Riverina brewing experts are urging people to purchase locally sourced beer, wine and spirits to support the growth of smaller start-ups and emerging brewers.

Matthew Collins owns his own home brew store in Wagga, Matty's Brewing Supplies, and said for him, running a successful small business was all about passion.

"I've been home brewing since the 1990s. One of my mates was selling his equipment so I checked it out and really enjoyed it," he said.

"I used to do all-grain brewing demonstrations which is a lot different to cans and sugar, it's what we call 'real brewing' so everything is done from scratch where you can pick out all different malts and hops to design a beer you like."

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Matty said he'd made over 80 different styles of beer, including a milk chocolate stout, a chili pale-ale, and more recently a pumpkin beer.

He said there's been a noticeable trend in the industry, and not a positive one.

"It seems to be a bit of a trend over the last five years or so, local guys will start winning awards for their brews and get attention from the big corporations who throw a good amount of money at them and they think, well that pays off the loan and gives them a bit of money for a holiday and such, but once they're taken over that's the end, the quality drops, they always try and cut corners," he said.

"Smaller businesses need to stand up for themselves and start saying 'no, this is our creation', and have more pride and passion in their products."

Voyager Craft Malt is another Riverina business based in Barellan who grow, supply and process grains into malted products for craft breweries, distilleries and artisan bakers.

"We are currently producing a little under 800 tonnes per annum and supply many of the regional breweries including our good friends at Thirsty Crow and Tumut River Brewing here in the Riverina," co-owner Stuart Whytcross said.

Mr Whytcross said their success is directly related to the rise in craft beer.

"Craft brewers are producing a product that focuses primarily on flavour and aroma and thus places a high importance on quality ingredients, so coupled with their ethos of supporting small, local independent businesses like themselves it puts us in a strong position to service this growing industry," he said.

But the popularity of craft brewers has not meant completely smooth sailing for Voyager Craft Malt.

"We also feel the strain on our business, through pressures that our local craft brewers are currently faced with-high levels of excise, venue tap contracts used by big players to lock out smaller craft brewers (further impacted by acquisitions of craft brands by larger international brands), excessive red tape and regulation," Mr Whytcross said.

"The drought last year definitely placed enormous pressure on us too, both financially and emotionally."

The passionate supplier said supporting local brewers is more important than ever.

"The big international players are starting to flex their muscles in the craft market and there's never been a more important time to support your local craft brewery, think local, drink local," he said.

"I think it's important to support all local businesses as essentially they exist to serve their local community."

Riverina craft beer and spirits are even more community minded than others, according to Mr Whytcross.

"This is definitely the case with craft breweries where you'll find beers have been brewed especially for their locals, more than often with a great local story behind them, even more so here in the Riverina where our breweries have the added advantage of having their beers made with locally grown Riverina grain," he said.

"The flow on positive effects of choosing to drink a local independent craft beer or spirit go far beyond the individual producer of the bevrage."