In this TAP Classic (aka one from the archive), David Lennon catches up with legendary brewer Dr. Charles "Chuck" Hahn and his son Scott Hahn at their new brewery, Chuck & Sons, in St Peters, Sydney.

Chuck's impact on Australian beer is difficult to overstate. From Hahn Super Dry and James Squire to Kosciuszko Pale ale and countless innovations that helped shape modern brewing in Australia, his fingerprints are all over the industry.

At 79 years old, Chuck has done what most people only talk about - come out of retirement to build something new.

Together, Chuck and Scott share stories from decades in brewing, lessons learned from building iconic beer brands, the realities of running a family brewery, and why great beer has always been about bringing people together.

Whether you're a craft beer enthusiast, home brewer, hospitality professional or simply love hearing the stories behind Australian success, this conversation remains one of the most important we've had on the show.

**SIDE NOTE TO LONG TIME LISTENERS - We need to chat around 25 mins in! 

🍺 IN THIS CHAT

• Chuck's journey from chemistry student to brewing pioneer
• The origins of Hahn Brewery and James Squire
• Building beer brands that changed Australian drinking culture
• Why Chuck returned from retirement
• Launching Chuck & Sons with his family
• The role community plays in great beer
• Advice for the next generation of brewers
• What's next for Chuck & Sons

FEATURED GUESTS

Dr. Charles "Chuck" Hahn
Founder, Chuck & Sons Brewing

Scott Hahn
Business Director, Chuck & Sons Brewing

📍 Chuck & Sons Brewing
St Peters, Sydney NSW

Follow Chuck & Sons:
Instagram: @chuckandsonsbrewing

🎧 Enjoying Chat on Tap?

Follow the show for weekly conversations with brewers, venue owners, industry leaders and the personalities shaping Australian beer culture.

#ChatOnTap #ChuckHahn #CraftBeer #AustralianBeer #JamesSquire #Hahn #ChuckAndSons #BeerPodcast

Episode produced by: WHEN Studios
Follow: @WHEN.Studios,

Insta: @chatontap

Tiktok: @chat.on.tap

YouTube: @ontapchat

Got a Story? 

Wanna help us Tap In to a great venue, deal, beer?

Interested in sponsorship? 

email us!

Email: [email protected]

Host: David A. Lennon – @davidalennon
Website: chatontap.com

Craft beer is often about the beer.

This episode isn't.

On Wildflower's final day in Marrickville, Chat On Tap headed down to one of Australia's most beloved breweries to find out what happens when a venue becomes something more than a place to grab a drink.

As hundreds of people packed the brewery and spilled out into the street, Dave handed the microphone to the people who knew Wildflower best - the locals, regulars, beer lovers, industry veterans and friends who helped turn this warehouse into a community.

From first dates and Friday afternoon beers to wild fermentation, Belgian influences and friendships formed over countless pints, this episode captures the stories that made Wildflower special.

Because while breweries make beer, it's the people who create the culture.

In this episode:

🍺 The story of Wildflower's final day in Marrickville

🍺 Why this brewery became a pilgrimage site for beer lovers

🍺 The role Wildflower played in Sydney's craft beer scene

🍺 How a niche brewery built such a loyal community

🍺 Stories from locals, regulars and industry insiders

🍺 The unique world of mixed-fermentation and wild ales

🍺 What Wildflower's move means for Marrickville and the Inner West Ale Trail

🍺 Why the best breweries are often about more than what's in the glass

This isn't a farewell to Wildflower.

It's a snapshot of the community that grew around it.

And judging by the turnout, that community isn't going anywhere.

Guests Featured

🍺 Jason Trewin - Inner West Ale Trail

🍺 Coral - @HaveABeerWithCoco

🍺 Darren –-Former brewery venue operator

🍺 Scott – Long-time Wildflower regular

Links

🍺 Wildflower Brewing & Blending

📸 @wildflowerbeer

🌐 wildflowerbeer.com

🍺 Inner West Ale Trail

📸 @innerwestaletrail

🌐 innerwestaletrail.com.au

Episode produced by: WHEN Studios
Follow: @WHEN.Studios,

Insta: @chatontap

Tiktok: @chat.on.tap

YouTube: @ontapchat

Got a Story? 

Wanna help us Tap In to a great venue, deal, beer?

Interested in sponsorship? 

email us!

Email: [email protected]

Host: David A. Lennon – @davidalennon
Website: chatontap.com

Craft beer doesn’t just need better beer anymore - it needs better storytelling.

This week on Chat on Tap, David sits down with Stephanie Grant from She Loves Craft, a brewery social media strategist helping breweries actually connect with modern drinkers.

If you're wearing all the hats in the brewery, there's no marketing person to fall back on and fear hitting post because it might flop, this ones for you. From brewery identity and community building to Instagram strategy, regulars, content creation and why viral videos never equals customers, this episode is packed with practical advice for breweries, venues and creators alike.

Stephanie shares:

•  Why brewery social media often misses the mark 
•  How breweries can “show their vibe” 
•  Why simple phone-shot content works 
•  The importance of knowing your audience 
•  Why likes and views are overrated 
•  How breweries can attract more than just beer nerds 

Stephanie doesn’t overcomplicate things. Her advice is practical, honest and refreshingly human.

If you run a brewery, venue, bottle shop or hospitality business — or just love the culture around pubs and craft beer — this one’s worth a listen.

Links

🍺 Stephanie / She Loves Craft
 📸 Instagram -  @shelovescraft
🌐 Website - https://www.shelovescraft.com/

Episode produced by: WHEN Studios
Follow: @WHEN.Studios,

Insta: @chatontap

Tiktok: @chat.on.tap

YouTube: @ontapchat

Got a Story? 

Wanna help us Tap In to a great venue, deal, beer?

Interested in sponsorship? 

email us!

Email: [email protected]

Host: David A. Lennon – @davidalennon
Website: chatontap.com

Part two of the Hop Harvest Fest crawl sees Boyd Robson back on the Inner West Ale Trail, tackling the final five breweries of Sydney’s freshest beer festival. With higher ABVs, bigger crowds, and a few curveballs (including a sold-out festival beer), this episode dives deeper into the culture, community, and chaos of chasing fresh hop beers across Sydney.

From tiny taprooms punching above their weight to 8.4% double IPAs that test the legs, this is the full Sunday session experience—complete with locals, brewers, and a well-earned final beer at Young Henrys. 

• Fresh Hop Chaos (and Big ABVs):
  Kicking off with a 7% IPA before ramping up to Bracket’s 8.4% double IPA, this is not your average Sunday session. 
• Inside Kicks Brewing:
  A deep dive into West Coast pilsners, small batch brewing advantages, and how a 70 person venue handled overwhelming festival demand. 
• Local Perspective – Ryan (Beers & Bobs):
  What it’s like living in the Inner West beer bubble, Scottish beer culture comparisons, and why proximity can make you take great beer for granted. 
• Craft vs Independent Beer Debate:
  A key mindset shift in why “independent beer” might resonate more than “craft beer” for Aussie drinkers. 
• Festival Reality Check:
  Sold-out beers, missing XPA kegs at Grifter, and how popularity exceeded expectations within days. 
• Final Stop:
  Wrapping at Young Henrys with Jason from the Inner West Ale Trail—discussing turnout, community vibes, and what made this year a roaring success. 

Breweries 

• Kicks Brewing
  https://www.kicksbrewing.com.au/
• Bracket Brewing
  https://www.bracketbrewing.com/
• The Grifter Brewing Co.
  https://thegrifter.com.au/
• Young Henrys
  https://younghenrys.com/
• Future Brewing
  https://futurebrewing.com.au/
• Mixtape Brewing
  https://www.mixtapebrewing.com.au/

This is the episode that captures what makes Sydney’s beer scene tick -community, experimentation, and a bit of organised chaos. It’s equal parts pub crawl, cultural deep dive, and love letter to independent beer.

Episode produced by: WHEN Studios
Follow: @WHEN.Studios,

Insta: @chatontap

Tiktok: @chat.on.tap

YouTube: @ontapchat

Got a Story? 

Wanna help us Tap In to a great venue, deal, beer?

Interested in sponsorship? 

email us!

Email: [email protected]

Host: David A. Lennon – @davidalennon
Website: chatontap.com

What is Hop Harvest Fest, and what happens when you try to take on all 9 breweries in two days?

This episode drops you right into the chaos of the Hop Harvest Fest on the Inner West Ale Trail, chasing some of the freshest beer you’ll ever drink.

Fresh hops picked in Victoria, driven straight to Sydney, and brewed within hours. The result? Limited, once time beers across nine breweries in Marrickville and beyond.

This is Part 1 of the crawl. Four breweries down, five to go.

Along the way, David is joined by Cecilia Hollins and Beers with Boydo, plus brewers and locals, as the plan quickly shifts from “structured tasting” to “just keep moving.”

🍻 In this episode:

•  What makes fresh hop beers so unique (and why timing is everything) 
•  The road trip to Victoria to collect hops 
•  A hazy IPA heavy start
•  Why pilsners don’t always taste like you expect during fresh hop season 
•  The reality of beer tasting (and why even experts get it wrong) 
•  Is Coopers Pale Ale a craft beer?

🍺 Breweries featured (Part 1):

•  Batch Brewing Co 
•  Philter Brewing 
•  Sauce Brewing Co 
•  Mixtape Brewing 

If you love craft beer, pub culture, or just discovering the best of Sydney’s Inner West, this is what it actually feels like to do the Hop Harvest Fest - not polished, not perfect, just real.

Part 2 coming next… if we make it.

👉 Explore the trail:
 https://innerwestaletrail.com.au/

🍻 Breweries (Hop Harvest Fest Participants)

Mixtape Brewing
 https://www.mixtapebrewing.com.au/

Young Henrys
 https://younghenrys.com/

Batch Brewing Co
 https://batchbrewingco.com.au/

The Grifter Brewing Co
 https://thegrifter.com.au/

Future Brewing
 https://futurebrewing.com.au/

Bracket Brewing
 https://www.bracketbrewing.com/

Kicks Brewing
 https://www.kicksbrewing.com.au/

Sauce Brewing Co
 https://sauce.beer/

Philter Brewing
 https://philterbrewing.com/

Episode produced by: WHEN Studios
Follow: @WHEN.Studios,

Insta: @chatontap

Tiktok: @chat.on.tap

YouTube: @ontapchat

Got a Story? 

Wanna help us Tap In to a great venue, deal, beer?

Interested in sponsorship? 

email us!

Email: [email protected]

Host: David A. Lennon – @davidalennon
Website: chatontap.com

What is Hop Harvest Fest, and why are Sydney brewers and beer lovers treating it like Christmas?

Recorded at Mixtape Brewing in Marrickville, David sits down with Jason Treuen from the Inner West Ale Trail to break down one of the most unique beer events in Australia, a celebration of fresh hop beers brewed within hours of harvest.

From brewery passports and cult t-shirts to the logistics of getting hops from Victoria to Sydney in a single day, this is your ultimate guide to Hop Harvest Fest.

•  What Hop Harvest Fest actually is and why fresh hops matter 
•  How brewers transport and use hops within hours of harvest 
•  The “passport challenge”: visit 9 breweries to earn the iconic free t-shirt 
•  Why fresh hop beers taste different (and why they’re rare) 
•  Route tips, strategy, and how to tackle all 9 breweries 
•  The story behind the Inner West Ale Trail and its growth 
•  Why breweries today are about more than just beer (food, community, culture) 

If you love craft beer, pub culture, or just discovering the best of Sydney’s Inner West, this episode gives you everything you need to experience Hop Harvest Fest properly — not just as a pub crawl, but as a celebration of brewing, community, and ridiculously fresh beer.

👉 Explore the trail:
https://innerwestaletrail.com.au/

🍻 Breweries (Hop Harvest Fest Participants)

•  Mixtape Brewing
   https://www.mixtapebrewing.com.au/
  
  
•  Young Henrys
   https://younghenrys.com/
  
  
•  Batch Brewing Co
   https://batchbrewingco.com.au/
  
  
•  The Grifter Brewing Co
   https://thegrifter.com.au/
  
  
•  Future Brewing
   https://futurebrewing.com.au/
  
  
•  Bracket Brewing
   https://www.bracketbrewing.com/
  
  
•  Kicks Brewing
   https://www.kicksbrewing.com.au/
  
  
•  Sauce Brewing Co
   https://sauce.beer/
  
  
•  Philter Brewing
   https://philterbrewing.com/

Episode produced by: WHEN Studios
Follow: @WHEN.Studios,

Insta: @chatontap

Tiktok: @chat.on.tap

YouTube: @ontapchat

Got a Story? 

Wanna help us Tap In to a great venue, deal, beer?

Interested in sponsorship? 

email us!

Email: [email protected]

Host: David A. Lennon – @davidalennon
Website: chatontap.com

Looking for your next great beer? In this bonus episode of Tapped In, Bev shares five must-try craft beers that are easy to find, full of character, and perfect whether you're just getting into craft or deep in the game. From creamy stouts to hazy IPAs and even a wild sour bonus pick this is your cheat sheet for what to drink next. 

•  Why Batch Elsie Milk Stout stands out as an all-time favourite (nitro, creamy, chocolatey) 
•  A discussion on how West Coast IPAs are evolving and why Akasha’s Corbin D still hits old-school 
•  Why Seeker Mystic is one of the most drinkable hazies in Australia right now 
•  The divisive but fun world of peanut butter beers (and why temperature matters) 
•  The underrated brilliance of a well-made lager with Chuck & Son’s 
•  Bonus: A gateway into modern smoothie sours with One Drop 

🍺 Beers & Breweries: Here’s your full hit list 👇

• Batch Brewing Co. – Elsie Milk Stout
  Instagram: @batchbrewingco 
• Akasha Brewing Company – Corbin D IPA
  Instagram: @akashabrewing 
• Seeker Brewing – Mystic Hazy IPA
  Instagram: @seekerbrewing 
• Bad Shepherd Brewing Co. – Peanut Butter Porter
  Instagram: @badshepherdbrewingco 
• Chuck & Son’s Brewing Co. – Old World Lager
  Instagram: @chuckandsonsbrewing 
• One Drop Brewing Co. – We Jammin’ (Smoothie Sour)
  Instagram: @onedropbrewingco

Episode produced by: WHEN Studios
Follow: @WHEN.Studios,

Insta: @chatontap

Tiktok: @chat.on.tap

YouTube: @ontapchat

Got a Story? 

Wanna help us Tap In to a great venue, deal, beer?

Interested in sponsorship? 

email us!

Email: [email protected]

Host: David A. Lennon – @davidalennon
Website: chatontap.com

Beers, Brotherhood & Building Community with Bevan Giffin

In this episode of Chat on Tap, host David A. Lennon sits down with beer reviewer and community builder Bevan Giffin at the Pyrmont Point Hotel for a deep dive into craft beer, content creation, and the power of connection.

From tasting notes to mental health, this episode explores how a shared love of beer can turn into something much bigger — a genuine support network.

•  How Bevan became “the beer guy” — from travel to tasting panels 
•  Why local breweries are the best way to understand a place 
•  The power of consistency: 365 days of beer content 
•  Inside the craft beer community — why it’s different (and better) than most industries 
•  The rise of “Frothy Moco” — blending beer culture with mental health support 
•  Why pubs still matter as a space for real conversations.
• Who owns your 'Australian' beer? Article referenced: https://craftypint.com/who-owns-your-beer 
• Why buying Indie matters.

🍺 Beers & Venues

•  BentSpoke Crankshaft IPA (what we were sipping) 
•  Seeker Brewing X Garage Project (best collab for Bev) 
•  Pyrmont Point Hotel  (where we sat)

Check out Bevans work on instagram @bevan_giffin

Episode produced by: WHEN Studios
Follow: @WHEN.Studios,

Insta: @chatontap

Tiktok: @chat.on.tap

YouTube: @ontapchat

Got a Story? 

Wanna help us Tap In to a great venue, deal, beer?

Interested in sponsorship? 

email us!

Email: [email protected]

Host: David A. Lennon – @davidalennon
Website: chatontap.com

What if you could find the perfect sunny spot for a beer anywhere in the world?

This week on Chat on Tap, David sits down with Richard Hatcher - the creator of Sunny, a web app designed to help you track down pubs with beer gardens, outdoor seating, and even plan your next pub crawl.

From a throwaway idea in London to building a working app using ChatGPT (with zero dev background), this is a story about creativity, curiosity, and just giving something a crack.

You can check the web app here - https://sunnypubs.app/ 

Recorded over a couple of cold ones at the Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre in Marrickville. 

• 15 Years -> 3 days
  Richard first had the idea for Sunny while living in London and chasing rare moments of sunshine and a cold beer. It stuck in the back of his mind for over a decade before he finally acted on it. 
• Building an App Without Being a Developer
  With no coding background, Richard used ChatGPT to bring the idea to life, learning how to prompt properly, iterate, and think like a builder. 
• From Concept to Reality
  While spread out over time, the actual build only took around 3 days of focused work, showing how accessible building something has become. 
• What Sunny Actually Does
  A global map-based app that helps you find pubs with outdoor seating, beer gardens, and even auto-generates pub crawls based on your location. 
• Creative Projects vs Business Pressure
  Richard shares why he’s intentionally kept Sunny as a passion project (for now), focusing on building something he personally enjoys rather than rushing monetisation. 

Tapped In (Recommendations):

•  Queens Wharf Hotel (Newcastle) — waterfront pub with unbeatable views 
•  MONA (Hobart) — outdoor lawn beers overlooking the river 
•  Bowling clubs transforming greens into beer gardens — a win for communities 

Beers:

•  American Amber Ale (Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre) 
•  Patio Pale (Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre) 

Episode produced by: WHEN Studios
Follow: @WHEN.Studios,

Insta: @chatontap

Tiktok: @chat.on.tap

YouTube: @ontapchat

Got a Story? 

Wanna help us Tap In to a great venue, deal, beer?

Interested in sponsorship? 

email us!

Email: [email protected]

Host: David A. Lennon – @davidalennon
Website: chatontap.com

In this Chat on Tap Bonus Pour, we chat to Beau Curtis who is the founder and head brewer of The Social Brewers in Mortdale, Sydney, for a guided tasting of the core lineup.

From crisp lagers to hop loaded limited releases, this episode is a walkthrough of what’s pouring at one of the St George region’s most exciting breweries.

•  The philosophy behind a great “gateway beer” lager and why simple done well is powerful 
•  Breaking down a Pacific Ale built for Aussie conditions - Galaxy hops, sessionable and refreshing 
•  Inside the Forest Road IPA - an “Anglo-American” hybrid balancing malt richness with US hops 
•  The story behind Death Valley Double IPA (8.2%) - a limited birthday release with experimental hops 
•  How small-batch brewing allows for creativity, risk-taking, and one-off beers that don’t last long

Check out The Social Brewers 

https://thesocialbrewers.com.au/ 

Follow them on Instagram @thesocialbrewers

Are you loving the bonus beer content? Let us know what you'd like to hear about next on email - [email protected]

Or follow @chatontap on instagram

Or are you a YouTuber? @ontapchat

Episode produced by: WHEN Studios
Follow: @WHEN.Studios,

Insta: @chatontap

Tiktok: @chat.on.tap

YouTube: @ontapchat

Got a Story? 

Wanna help us Tap In to a great venue, deal, beer?

Interested in sponsorship? 

email us!

Email: [email protected]

Host: David A. Lennon – @davidalennon
Website: chatontap.com