It’s no secret that South Africa is a few years behind the likes of the States, UK or Australia when it comes to craft beer. We are catching up fairly quickly though and the IPA is beginning to be revered here just as it has been elsewhere in the world. Of course, South African IPAs are not all in the same league. Some brewers scrimp on hops, some don’t quite opt for the right hops and some openly say that their IPA is an IPA in name only (because they think it’ll sell – here’s a nickel’s worth of free advice: it will only sell once.)

So here is a very quick (alphabetical by brewer) reference guide to South African IPAs. Whip it out in your local liquor store if you find yourself faced with an IPA you’ve never heard of, or indeed a whole fridge of unfamiliar beers.  These are personal ratings although the BJCP guidelines are always in mind when I sip an IPA. Feel free to let me know if you have a wildly different experience – I’m always happy to retaste. Here’s what the ratings mean:

N.B. Beers change and so can ratings. As beers are re-tasted, their place on the IPAometer (that word needs some work) can alter.

Aces Brew Worx: IPOkay

Aegir Giant: IPYay

Anvil Mjolnir: IPYay

Atlantic Storm Red Coat: IPMeh

Boston 33 Degrees South: IPOkay

CBC Cape of Good Hops: IPYay

Cederberg Voertsek: IPMeh

Darling Godfather: IPYay

Devil’s Peak Grapefruit Express: IPYay

Devil’s Peak King’s Blockhouse: IPYay

Devil’s Peak Juicy Lucy: IPYay

Drifter Scallywag: IPYay

Franschhoek OPA: IPOkay

Hoghouse Worthog: IPOkay

Helderberg RyePA: IPOkay

Hoptown IPA: IPMeh

Jack Black Skeleton Coast: IPOkay

Misty Mountains: IPNoWay

Noon Gun 18 Pounder: IPOkay

Snow IPA: IPOkay

Red Rock Firebird: IPNay

Riot Valve: IPYay

Stellies Mass Hoppiness: IPOkay

Toti Hopstrosity: IPMeh

Ukhamba State Capture: IPYay

Woodstock Californicator: IPAYay

Please note, this post is a work in permanent progress. As IPAs are tasted, so will they be added…