Western Cape Brew Route – March 2012

Every now and then I will update the Western Cape Brew Route or Western Cape Beer Route. I am very sad to say (write) that Paulaner has closed but I am happy to announce that there is a new brewery, Bulldog Brewery coming up in Struisbaai. I also put Paulaner “on hold” because I think they will re-open or relocate and start up again.

Some, if not all of these breweries are difficult to find. There are very few signs pointing to the breweries so please check there location thoroughly! Check the map below and please contact the breweries before going there because they might not be there.

There are some breweries that does not have an established place yet and some of them has not even started yet like Gallows Hill Brewing Company, Royal Mzansi, The Real Beer Company (Retreat), Rock-Kestrel Breweries (Stellenbosch) and Brothers In Arms Brewery. I hope I can come back to you with more information about these breweries later on.

Please let me know if there are any breweries missing!

The idea of a brew tour is to visit breweries and get information directly from the brewers. Mainly for people interesting in brewing. A shorter beer tour is for people that would like to visit one or two breweries and then visit a restaurant or two for a taste.

Cape Town (City Bowl)
In the January edition of the Brew Route Paulaner Bräuhaus at the V&A Waterfront was a really good start. Sadly enough they have closed there operation and a new location is not yet revealed. Instead you could maybe start at Boston Breweries in Paarden Eiland. They do not have a brewery tour at the moment but do not hesitate to ask them anyway.  Jack Black is a contract brewery and is currently brewed at Bostons. Bierwerk is also a contract brewery but they currently brew at Camelthorn in Windhoek, Namibia. There is a new brewery (Woodstock Brewery) coming up on 252 Albert Road/1 Gelb Lane in Woodstock (close to the Old Biscuit Mill).
Beer Tour: Visit Den Anker and Mitchells at the V&A Waterfront or &Union on Bree street. Roeland Liqours at Roeland Street is a good store if you are looking for craft beer. If it is Saturday you could go to City Bowl Market on Hope (Hope Street) or the Neighbourgood Market at the Old Biscuit Mill.

Newlands
Then I would suggest you take Main Road down to SAB Millers Newlands Brewery. You can do a brewery tour in the new brewery but the old Heritage Park is well worth a visit in itself. The old Malthouse and the Brewery tower is a must if you are interesting in brewing and not just drinking beer.
Beer Tour:  One of the best craft beer pubs in Cape Town (Banana Jam Café) is very close to the brewery in Newlands.

Kommetjie
After visiting Newlands you could go down to Kommetjie and visit Valley Brewery or ….

Somerset West
… take the N2 down to Somerset West and visit Triggerfish Brewing and the new brewery Devil´s Peak Brewing Company. Triggerfish is one of the best micro breweries in South Africa at the moment and offers free tasting. Triggerfish is a must if you are doing a brew tour. Devil´s Peak is just starting up but and have there first deliveries made just a few days ago. They are also looking for new premises so I have to update this Brew Route when they relocate.

After Somerset West you could continue the N2 east and turn the R43/44 down to Honingklip Farm. There you will soon find the new brewery Honingklip Brewing. They are not ready at the moment but hopefully they will be during 2012.

Stanford
Keep on the R43 to Birkenhead Estate in Stanford. Birkenhead is also a Wine estate but do not let that bother you. You walk right into the brewery when entering the main building. They have some really nice equipment to check out.

Napier and Struisbaai
From Stanford you take the R320 and turn south on the R316 down to Napier and Napier brewery.

Later this year you could hopefully head down to Struisbaai and visit Bulldog Brewery . I will keep you updated when they have all there licenses and is ready to start deliver.

Knysna and George
After that you could go up again to Bredasdorp and take the R319 back to the N2. Now you have to make a choice. If you are up for a long drive  drive east to Knysna to visit Mitchells Brewery. If possible, try to visit George hops farm and Eden Microbrewery (at Misty Meadows Farm) on the way.

Montagu
The other option is to turn north on R60 and later the R62 up to Montagu. There you will find The Mystic Tin  Karoo brewery.

Robertson
Take the R62 back and then the R60 north to Langeberg near Robertson and visit Saggy Stone Brewery.

Frenschoek
Drive up to Worchester, take the N1 towards Cape Town and then the R310 and R45 down to Frenschoek. Visit Dieu Donné Brewery on the Wine estate/Restaurant with the same name.

Stellenbosch
Take the R45 north and turn left (West) into Helshoogte road down to Stellenbosch. Then drive towards Cape Town along the R310 and stop at the Barrique Brewery (The Village Brewery). During 2012 Luyt Brewery is going to establish a brewery/taste room close by in Stellenbosch. If it is Saturday please take some time to visit the Stellenbosch slowmarket at Oude Libertas.

And then you could drive back to Cape Town …. or you just head up to …

Darling
… Darling and there  really nice taproom at Darling Brew. They still brew at Bostons Breweries so there are not any brewery to visit yet.