This has been a difficult choice. Despite all the crap this year - or perhaps because of all the crap this year - brewers have put out some excellent offerings. In truth I can't actually remember if my four finalists for Beer of the Year 2020 were all first...
Although the 2020 alcohol ban wasn’t the ideal backdrop for launching a new beer, it did at least give Sibusiso Skosana chance to strategise and finalise the look of his new craft brand. Brewed under contract at Brewsters Craft in Johannesburg, 1632 Crafts...
This is the fourth year I have run the Brewmistress South African Beer Awards. It's a way for the public to show some love to the brewers, bar owners, liquor store managers and all the rest who rock your beery world. The votes have been cast and tallied and it is...
I don't need to tell you what a tough year it's been for South African brewers. Booze bans and constantly changing restrictions on the on-con/off-con sale of alcohol have made it incredibly difficult for brewers to make ends meet. But rather than curl up in a ball...
The first time I tasted this beer, it was while we were staying at the cottages on Amandalia Farm - home to Saggy Stone Brewing Company. (Side note: make yourself a new year promise to stay at the cottages on Amandalia Farm - trust me). So, we were chatting and...
I've been largely useless at updating the blog lately. I scribbled some notes for the Tolokazi Sorghum Pilsner in early August when I received a mixed pack from the brewery, and these notes have been sitting in my drafts folder ever since. But since the beer...
Fourteen. That's how many weeks it has been illegal to purchase alcohol in South Africa in 2020. Of course, most people were still finding ways to buy beer, wine, gin or even, on one buy-and-sell group I saw, Drambuie (who even knew that was still a thing?!)....
Homebrewing has never been more popular in South Africa. Since people can't legally buy beer, they are choosing to make their own at home. But not everyone wants to invest in homebrewing equipment and not everyone has the time to brew a batch of beer from scratch....
With the government's latest alcohol ban now in place, there has never been a better time to learn to brew your own beer. And luckily, level three Covid restrictions allow for small conferences so we have reworked our very popular brewing course into a one-day...
