Beer review: Stellenbrau Governor’s Red Lager

Bremistress Rating3outof5stellenbrau governor red lager rooibos
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 law than I do, a ridiculous patent application that would never stand up, it was just so un-craft. The industry is known for its openness and its culture of sharing and this attempt to ban the use of an ingredient was not well-received.

But let’s forget legal issues and bully tactics for now and focus on flavour,

The beer in question – one that has been brewed under the Red Dawn licence at Stellenbrau – is a pretty amber colour, though I must admit it lacks the gorgeous red hue I’d hoped for. For me, the colour of rooibos would be the main reason to add it to a beer. Aroma-wise, you get a massive whiff of rooibos – no great surprise. If you’ve never had rooibos tea (the blog does have some non-South African readers), it’s earthy and many describe the aroma as tobacco-like – a kind of a sweet, fruity tobacco, like pipe smoke. Stellenbrau’s Red Governor does have beery notes – you get a hint of hop aroma and the merest suggestion of malt – but the rooibos definitely comes first.

It’s tough to taste much other than tea when you drink this beer and the beer certainly has a lingering tannic finish – not an unpleasant mouth-puckering sensation, but more tannins than you expect to find in a beer. This is doubtless a well-made beer – the carbonation is great, there’s nothing off about it, it’s pretty refreshing and unmistakably South African. But do I love it? Well, I like a strong cup of rooibos when I first wake up in the morning and it’s no secret I love beer. I also love blue cheese, and I love Lindt chocolate, but that doesn’t mean I necessarily want to eat them both in the same bite…

5 Comments

  1. Matt

    Interestingly, blue cheese and chocolate are chemically remarkably similar and actually compliment each other rather well. Something useless I learnt on a Heston Blumenthal show (for some science, go here: http://giapo.com/2012/05/why-chocolate-and-blue-cheese-the-science-of-flavor-pairing/). So maybe you should try them together? I haven’t yet but hope to soon.

    As for the beer, it’s not to my taste at all but hey, each to their own.

    Reply
  2. Dion van Huyssteen

    Blue cheese and dark chocolate is a great combination! 🙂

    Reply
    • Lucy Corne

      Well I must be wearing orthopaedic shoes, because I stand corrected!

      Let me give this dark choc/blue cheese vibe a go and revert. I guess Black IPA would be the pairing?

      Reply
      • Dion van Huyssteen

        “I guess Black IPA would be the pairing?”

        Now we are talking!

        Reply
  3. Jonathan

    Very fair review I think. It is like a strong cup of chilled iced tea made with rooibos, that happens to be a beer.

    Not my cup of tea. They can hold on to that patent.

    Not sure about lindt and blue cheese, but try ginger biscuits and blue cheese, now that’s a good combo.

    Reply

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

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