| Chuck Hahn October 2006 |
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BREWER OF THE MONTH – October 2006 Breweries worked at and now:
How you started brewing: Started in quality control at the Coors Brewery in Colorado after graduate school in chemical engineering at Colorado School of Mines (in Golden, Colorado, just across the street from the brewery) in 1971. Worked in all departments including malting, brewing, cellars, packaging, and waste treatment.
Favourite beer you’ve brewed: James Squire Pilsener
Favourite beer you haven’t brewed: Belgium ales
Greatest beer achievement: Establishing the craft premium brand – Hahn Premium Lager – in 1988 when premium and craft beer brands were hardly recognised and were only 2% of the market.
Favourite brewing website: beertown.com
How you see Australian Microbrewing industry: Getting better by the day with many small breweries brewing quality flavoursome beers. Government support still isn’t happening as these small businesses struggle for survival and growth. It is not a level playing field for the small brewer in competition with the larger two brewing groups that dominate the marketplace. Distribution and product placement are also challenges as over half of the beers are sold by two national liquor companies – Coles and Woolworths.
Brewer you most highly respect: Probably more the famous UK beer writer, Michael Jackson, who has really brought beer history, beer flavour and beer&food matching to the minds of many people over the last twenty years.
Other? It has been great to see how the beer culture has developed in Australia over the last twenty years. Although the per capita consumption has dropped over 25%, consumers are becoming more discerning and are tasting rather than just drinking – savouring the flavours, drinking less – but better. Beer lists in restaurants are becoming reality. Beers with sophisticated foods are acceptable.
Editor comment: Legend great pioneer.
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Chuck Hahn