As a beer drinker who thinks ambers (and reds) are criminally underrated in Australia, it’s great to see a big, bold amber taking pride of place in Chuck & Son’s debut core range.
Of course, master brewer Chuck Hahn knows a thing or twenty about the style: his James Squire Amber / Nine Tails was an early classic back in the day before it was discontinued (along with my favourite Squire, The Chancer Golden Ale – RIP). Thankfully, Chuck’s back on the brews (after a short, Michael Jordan-esque retirement) and serving up this brunette belter at the joint venture created with son Scott in St Peters.
“We wanted our amber to be flavoursome and really drinkable with some good American hops but also have a nice malt backbone that wasn’t too heavy,” Chuck told me over a guided tour of the beers.
Expect a bold toffee-caramel malt body mingling with the piney spice of Chinook and Cascade hops in the boil and a hefty dose of Simcoe citrus from the dry hop. It’s rich, nicely-balanced and demands to be drunk around a roaring fire at dusk. And if you’re at Chuck & Son’s taproom it also pairs well with the lamb ribs, mostly because they’re marinated in amber ale too.
Jason Treuen
