Bierwerk
Bierwerk is the talented Danish brewer Christian Skovdal Andersens brewproject in southern Africa. Christan started up the famous brewery Ølfabrikken (Eng:Beer factory; Afrikaans:Bierwerk) in 2004 together with Martin Larsen. He moved on to his own brewproject BeerHere in Denmark. BeerHere is also famous for their somewhat controversial labels. Now, he also has a brewproject in South Africa/Namibia.
The first three beers were brewed together with Constantia Wine Estate (Constantia, Ystervark and Tokoloshe) . Then three more beers at Boston Breweries (Aardwolf, Renosterbos and Vlakvarp) and now recently at Camelthorn Brewing Company in Windhoek (Saison Rooibos and African Stout).
You can find my ratings on Ratebeer.
Website: bierwerk.com/
Facebook: groups/132515513430882
Twitter: –
E-mail: Christian@bierwerk.com
Dieu Donné – Craft beer in Frenschoek
Frenschoek is no longer all about wine. The small town just outside Cape Town also have one (1) small micro brewery. It is situated at the Dieu Donné Vineyard and they have three beers on the menu. It is an Ale, Lager and a Stout.
If you have not been there I would recommend a visit. Not just for the microbrewery but for the food and the amazing view over the valley.
Dieu Donné ratings can be found on Ratebeer.
Markets, markets and more markets – Craft beer
There are so many new markets in Cape Town right now. If you want to taste some South African Craft beer you could go to almost every one of them.
I would like to recommend:
Stellenbosch (on Saturdays); Kevin Wood from Darling brew is often there by himself and you could also find Eric van Heerden from Triggerfish Brewing there from time to time. Always nice to talk to people with a passion for beer. You could also find the brand Jack Black there.
Hout Bay (on Saturdays); A really trendy indoor market with a lot to eat and drink. The KegKing people have a bar there serving Napier, Darling and Paulaner beer.
Hope Street Market (on Saturdays); This is a small indoor market in the City Bowl. Go upstairs and talk to Martin at KegKing and have a few (or many) beers from Napier, Darling and Paulaner.
Earth Fair Food Market in Tokai (on Saturdays); A small indoors market in Tokai. At the bar you can find the People behind a new brewery called The Real Beer Brewery. There you have beer from Birkenhead, The Real Beer Company (test batches) and in the future also Triggerfish.
The southernmost brewery in Africa
The southernmost brewery in Africa today is Napier brewery in the southern part of the Western Cape. We passed the brewery on a whale watching trip to Arniston and Cape Agulhas. There are no signs (that I could see) telling you where the brewery is so remember to check that before.
On our way back we passed Stanford and the Birkenhead Brewery. There are no signs here either until you come really close. The brewery (and winery) is really nice. You pass through the brewery when going in. A good and affordable restaurant and and nice bar for tasting (both beer and wine). Birkenhead and Napier beers are avaliable in Cape Town as well but there is always nice to visit a brewery.
Napier is the southernmost brewery today but maybe not for long. Rumors says there are plans to start a brewery close to Cape Agulhas (the southern point of Africa). I do not know any more at the moment but I will keep you updated when I know more.
IPA, APA, DIPA or Black IPA
A beer trend right now in Sweden is different versions of IPA. The 2010 winner of the Swedish Homebrew Championship was a DIPA (Drakens DIPA). Some people say that the next IPA trend is going to be Black IPA. I like that trend and do not mind of it could last for a long time.
Having that said I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that Triggerfish Brewing in South Africa has released there Hammerhead IPA. Hopefully the IPA trend can come to South Africa as well. The Southern Promise hops should be perfect for DIPA´s or Triple IPA
A link to Hammerhead IPA on Ratebeer.
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