Celebrate South African National Beer Day 2024
Do you know what South Africans love? Beer. Beer is by far our favourite alcoholic beverage and that's why it has its own day! South African National Beer Day started back in 2017 as a southern hemisphere response to International Beer Day, which falls on the first...
How to become a qualified beer judge
As we're still in January I thought you might still be looking for some kind of goal for 2024. So how about becoming a qualified beer judge? There are various methods and sets of guidelines used in beer competitions around the world, but in South Africa we almost...
Six things I’d like to see in South African craft beer in 2024
January is traditionally a time to make lists of rash promises that you have no intention of keeping past the middle of the month. I've long since given up trying to convince myself that I'll be more organised or drink less or ever tidy the mountain of receipts and...
Soul Barrel launches the strongest beer in South Africa
This weekend, Soul Barrel Brewing in Simondium is launching the strongest beer in South Africa. This perhaps reads a little like clickbait – a beer based on gimmick and sold with hyperbole, but I can tell you this beer wasn’t some flash-in-the-pan project to get...
Latest South African craft beer news
It's taken me such a long time to get around to writing this that most of the items here probably couldn't be classed as news any more, but here you go anyway - some things that have been going on in South African craft beer lately: 1000 Hills Brewing Co wins Beer...
The winners of South Africa’s annual Intervarsity Brewing Competition
South Africa is, as far as I know, the only country in the world that has a major intervarsity brewing competition (although do feel free to correct me if that's not accurate). Imagine this: you're a student of microbiology or chemical engineering or some such...
A round-up of Oktoberfests happening around South Africa
Oktoberfest is now over in Germany, so it seems about right that it's just getting started in South Africa - we're not known for our punctuality after all. I thought I'd do a quick round up of Oktoberfest celebrations happening around SA so that you can spend your...
Beer review: Limited Edition Castle Lager (Rugby World Cup release)
I love it when big breweries release something new. Even if it is a play on one of their existing lagers. It can't be easy bringing out new beers when you work on such a massive scale, and have so very many kilometres of big business red tape to crawl through....
The South African Pilsner Project
There’s a set of style guidelines that’s used in beer competitions around the world. It’s curated by an American organisation called the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). It’s by no means the only set of guidelines in use, but the BJCP is the standard for...
Upcoming Events
Brewing Beyond the Basics – Homebrewing course
Brewing Beyond the Basics – Homebrewing course
Want to advance your homebrewing knowledge? Thinking of taking your brewing to a professional level? Join The Brewmistress, Afro Caribbean Brewing Co. and the Craft Brewers Association of South Africa
Winter Fest @ Triggerfish Brewing
Winter Fest @ Triggerfish Brewing
Grab yourself a designated driver – it’s time for Triggerfish’s annual Winterfest, where the beers are big and strong! Expect 9%+ beers from eight different Western Cape breweries, plus two
Winter Fest at Darling Brew
Winter Fest at Darling Brew
From the event’s Facebook page: Whether you’re a seasoned beer enthusiast or just looking for a unique winter experience, Darling Brew’s Winter Festival promises a blend of exceptional brews, good