At SCOUT Studios, we love shining a light on inspiring people in our community who are making waves in their industries. This time, we’re heading beyond the mat and into the world of craft beer with Amy from Chuck & Son’s Brewery—a local favorite in St Peters that brings family, flavor, and a whole lot of passion into every pour.

In this exclusive interview, Amy shares her story, the must-try brews from their lineup, and how she balances business, family life, and of course—Pilates!

Hi Amy, can you share a little bit of your background and what brought you to this passion for beers and brewing?

Between friends here, I am very, very new to the world of beer. (In fact, I was yet to taste one I actually enjoyed until about a month ago. Don’t tell!)

In what is quite a full-circle-moment now with this partnership, I was working as a General Manager in the Pilates industry for ten years until very recently. However, I am in a family that is steeped in really beautiful beer history. My father-in-law, Chuck Hahn, is somewhat of a brewing legend, and he and my husband Scott started Chuck & Son’s Brewing Co. in mid-2024. I was watching along from the sidelines as the business launched, grew and thrived, until it became clear that I could bring some of my own (non-Pilates-specific) skills into the family business.

Needless to say, I am not brewing the beers, but I am looking at pretty much everything else in the business. From marketing and PR, to events and functions, to HR and policies, and a LOT of time spent making boxes and cleaning out our kids’ area.

Can you tell us more about the story of Chuck & Son's and what makes you different from any other brewery?

There are tonnes of great craft breweries around (particularly in the Inner West), so it makes it a really exciting space to be a part of. What makes Chuck & Son’s different is in the decades of experience that are poured into every brew. Chuck has been brewing for over 50 years, and is the palate behind some of Australia’s favourite beers, but he came out of retirement to start this venture, because as he said, “My best brews were still within me.” They’re all really classic, sessionable, refreshing and at-home-consistently-in-your-fridge. There’s no risk taking when you’re trying one of our beers - you know they’re going to be perfected by the best, and taste incredible as a result.

Then as far as our Tap Room is concerned, it’s the spiritual home of our brewery (where all our beers are made on site), but it’s also a beautiful venue that seats 200, and caters to everyone. Whether you’re bringing the family (we have a great kids’ area), are coming for a romantic date night (it’s all been architectually designed and is a really stunning space), want to bring your puppy for a homemade dog biscuit on our sunny terrace (I make them myself), are keen for a fantastic meal or even a non-beer-related drink (we have a heap of delicious options for the non-beer drinkers), we have it all!

What does a typical weekday (or week) look like for you?

We have three children, so a typical day starts whenever one of them decides it’s time for the day to begin (usually somewhere around 4:30am which, yes, is unpleasant). Over the next few hours it’s a shamozzle of making breakfasts, packing lunches, drinking coffees (me - not them), negotiating uniforms and figuring out who has library day and who needs sport shoes. Once 9am rolls around and they’re all safely within the confines of their school, my second shift begins.

If you’re a mother, you know that there’s no one more productive. So I put my head down and my butt up and power through as much work as I can, which most often involves 1031937 emails but sometimes (if I’m lucky) involves taste testing our wonderful team’s latest cocktail creations. It’s a perk of the job.

I then head to do the pick ups, after school activities and dinner dash, before my husband and I basically pass out while finishing up work on our little screens while simultaneously cramming in a show on our bigger screen.

On the weekends, we tend to come back to the brewery because we clearly can’t get enough. That, and the fact that someone else will cook for us.

What do you most love about your job?

I feel like I should say “working with my family,” but (while that is fun) the truth is, I love startups. While Chuck could hardly be called a rookie, our business is a brand new one. It’s fully independent, family-owned, and has all the scrappy, fast-moving, innovative elements of a startup that light me up. I love having my fingers in a tonne of different pies, and doing something different every day. Bringing a concept from idea through to fruition in a matter of hours is addictive.

What is an absolute “must-try” craft beer from Chuck & Son's range?

If you’re a beer lover, the Original Pilsner. It’s Chuck’s most iconic style, and he proudly admits it’s his best. If you’re new to beer like me, the Touring Radler. It’s traditionally brewed with 50% beer and 50% lemonade, but we’ve made ours a little less sweet and slightly more refined with a citrus blend. And if you’re not a beer drinker at all, come in for our Spritz on tap. It’s refreshing, easy-drinking and absolutely delicious.

What advice would you give to someone who has no idea of how to choose a beer when entering a brewery? What's your go-to reco or people pleasing option?

It completely depends on what your tastebuds are calling for. But if you’re really stuck, thankfully our bar team are the best in the business. They’re super knowledgable (and very friendly), and love steering you in the right direction depending on what you’re looking for and what you like to drink. So my top advice is to chat to them!

What goal do you hope to achieve for Chuck & Son's this year and/or any exciting things to look forward to in 2025?

Our 2025 plans are big and ambitious, and involve getting our beers into pubs, restaurants and liquor stores all over Sydney. We’ve already made some super exciting progress, but I can’t wait to be able to walk in to our local pubs and see our beers on tap.

When you’re not at Chuck & Son's, what are you up to / how do you like to spend your free time?

As previously mentioned, those three children of ours keep me very busy! So if I’m not at the brewery, I’m usually running around after them or making some type of snack. The snacking is relentless.

Finally, where do we find you?

Find us at chuckandsonsbrewing.com.au, @chuckandsonsbrewing or at 1-7 Unwins Bridge Rd, St Peters! (In the same complex as the climbing gym!) xx

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT - Amy from Chuck & Son's Brewery