When debates rage about the definition of “craft beer”, the name of James Squire often gets thrown up.
While the beer brand is now owned by Lion, which in turn is owned by Japanese giants Kirin, the roots of the beer are more firmly in Sydney.
Chuck Hahn is a legend of the Australian beer industry and he’s the man behind Malt Shovel brewery, which still stands on Parramatta Road in Camperdown. Originally launched as the Hahn Brewery, in the late 90s it took on the Malt Shovel name.
It was the early wave of craft beer in Sydney, before it was even called “craft beer”. Success through flavourful beer led to the purchase by Lion Nathan as they were then.
Now people will argue about the value of the James Squire brands, about the quality or relevance of the beers and how they fit into the beer landscape, but the truth is the Malt Shovel brewery was an important part in the evolution of beer in Sydney.
These days much of the James Squire beer is brewed at other facilities across Australia in order to keep up with enormous demand for the likes of One Fifty Lashes pale ale.
The Malt Shovel brewery itself still turns out the occasional specialist beer and, through good brand management on Lion’s side, is engaging the beer community as much as the non-craft drinker. Malt Shovel now opens its doors for special events, particularly throughout Sydney Beer Week when it’s often open for tours and tasting.
They’re across the road from Wayward Brewing Co. as well and by all accounts were a considerable help when Wayward were first getting started.
While James Squire and Malt Shovel do not fit into the general theme of this website given their ownership and some of the aggressive sales tactics in which the big brewers engage, there can be no doubts about the importance of the Malt Shovel brewery in the history of Sydney craft beer.
Beers:
- One Fifty Lashes (Pale Ale)
- The Chancer (Golden Ale)
- Four Wives (Pilsener)
- Jack of Spades (Porter)
- Nine Tales (Amber Ale)