Beer review: Afro Caribbean Hablando Español
Afro Caribbean Brewing Co. is fairly well known for its quirky beer names. Many of them, like Hubba Bubba Habba Nero, Dragonberry Kaleidoscope and Disco Hop Party are simply the everyday output of ACBC owner Greg Casey's overactive brain. Others, like Quick Hands...
Beer review: Agar’s Brewery Red Ale
I first met Mike and Don Agar circa 2012 at the Solstice Festival, SA's first craft beer fest which at that point was in its fifth or sixth year. Back then the Agars were avid homebrewers, their beers available only at a couple of festivals. Since turning pro in...
Beer Review: Friar’s Habit Extra Stout
With the alcohol ban reinstated for a fourth time, my beloved industry is again struggling to survive and needs every morsel of help it can get. So this week I'm going to post a series of reviews with info on how to pre-order the beers and keep craft brewer cash...
10 good news stories from the South African craft beer scene
As we find ourselves once again in the midst of a total ban on the sale of alcohol (ban no. 4 in case you've lost count) it is easy to feel a little despondent. The situation in South Africa's beer industry isn't quite as bleak as predicted last year, but since the...
The winners of the 2021 African Beer Cup
The winners of the 2021 African Beer Cup were announced at a ceremony held at Ukhamba Beerworx on June 5. This year's competition received 210 entries from 12 African countries. Beers are judged to the BJCP guidelines with gold, silver and bronze medals awarded in...
BrewDog announces plan to open brewery in Cape Town
Yesterday (March 25), while road-tripping around the Northern Cape, I stopped at a farm stall and checked my phone. I had received the same photograph nine times via different platforms and my phone was going wild. BrewDog co-founder James Watt had taken to social...
Beer review: Jump Brewing Extra Hoppy Lager
A few weeks ago I got a WhatsApp from Murray Middleton. Murray, you might recall, used to be the brewer at the helm of Cape Town's Metal Lane Brewery. Sadly, the brewery is no more but happily, Murray has launched a new contract brand, Jump Brewing. The WhatsApp...
Brewery equipment for sale in South Africa
I get regular requests asking about used brewery equipment or complete businesses up for sale so I thought it might be useful to post this here and try to keep it updated. For every brewery that closes, hopefully another one recycles its equipment and starts up in...
Craft beer employees left desperate and destitute by alcohol ban – here’s how you can help
You doubtless don't need me to tell you that the alcohol ban carries on in South Africa. Everyone has an opinion about it (just check out #alcoholban on Twitter). Some only see alcohol's ills when it is drunk irresponsibly. Others can open their minds - and eyes -...