State has a thirst for beer, and knowledge

It's an age-old debate that still rages - beer versus wine.

While people largely have a preference for one or the other, there's no argument that, with the state's rich vineyards and resulting tourism opportunities, Western Australians have accustomed their palates to cabernet sauvignon and semillon blanc, among others.

And although beer is considered an Australian institution, the beer tourism business remains relatively untapped.

Matt Allan, who co-owns Coolbellup-based The Brewers Dray with wife, Mara, is the latest to launch a beer tourism venture, joining Top Gun Tours and Beer Nuts, which started in 2006.

The three businesses say they are working together, not against each other, to establish a niche market and take on the wine tour industry.

"We don't see any of them as direct competitors, more as allies in creating a new market," Mr Allan told Business Class.

Operating mainly throughout the Swan Valley, but sometimes taking in Fremantle breweries, Mr Allan believes beer tours are an ideal way to capitalise on WA's craft brewing exploits.

"Why can't we build a new tourism sector and get people out there on beer tours as regularly as they are on wine tours?" Mr Allan said.

"If there's any competition then it has to be the age-old beer-versus-wine debate; we're just trying to swing the balance in the direction of beer."

Hailing from the UK, where he grew up in a traditional English village pub, and later working for two of the UK's oldest family brewers, Mr Allan and his wife, a qualified chef, believes WA's local breweries should be showcased.

Beer Nuts founder Martin Jones said the state had a strong appetite for beer tours.

He said Top Gun Tours and The Brewers Dray were more like colleagues than competitors.

"We're looking at a different market; we're looking at people who are not into wine," Mr Jones said.

"And no-one really offers anything for those people here, and certainly not over east."

The Brewers Dray operates between eight and 10 tours a month, with as many as 20 beer enthusiasts on each tour.

Mr Allan said responsible drinking was paramount and was advocated during the tour, which used education as a hook to attract customers.

"A large part to the start of the [tour] day is the educational element," he said.

"Consumers are displaying a bigger thirst for knowledge, they want to support local producers and there is a general greater interest in craft and specialty beers across the board.

"We are in a state with a flourishing craft brewing scene that we are proud to help promote and are bullish about a buoyant year ahead."