Six South African towns that should have a microbrewery
Over 100 breweries visited, more than 300 beers tasted, around 5000 km driven and close to 70,000 words written. Beer Safari has been a hell of a journey. You'll have to wait until November to read the finished product but for now I thought I'd share some musings...
Restaurant Review: Occidental Grill Bar, Kimberley
Big Hole Complex, Kimberley. Tel: 053 830 4418. Mains R60-115. Bottle of South African craft beer R25-45 If you're doing touristy stuff in Kimberley, then you'll be right next to the Occidental, for this Victorian-themed bar is in the mock-up mining village found...
Beer review: Brewdog 2014 Prototype Series
My beer reviews tend to stick to just one beer but since these four essentially come as a package deal, it makes sense to do a complete roundup. It's that time of year when BrewDog puts out its prototype beers for public appraisal. The most popular makes it into...
10 ways you know you’ve been in SA’s craft beer scene for a while
1. You have a We Love Real Beer pint mug in your cupboard. 2. You remember when KZN had more breweries than any other province. (Note: this was my first ever published piece on the SA beer scene, printed in June 2009, but written and submitted in early 2008) 3. You...
Beer review: Stellenbrau Governor’s Red Lager
Late last year, when beer lovers heard about Red Dawn's patent, which basically attempts to prohibit the use of rooibos or honeybush in a beer (or wine, or cider), they were understandably livid. Not only was it, according to people who know a lot more about patent...
Craft beer and the cold chain
Imagine if you brewed a beer, left it on a shelf for four months and just remembered it now? Imagine if the shelf in question was in a working kitchen, with temperatures rising over 35C? And imagine if said beer was unfiltered and unpasteurised? There are those who...
The Top 10 Brewmistress Posts of 2014
It's been a big year for the Brewmistress - I moved my blog to its own URL (from its former home over at The Craft Beer Project), I've been to every South African province seeking out breweries for my next book, Beer Safari, I've met beer enthusiasts from...
12 Days of Beermas: exclusive blog subscriber prize
It is time to reward those who are most loyal to the Brewmistress - you the subscribers to the blog. Today's Cape-based prize is an exclusive chance to be a member of the SSBSS for the day. The SSBSS (Southern Suburbs Beer Snob Society) is a beer appreciation club...
Beer review: Stone Crow
You probably know that Stone Crow's beers are brewed by my husband and one of my bestest buddies, and I did hesitate about reviewing their beers as I don't want to be accused of being biased. Then I realised a few things: if I don't review any beers that are brewed...