As headlines go, this one pretty much tells you what to expect from this post. (Unlike some clickbait garbage I foolishly fell for the other day, which promised to unveil “Things you never noticed in Grease” and kicked off with the oh-so-insightful subheading “They’re all like, super old”. Anyway, I digress…)

One of the pioneers of craft beer in South Africa, Jack Black’s Brewing Company, celebrates its 15^th anniversary in December. The now nationwide brand started as a contract brewery in 2007, brewing first at Birkenhead, then Boston and later at CBC in Paarl. In 2016, Jack Black opened their own brewery and taproom in the southern suburbs of Cape Town and have since expanded the range and won numerous awards for their beers. The brewery went into a partnership deal with Heineken in 2018 and has since further increased the range as well as their footprint across SA. They’ll be celebrating their landmark birthday on 3 December at the taproom with a big fat party – and you’re invited!

The celebration kicks off at 3pm with live music, great food and lots of beer. Tickets are R100 and inlcude a limited-edition glass with a free pint inside. You can get the full lowdown on the 15th birthday bash on the Facebook event page. Or head straight over to Quicket to book your tickets – I suspect this thing will be very popular so don’t risk just turning up at the door…

Jack and the Giant collab is back

When you get there I’d recommend getting a pint of the limited edition Jack and the Giant collab as soon as possible (I doubt this will be offered as the free-with-entry beer though) – there’s a very limited amount of it in kegs. It’s the third time around for this cross-country collab with Jo’burg-based Mad Giant. The first edition was brewed at Mad Giant, the second time Jack Black’s brew crew took control. This year, both breweries have produced a batch, of course following the same recipe.

I sampled Jack Black’s version and I managed to get through two or three cans without taking any notes, which is always a good sign – it means I was just sipping and enjoying. It’s no great secret that hazy pale ales are not my favourite but I will have to admit that it’s a really good example of the style. It has a whopping aroma of gooseberries, green grapes and guava and despite the fact it is fairly full bodied, the carbonation level makes sure it’s still a thirst-quenching beer. 

Jack and the Giant is limited edition – grab a can of Jack Black’s from select retailers in Cape Town and Jo’burg, or from the Cape Town taproom on 3 December. If you’re in Johannesburg, Mad Giant’s version is available via their Extra Fresh ‘milkman’ delivery system and at certain bottle stores. I’m hoping to get my hands on a bottle for a sneaky side by side…

Massive congrats to Jack Black for the milestone birthday. I know some people say they’re no longer “craft” (whatever that is) or that they “sold out” when entering a deal with Heineken. I would like to officially call bullshit on both. Jack Black was integral in launching craft beer in South Africa back in 2007 and we should still salute that. I remember the first time I met Jack Black’s co-founder Ross – I was having a beer at Hudson’s in town and they ran out of JB lager, so Ross rocked up on a moped, with a fresh keg gripped between his knees. Together he and Meghan have grafted to build one hell of a brand, and I for one shall be raising a pint or four to their success this Saturday. Hope to see you there.