Every year, around this time, the food blogs are full of tips on where to dine beside a fireplace. So this year I thought I’d get a piece of the fireplace pie. This is my list of place in South Africa where you can watch a beer being brewed – then drink a pint by the fire. I try to keep this blog as un-Cape as possible (I know how it pisses off you northern folk when blogs go on and on about where to drink in Cape Town) but this time around I was struggling to think of many spots up-country – I suppose that’s because our weather is largely crapper than yours…
I could have written a review for each brewery, a run-down of the food, the ambience, the beer menu. But that’s what my restaurant review page is for. And I know that this is the Twitter generation and you all have the attention span of a small child, so instead I’ve gone with a five-word suggestion of what else to do at each brewery to stay warm this winter…
Drain a smoky Irish porter
2. Triggerfish
Hit the high ABV brews.
Belgian beers keep you warm.
Try the Pride – English ale
Ask about Andre’s extreme beers…
Pint of Black Anvil stout.
Hopefully the beer has improved!
I’m sure I’ve missed a few cosy breweries – if you know of one with a fireplace, tell us about it below. And don’t forget to include a five word reason to visit this winter.
The Bierfassl in Nottingham Road, KZN, serves a selection of Nottingham Road Breweries beers around a lovely fireplace – http://www.bierfassl.co.za/
Thanks Bronwyn…how would you sum it up in five words? Pickled Pig Porter and eisbein…???
Good Austrian food and Tipsy Tiger IPA!
I enjoyed lounging on the couches around the fireplace, enjoying a bottle of Paulaner, Erdinger or Brewers & Union in between pints of porter and ale. Highly recommend the eisbein to soak up the beer!
Ah…
My top 3 in the top 3.
Well done, Lucy.
The Bierfassl is great, but it’s up the road from our brewery (Notties). For a true Notties experience, come to the Boar’s Head pub at Rawdons Hotel next to the brewery for all our beers and huge log fires in the misty KZN Midlands!! The Porter is the killer!!
John – I can’t believe I forgot Notties!!
Pickled Pig by the fire!