Woodstock Brewery – an update
Yesterday I got a long comment from Andre Viljoen (the owner of Woodstock brewery) and he had some really good news.
The building
They have had a number of challenges with the building located at 252 Albert Rd /1 Gelb Lane. Andre Viljoen comments: but it remains our baby as it is exactly what we wanted – to renovate and breathe life back into a building designed for what we need it for. And it is located on a strip of burgeoning like-minded businesses in a foodie Mecca
Picture from Wikipedia:
The southern part of Woodstock, seen from the northern end, with Devil’s Peak in the background. The pink building in the foreground is the town hall.
The equipment
The equipment has been designed by a German Brewmaster according to the brewery needs and has been manufactured by Zhongde.
Andre Viljoen: We have requested a very wide range of functionality and they have accommodated our requirements.
Recently they joined together with Devil’s Peak Brewing Company and bought the Paulaner restaurant and brewing equipment. Andre Viljoen comments: We are in the process of deciding who needs what, but hopefully that equipment will be put to good use some time soon. I have to say, that is a venue I miss already. Had a couple of pints of their depleting stocks of Weiss today and was re-inspired! Prost! Wolfgang.
The idea behind they brewery
Every brewery has some kind of idea behind what to do and achieve. Andre Viljoen describe the idea behind Woodstock Brewery with the movie title “Field of Dreams”. We wanted to build something that could be used as a base to aspiring micro brewers giving access to a master brewer and an infrastructure to support purchase of ingredients, help in distribution and help in admin (these are the things that romantics don’t think about). Passion first, but it needs to make economical sense.
Brewmaster
Last time I wrote that the danish brewer Christian Skovdal Andersen (Bierwerk) was involved. Since the project has been delayed I know Christian has been busy with his brew project BeerHere. Recently he started a project together with the danish brewery Flying Couch Brewing. I hope to see Christian in Cape Town in the future. Talented brewers are always welcome!
I suggest they also give Wolfgang Ködel (former brewmaster at Paulaner in Cape Town) a call. Wolfgang is a really talented brewer and if he does not have a new project/involvement he would be prefect for Woodstock Brewery.
The Craft Beer Project at Banana Jam Café
Brothers in Arms Brewery – yes they are new
This is crazy! In a good way I should add. New small breweries start up all the time in Western Cape these days. Bulldog Brewery in Struisbaai is waiting for their license and Brothers In Arms Brewery is just finishing their application. Honingklip Brewery and Woodstock Brewery, are hopefully going to open this year. And there are at least three more on the way.
I chatted with Cris Gush who is one of the founders of the new Brothers In Arms Brewery. He has been a home-brewer for some time and now he wants to take his brewing to another level and start a commercial brewery.
What about the name Brothers In Arms Brewery?
Chris Gush explains: “My brew partner and I are very close friends and the name just came about really. I think at some point when we were into the first season of Spartacus it was a line there somewhere. It is also a nice acronym to have, there are many ways ways to say BEER 🙂 and one day, hopefully, a new way will be “bia” ”
They did not have to wait long for that to happen but they had to travel a long way. Bia means beer in Vietnamese.
Jokes like “do they use a beer-gun”, “looking forward to beers loaded with hops” and so on are prohibited!
Where will the brewery be located?
“The real problem out here in Cape Town and the general surrounds is getting a premises, as the license is linked to the premises you need to be sure you´ll be able to stay there for an extended period.”
We will just have to wait and see then and hope to be able to add one new brewery to the Western Cape Brew Route later on.
Talking to Chris I realized that the old
idea of making a Guide to become a commercial brewer in South Africa is not such a bad idea after all! I will start to write one and see what happens. You are more then welcome to help out!
Chris Gush
biabrewery.co.za/
info@biabrewery.co.za ; Chris@biabrewery.co.za
072-397 7075
If you want to help Chris out, please fill in his survey of the current micro brewing environment
Beer label maker website
I sometimes have problems keeping track of the content of my home-brewed bottles of beer. I use to think that a small mark on the cap was going to solve the problem. It does not work! You will forget the meaning of that red mark you made on the cap. Making labels has not been an option for me up until now.
On Labeley.com you can make and print your own labels. A simple and quick guide helps you design and print. Another great Beer label maker is beerlabelizer. Really quick and easy to use.
SouthYeasters Summer Festival 2012
On Satur
day 14 April at 10 am it is time again for the annual SouthYeasters Summer Festival at SAB in Newlands. This is probably the highlight of the year for Western Cape homebrewers. It is a fantastic event on a fantastic location. The small square in the middle of SAB Heritage Centre is full of brewers and enthusiastic visitors.
Triggerfish Brewing, Valley Brewery, Honingklip Brewery and Gallows Hill Brewing Company is also going to be there.
Triggerfish is going to reveal there very limited edition 11-11-11 American Barleywine and that is something you do not want to miss.
Date: Saturday 14 April 2012
Venue: SAB Newlands Brewery
Time: 10:00 -16:00
Tickets to the event costs R50. This gives you a glass with the SouthYeasters logo and you can taste as many beers as you want. Send an e-mail to analize@itbox.co.za in order to ensure a ticker or be there early!
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