers' bar.

"People would be sitting there and all of a sudden a door would swing open and things like that."

Although Mr Hinds never witnessed the alleged haunting himself, he suggested that's because drinking on the job was phased out.

"When I first started it was very industrial, [but] I sort of missed out on those fun times.

"We [also] used to have an on-site cat; he was our rodent mitigation back in the day. I think his name was Oscar."

Current and former Boag's workers share a beer. (ABC News: Emily Smith)

Duane Smith has worked at the brewery for 13 years