Hahn Premium, Hahn Premium Light and the James Squire range of beers are well known to Australian beer lovers, but do they know the little brewery from which these great Australian beers originated?

Our Camperdown brewery has a brewing history stemming back ten years for James Squire and 20 years for Hahn-not long considering the passionate following these two great brands have managed to achieve.

Dr. Charles (Chuck) Hahn is currently the Brewmaster at the Malt Shovel Brewery. This craft brewery in Camperdown, the former Hahn Brewery, brews a number of flavoursome ales in honour of James Squire, Australia’s first brewer. The brewery was renamed the Malt Shovel Brewery in late 1998 and now brews five traditional beers, along with very interesting seasonal releases.

In 1988, Chuck founded the Hahn Brewery in Sydney. When this small brewery became part of Tooheys and Lion Nathan in early 1993, he became Chief Brewer for the entire group. From 1984 to 1987, he was Technical Manager for Lion Breweries in New Zealand. Chuck arrived in Australia in 1981 as General Manager-Brewing for Tooth and Reschs Breweries in Sydney. For the ten years prior, he learned his brewing at the Coors Brewery in Golden, Colorado. He received a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 1971.

Dr. Hahn is not only a master craftsman, elevating the science of brewing to an art form; he is also a passionate believer in the importance of complementing good foods with great beers.

Chuck and his team of passionate Mad Brewers (some even from the Hahn Brewery days) have developed a very limited edition, rich ale as a celebration of his own achievements along with the creative art of his brewers - pushing the flavour limits in order to satisfy the refined but demanding palates of Australian beer connoisseurs.

Brewed with pale, Munich and carapils malts and hopped with deranged amounts of Australian hops (Galaxy and Super Pride) and American hops (Simcoe and Sterling), this gorgeous deep copper-coloured ale represents a blend of the imperial pale ale and barley wine styles. Dry hopping with NZ Pacific Hallertau creates the perfect herbaceous nose. The 60 BU’s of bitterness is tempered by the 7.9% ABV and the ale delivers a divine satisfaction with massive maltiness and ripe fruit esters. We suggest the 640ml bottle is best shared with a friend.

Only 1,900 cases of the Mad Brewers TEN20 Commemorative Ale have been produced, so beer lovers should join in this celebration and savour the rich flavours ASAP. The TEN20 Commemorative Ale is available from all good bottle shops nationally now or available to purchase on line by the case only,  while stocks last, from Microbeer club website www.MICROBEERCLUB.com.au or phone 1300 565 321

As well as this flavoursome limited release, we will be opening the Malt Shovel Brewery to the public for a brewery tour and beer & food matching session (cost $25) each Friday and Saturday from the 17th April to the 9th May. For bookings please email goodbrews@james-squire.com.au or (02) 8594 0200