How to get started in homebrewing (and no, it can not kill you)
It is no secret that the craft beer industry is struggling but the lockdown alcohol ban is at least having a positive impact on one area of the beer scene: homebrewing. For weeks, news sites have been reporting that Google searches like "how do I make alcohol at...
Where to buy craft beer online in South Africa
After what will be nine long weeks, South Africans will finally be able to legally buy alcohol again from June 1. Sales are off-consumption only, from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Thursday. The queues are likely to be sizable, certain stock might well be at a premium, and...
More bro than brew: A review of Netflix comedy ‘Brews Brothers’
Netlfix is the unofficial global support animal that is helping us all get through our various COVID-19 lockdowns. And if there's one show that has somehow, bizarrely united the world it is Tiger King - the only thing on TV that is more absurd and unbelievable than...
How lockdown measures are killing craft beer
This week I read an article on how COVID-19 is affecting the US craft beer scene. In a survey of 455 brewers carried out by the Brewers Association, 46% said that their businesses will not last for three months under the current conditions. Just imagine that –...
Backyard Beerfest – Saturday 28 March
It has no doubt come to your attention that from Thursday night, South Africa will be in COVID-19 lockdown. We’ll all have to remain in our homes for 21 days, unless we have a job that is crucial to society or we have to pop out for essential supplies. Essential...
How to enjoy your beer while social distancing
Beer festivals have been cancelled; smaller events like quizzes, homebrew meetups and *sob* karaoke have been cancelled; conferences, food pairings and training courses have been cancelled. You're practising social distancing and trying to stay at home, and even if...
Beer review: Devil’s Peak Grapefruit King’s Blockhouse
Devil’s Peak have come up against a lot of flack in recent years. Their focus has shifted quite dramatically from cutting edge craft to mainstream lager. They’ve upset brewers large and small with price wars and tap takeovers, and even The King’s Blockhouse has...
Enter the 2020 African Beer Cup
UPDATE: Sadly, the 2020 African Beer Cup has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fancy having your beer crowned the best in Africa? Read on to find out how to enter the 2020 African Beer Cup. In its first year, the African Beer Cup attracted 143 entries...
Beer review: Chibuku Shake-Shake
I have been writing about beer in South Africa for almost nine years and yet you could probably squeeze every word I've ever written about traditional sorghum beer into a single tweet. It's kind of sad that while South Africa has been having this beer awakening, or...









