Tooheys Celebrates 150 years

From the Black Old Ale to Tooheys News Tooheys Celebrates 150 years

FROM 1869 TO 2019, THIS YEAR MARKS A 150-YEAR MILESTONE WORTH CELEBRATING FOR TOOHEYS. IT HAS BREWED A BEER FOR EACH GENERATION BUT THANKS TO THE LOYALTY OF ITS FOLLOWERS IN NEW SOUTH WALES REMAINS AS RELEVANT TODAY AS EVER. THE BRAND IS SYNONYMOUS WITH NSW LIFE AND REMAINS THE NUMBER ONE SELLING BEER IN THE STATE.

The NSW Sheffield Shield Team 1976 – I feel like a Tooheys or two Prince Charles and Tooheys branded surfboard circa 1950

John Toohey

James Toohey

Two Irish brothers, John and James Toohey started production of the black ‘old ale’ which became Tooheys Old at the first Toohey Brewery in Darlinghurst. Business grew and the brewery moved to Surry Hills and finally to Lidcombe where today it employs almost 150 people and still brews Tooheys for the NSW market.

Long time employee of Tooheys, Doug May said the brand and the beer is quintessentially NSW.

“Mateship, sociability, sport, celebrating, kicking back – Tooheys embodies all of these things with the added bonus of being number one in the state,” May said.

“When I first started working for Tooheys it was right at the peak of the ‘How do you feel?’ campaign. Tooheys was the beer sponsor of every sport in NSW, from horse racing to cricket, surf lifesaving to rugby league and even the Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Every sporting victory was toasted with a Tooheys.”

Tooheys brand director, Amy Darvill said Tooheys and NSW go hand-in-hand and always will.

“The best thing about Tooheys’ rich heritage is hearing punters’ favourite memories of the brand. The relatioship between the beer and the people of NSW has truly stood the test of time,” Darvill said.

“The jingle ‘I feel like a Tooheys or two’ very much shaped a generation of beer drinkers, and seeing the joy on peoples faces as they recall the jingle and the fantastic old ads it featured in is absolutely priceless.”

Lovers of Tooheys will have the opportunity to celebrate the milestone with a special release 150th birthday retro can. Tooheys will also host pub takeovers in regional centres of Newcastle, Port Macquarie and Tamworth.

For the first time in 20 years punters will also be able to savour a schooner of Tooheys Country Special in selected venues across the state as part of the commemorative celebrations.