The former Miss Universe said "cheers" to former owner and brewery marketing board member John Singleton.

"I grew up in Newcastle and this is a great opportunity to promote Newcastle and the Central Coast," Ms Hawkins said.

"I'm really thankful for the opportunity to be here and Bluetongue is already a great product and this will only make it better."

Bluetongue, the brainchild of four prominent Newcastle businessmen, originated in Cameron Park in 2006 and is a major sponsor of the Knights. It is considered a Newcastle product.

Former publican of The Queens Wharf Brewery Ian Burford, winemaker Bruce Tyrrell, Paul Hannan from Peach Advertising and Phil Hele from the Hunter Resort at Pokolbin began the concept.

"About seven or eight years ago the four of them sat around and asked why Newcastle couldn't have it's own brewery," Mr Singleton said.

"The Japanese had taken the Tooheys brewery to Sydney and they decided Newcastle ought to have its own beer and that's how Bluetongue started."

The brewery has an annual capacity of 50 hectolitres and resources to expand to 150 hectolitres if demand for the product continues to increase.

Mr Singleton and his consortium sold Bluetongue in February 2008 to Coca-Cola Amatil and SAB Miller, who each took a 50 per cent share.