tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34118380891146749692024-03-05T02:49:31.259-08:00Mzansi Beer South African tasting adventuresAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15927949939018692176noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411838089114674969.post-75137395862169681132015-02-10T07:53:00.000-08:002015-02-10T07:53:16.068-08:00Following Mayflower to the New WorldMzansi beer has stepped out on the South African scene for a while
but I'm hardly ashamed of my infidelity. To appreciate what you've got, you have to remind yourself of what else is out there. In this case, I've crossed the oceans in
search of new tastes and titillations. Not quite making it to the west coast heartland I've landed at the very origins of American brewing, New England. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off the bucket list</td></tr>
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Where better to start this new world adventure than down the road from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Rock" target="_blank">Plymouth Rock </a>at <a href="http://mayflowerbrewing.com/" target="_blank">Mayflower brewing</a>? We rolled
into the industrial park on town's edge as snow started falling. Having come so far, we buried our worries of getting home and headed inside. Instead of fleeing we turned to a flight of five big small
beers (maybe 5 oz each). For ten bucks this seemed the way to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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We started with an 'English Style' IPA, an homage to the motherland which chased the poor pilgrims away. Rather than bursting with
hop flavours like some of its west coast kin, it maintained its stiff upper lip and balance. Stepping away from its ESB kin, it presented a touch of butter on the lips with an almost sour flair on the back tongue. In between the mouth filled with rich warmth emanating as the lightly carbonated, golden yellow beer sloshed around. Only downside came from the presentation: served in clear plastic cups it resembled something you might leave at a doctor's. I suspect it tastes much
better but I'll leave that comparison for others. Instead I turned my attention to beer number two, a bourbon coloured Spring Hop Ale. A bit less forward than the IPA it first reached the nose with scents of fresh turned
ground befitting the name. A red ale with some extra vooma, it offered good bitterness without
the grapefruit promised by the heady dose of Citra. Where the citrus showed was in a taste of rind
lingering after the beer had made its way down your gullet.</div>
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As we readied for the next glassfuls, the tasting room canned with animal pictures circulated on a decidedly remedial phone. A newly engaged gent sipping away at bar's end explained his new fiancee was a zoo keeper and occasionally brought rescues home for the weekend. The <a href="http://i.imgur.com/Ow7I3kZ.jpg" target="_blank">six foot giraffe </a>pup was too tall to get in the house but they managed some time with a baby roo. Seems they sleep best when tightly swaddled and hung from from the a door knob.
If they kick, bring them some milk. After learning of a controversial <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2011/04/oklahoma-woman-fights-to-keep-her-therapy-kangaroo.html" target="_blank">'therapy Kangaroo</a>' taken to court in Oklahoma, we got back to beer. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scotch Ale with Zoo Keeper</td></tr>
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Next up was their almost mythical double ipa. Named after John Alden a pioneer who served as the Mayflower's cooper and later as a general man about town in new Plymouth. This is easily one of my favorite east coast
beers, rivaled in its range of tastes and hoppy bonanza by <a href="http://ithacabeer.com/" target="_blank">Ithaca Beer Company'</a>s <a href="http://blogs.stlawu.edu/literaryjurnalism/files/2014/02/kesey.jpg" target="_blank">Merry Prankster</a> inspired Flower Power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rich and balanced as Douple IPA should be. Not super boozy like some at only around 8% but packing a punch of wild flowers and almost
explosive citrus bolstered by Pacific Northwest Mosaic, Chinook, and Citra hops. But what the great beer lord gives with one hand he takes with the other: this is part of their cooper series, a once-off thing that you've got to catch as catch can. Once it's done, there'll be no more. Which is a crying shame. While it helped me navigate a chilly February day in Boston, it would do perfectly for for a chilled Cape Town beach-side afternoon. Alas not only is their run short, but their distribution reaches only the six New England states. Almost makes it worth a trip to <a href="http://cdn.nerdapproved.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/nyc-hoth-590x445.jpg?874fb4" target="_blank">Hoth. </a></div>
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If you do get to these parts but find the DIPA doesn't float your shallop, turn to their remarkable scotch ale. I've never been a fan of this beer strain, but this one's smokey malts, rich color and hoppy roundness make it something like a <a href="https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/lagavulin-16-year-old-whisky/" target="_blank">Lagavulin </a>and lager. It was a slow burner after the DIPA's effervescent
flavors but it sure beats a Pina Colada this time of year. Coating your tongue with the flavors of a slightly sweet
and confident spirit, this beer feels no need to be showy: it stands confident, strong
and tasty. One can't help think of pipes, fire places and long cozy evening spent in kilt-comfort. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZX3MchyJV_fHVmIPy_CRHnMFnDe6MDu31x1aiELy5ovrTe_EEhXKa7k6TX1YzJGEaHo9HHjgGEEiFceBomE4tNQvG0qoHKDYuMWrJhO50WnZr_mPy2c-cidDECGYltsoRA4zsnUsBRwH/s1600/DSCF0082.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZX3MchyJV_fHVmIPy_CRHnMFnDe6MDu31x1aiELy5ovrTe_EEhXKa7k6TX1YzJGEaHo9HHjgGEEiFceBomE4tNQvG0qoHKDYuMWrJhO50WnZr_mPy2c-cidDECGYltsoRA4zsnUsBRwH/s1600/DSCF0082.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>We finished the day with their perennial porter. Capt Kangaroo at the end of the bar waved its flag, "the pride of New England," he declared. I could see it: plenty of charred maltiness without belly dragging heaviness. Like Mayflower's others, it was balanced and crisp. Still, given my druthers, this wouldn't be my <a href="http://www.people.com/article/winter-storm-juno-blizzard-buddies-nyc-boston-craigslist" target="_blank">blizzard buddy</a>. Indeed, I wandered out into the darkening sky with packs of DIPA and Scotch Ale in my hands. The ultra-religious pilgrims might not have approved, but if they had to go to work on a dark Monday morning without their therapy roo, I'm sure even those resolute pioneers might relish a bottle or two. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dark sea beckons</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15927949939018692176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411838089114674969.post-84254533905118678422015-02-10T07:33:00.002-08:002015-02-10T07:33:59.812-08:00City Street IPA: Malty and MoreishSwinging through Joburg I made the mandatory pass
through Ilovo's '<a href="https://www.ngf.co.za/new/index.php" target="_blank">Norman Goodfellows</a>'. While it's not my neighbourhood liquor store at
the moment, a step into their cavernous store always fills me delights (even as it empties my wallet).<br />
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Along with the wines and supply of the incomparable<a href="http://www.inverroche.co.za/" target="_blank"> Invorroche gin andlique</a>r, I yanked a City Street IPA by <a href="http://www.leagueofbeers.com/ipa.htm?brand=Big+City+Brewing+Company" target="_blank">Big City Brewing</a> off the shelf. I had never heard of these guys and couldn't even find them on the web. Still, with new reason to be afraid I paid and took them home. A few days later I cracked it
open on a warm afternoon overlooking the distant Magaliesburg. </div>
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Purportedly brewed as a tribute to Cape Town (which is not such a big city unless you grew up in Paarl), the arts
and crafty label pictorially suggests it tastes of orange, pine tree, grass,
lemon and toast. I don't know about all that, but I liked the label and the cloudy pour was undeniably
flavourful. A bit thick and malty it certainly broke away from its English heritage. As far as I'm concerned, that's only a good thing. Mixed in with the malt there were nice hop notes which provided plenty of bitterness at the end countering the sweet pine one gets at first taste. I passed the glass around asking if people could smell the grass but got looks of disappointment when they realised what kind of grass I was talking about. Eventually we pulled some kikuyu from the ground and held it up next to the beer. Sure, there's a grassiness to it, but it's layered finely in the back. The bread? Yeasty, but not the eggy, buttery brioche they promised.<br />
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Would I get this again? For sure. Balanced, heart and
tasty. Maybe more a pale ale than an IPA but complex enough to keep things interesting. Let's see what other roads Big City will travel. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15927949939018692176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411838089114674969.post-77451360365858615332014-09-29T06:41:00.000-07:002014-09-30T06:37:36.937-07:00Beer Blossoms: Joburg Festival of Beer 2014The highveld may not be much use for cultivating crops, but it's doing well for craft brewing. In the couple months I've been away, an upstart cohort has joined the scene. All were on show at the <a href="http://www.joburgfestivalofbeer.co.za/" target="_blank">Joburg </a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A call to arms</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.joburgfestivalofbeer.co.za/" target="_blank">Festival of Beer</a> held on the 27th and 28th of September at the city's <a href="http://piratesclub.co.za/" target="_blank">Pirate's Sports and Rugby Club.</a> More brewers and more beer can only be a good thing, but it's an increasingly a crowded field -- in this case a crowded rugby field -- almost everyone is gunning for the same slice of the market. In pursuit of the purse, branding has become so slick that there may soon be dress codes for the more exclusive products. One lives in hope that as palates also become more sophisticated, the demand for more varied and challenging tastes with elicit a market response. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zany zebra kitchness</td></tr>
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The day started early and hot. Keen to get in before the crowds, I took advantage of the 10.30 to grab a morning coffee before hand with Ralph, Felicity and their little kiddo at the ever-twee <a href="http://www.eatout.co.za/venue/jozi-food-market/" target="_blank">Jozi Food Market</a>. One of the first in the city, this quasi-farmers forum has as many fresh flowers, scented candles and baked goods as any mortal can handle. In other words, it's almost the same as the dozen of other markets now peppering the city. But in the warm spring breeze, the cloying cuteness was almost tolerable. After we made it past the jumping castle, the Mauritian
made baby clothes and the zebra kitsch bedspreads (check out the bejewelled eyes), we stumbled on a series of large
white tents looking more like an field hospital than a beer festival. While there was a medical team on hand, that wasn't the kind of treatment we were looking for. Fortunately, with a 120 taps awaiting, we were sure to find something to help salve the week's pain.</div>
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Once we made it in, our first port of call was a fill up with Cape Town's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Garagista-Beer-Co/464024870364322" target="_blank">Garagista Beer.</a> Only a few months on the scene, this Woodstock based brewer's taps were pouring samples of a apple-pomegranate cider and an English style India Pale Ale. Despite being fairly cool on cider, I decided to give it a go. The result was confirmation as to why I don't normally drink the stuff. With a taste suited to 3rd form snack time it didn't speak to us. The IPA, however, was remarkably full flavoured. Made with southern passion and cascade hops, its light fruitiness appealed where the pomegranate fell short. If anything it was a little watery -- alright for first thing in the morning -- but a fine contribution to the scene. </div>
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Next was a visit with an old Mzansi beer friend, <a href="http://mzansibeer.blogspot.com/2014/07/transforming-taste-black-brewers-battle.html" target="_blank">Apiwe, </a>and her new <a href="http://brewhogs.co.za/" target="_blank">Brewhogs</a>' Black India Pale
lager. As previous entries attest, I've sampled others in her increasingly diverse rainbow offerings but hadn't yet got this one on my tongue what with it being launched just days before. Before we were allowed a taste, Apiwe inaugurated Ralph with an elaborate brewers briefing that brought him solidly into the beer
family. Now well versed on varied beer trivia and types, we were allowed the BIPL. I'm not quite sure what makes this Indian or Pale in any sense, but there was no denying it had a good malty chocolateness with a burnt malty hint in the back.
Balanced with Southern Passion and other hops (including dry hops added at the end), it tasted more like a smooth porter than what I had expected. As she's catering for dark
beer drinkers who don't want a stout heaviness, this seems like just the right thing. I would probably pour this more regularly come winter, but this is a beer for all seasons. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boksburg's Beerie Boikie</td></tr>
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We left Apiwe busy with a film crew and moved on to 'Just Brewing', a newly opened father and son operation out of Boksburg in the ever stylish East Rand. Offering a black ale, porter, chocolate coffee stout and a pale ale, they are already running on all cylinders (take that Garagista!). The most distinctive of the quartet was the pale ale brewed with an unusual strain of New Zealand hops. My mouth tasted vinegar countering an underlying sweetness. The brewers characterised this as tropical fruit, which is maybe a nicer way of putting it. While it was memorable at worth a taste (especially for free), I'm not sure I could manage a pint. Building on the dark beer trend, however, the porter was more traditional and more solid. Definitely worth a second look. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blonds have more fun</td></tr>
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Another newbie from Joburg's fashionable outer suburbs, <a href="http://www.swaggabrewery.co.za/" target="_blank">Swagga</a> hails from Alrode, a place I had never heard of (apparently it's near Alberton). Launched about
six months ago, they now market a blonde, a red. a weiss and an IPA. We tasted the red
first which was both dark and cold, welcome features as the temps climbed into the high 20s. Beyond that, it was not particularly notable. The IPA had more flavour from its English hops (Kent Golding) mixed with a bit of Saaz. Alas, the beer was so cold and so carbonated that whatever delicate kisses the hops might have held were lost. The brewer claimed he's brought down the flavour and bitterness for the SA market in hopes of selling more (and more than one at a time). While the IPA was still his favourite, the people loved the California blond. Seems he knows what the gentlemen prefer.<br />
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To break up our marathon, we decided to indulge in the <a href="http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/14033/71534/" target="_blank">Imperial Tequila Ale (ITA). </a>This has been around a while and I've always avoided the stuff, convinced it was little more than a gimick trying to find its place in the party market. Turns out, this Mexican beer is aged in used tequila barrels which impart a light tequila and generally woody, resionous/vanilla taste which was surprisingly inviting. It may be hard to admit to friends or true beer heads, but
I like this.Yes, it's cheesy and gimmicky but sometimes swallowing a tasty beer requires one to swallow your pride. Beats Corona hands down. <span class="st"><i>Olé</i> </span></div>
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Back to Mzansi we wondered over the the stylish but yet truly established <a href="https://www.facebook.com/brickfieldsbrewing" target="_blank">Brickfields. </a>Only a few weeks old, they were pouring a contract brewed, 4% lager (made, as it happens, by Ms. Apiwe). As we spoke, work was underway in Johannesburg's Newtown district (once named the bricksfield) on a new brewery. When finished, it will occupy an old bird feed
factory across from Carfax. As for the beer, well, it was a lager. Fresh, lean with what we were told was a bit of 'copper essence' (whatever that might mean, I didn't ask), it would be a fine session beer. Is it better than what else is out there? Not by much if at all, but the more the merrier, right? <br />
<br />
Almost next door we stumbled on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/11shillings" target="_blank">Eleven Shillings Parkhurst Ale</a>, yet another brewery sprouting like a mushroom after a highveld thunder storm. Sold only in Parkhrust but brewed in Jeppestown, these folks started out in January 2013 with big ambitions. They are currently serving up 800 liters a month but hope to make it to 5000 by this time next year. Whether another
crisp, lightly hopped ale will support such plans depends on aggresive marketing. They have a cool looking bottle so maybe they might just make a go of it. Certainly it's more likely to be remembered for its bottle than its taste. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijT5xRGVpFefIYAhmdcxRkhui07liP2WR13cVYLdaWLmAYeJRzH7NnT5WKpB9XSmHagPz5Kufcjsxa2lo-wRVDKVQMLVznZ4ectKOJOs4zQEUv6-ErQ4LmrFQlDwgRShvoFqMAt0wB-bAE/s1600/DSCF9890.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijT5xRGVpFefIYAhmdcxRkhui07liP2WR13cVYLdaWLmAYeJRzH7NnT5WKpB9XSmHagPz5Kufcjsxa2lo-wRVDKVQMLVznZ4ectKOJOs4zQEUv6-ErQ4LmrFQlDwgRShvoFqMAt0wB-bAE/s1600/DSCF9890.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijT5xRGVpFefIYAhmdcxRkhui07liP2WR13cVYLdaWLmAYeJRzH7NnT5WKpB9XSmHagPz5Kufcjsxa2lo-wRVDKVQMLVznZ4ectKOJOs4zQEUv6-ErQ4LmrFQlDwgRShvoFqMAt0wB-bAE/s1600/DSCF9890.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a> </div>
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After all the beer, we were lured by a <span class="st">striking <i>chiskopped </i>lass to lunch at the </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/SAfroKitchen" target="_blank">Safro Kitchen </a>. Mixed with the other too familiar food trucks, this one offered pretty much the only bit of colour in
the food market and a citizens' prices. There was a 'cheese 'n nyama' roll
which Ralph scarfed down and an off the menu chakalaka veggie one for me. Best food deal in
the place with a bit of ekasi flavour. At only ten weeks old, they are destined for good things. Check them out soon at the Fox Street Food Market. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Last up was an old favourite, Smack brewing <a href="http://www.smackrepublic.com/" target="_blank">Smack! Republic Brewing</a> from Maboneng<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">. Now a few years old, they remain one of the few local brewers that cares more about flavour than markets. That they can't keep up with demand suggest the South African market may be more diverse than many think. Today we tried their experimental bourbon milk stout. </span>Made with lactose and bourbon-soaked vanilla
pods, this was undeniably flavourful stuff. Not quite the smooth, warm roundness of the <a href="http://mzansibeer.blogspot.com/2014/02/once-you-go-black-three-way-stout.html" target="_blank">Goose Island </a>but
delicious all the same At 5.5% it's easy drinking but believe me, you'll know you drank. Consider this a desert
beer really. As for us, that was a good way to finish up before checking into ICU for some rest, reflection and
serious rehydration. </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRmLxtybJ0GZX2XeNYf8GG_FdKUiR-J1GFpuASkw2mWFsBs4ZME4EQuxDG3PtbKYXfRYD2laZALkncLIzkquqzngDQvQp9ANC6QPIlo7c-9znITPyxiGK5dn5vDyDaNzlinK1ZQ7J7dF1/s1600/DSCF9893.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRmLxtybJ0GZX2XeNYf8GG_FdKUiR-J1GFpuASkw2mWFsBs4ZME4EQuxDG3PtbKYXfRYD2laZALkncLIzkquqzngDQvQp9ANC6QPIlo7c-9znITPyxiGK5dn5vDyDaNzlinK1ZQ7J7dF1/s1600/DSCF9893.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chakalakalicious</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijT5xRGVpFefIYAhmdcxRkhui07liP2WR13cVYLdaWLmAYeJRzH7NnT5WKpB9XSmHagPz5Kufcjsxa2lo-wRVDKVQMLVznZ4ectKOJOs4zQEUv6-ErQ4LmrFQlDwgRShvoFqMAt0wB-bAE/s1600/DSCF9890.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<a href="http://www.migration.org.za/"></a>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15927949939018692176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411838089114674969.post-19500245000060000012014-07-10T23:01:00.002-07:002014-07-11T02:38:43.421-07:00Transforming Taste: Black Brewers Battle for South Africa’s Palates and Pocketbooks <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]-->South Africans
drink. Not everyone, but if there is something other than patriarchy and a
braai than can unite the country, a dop might just be it. Even if South
Africa’s centuries’ old wine tradition and galloping premium whisky market grab
global attention, beer is what goes down our gullets on any given day: About <a href="http://www.kirinholdings.co.jp/english/news/2014/0108_01.html" target="_blank">61litres of the stuff per year on average</a>.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3411838089114674969#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span></span></a>
Yet not all beers are created equal. As South Africa continues to transform, so
too does its favourite tipple. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3rrHro5SIfMibCOhHp8LBfoXoN1Q-Zq8zIRJd2YaZy_rHT9pf-Edmd8UW8t7Wh9GPfS7RfBaT6-QOIf3OI9SYGa-uzzbGDVFmlxVs_GcDulCUIN8xr85vO0EyK9jK3rRNiVPKuMoCb5E/s1600/DSC_0294-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3rrHro5SIfMibCOhHp8LBfoXoN1Q-Zq8zIRJd2YaZy_rHT9pf-Edmd8UW8t7Wh9GPfS7RfBaT6-QOIf3OI9SYGa-uzzbGDVFmlxVs_GcDulCUIN8xr85vO0EyK9jK3rRNiVPKuMoCb5E/s1600/DSC_0294-001.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/204/2/2/Giant_Ogre_by_loztvampir3.jpg" target="_blank">SAB-Miller</a>
is a marketing behemoth whose dominance of the domestic market has bred
despondency on the fringes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their global
conquests have supplied a pirate’s booty of domestically brewed ‘imports,’ but
these are little more than old beer in new bottles. Yet the serious beer drinkers
must not despair. While many promises of 1994 have yet to be honoured, at least
we have the freedom to drink good local beer in our lifetime. Starting in the
1980s in sleepy Knysna, <a href="http://www.mitchellsbrewing.com/home.html?disclaimer=y" target="_blank">Mitchell</a>’s brewing began the assault on SAB. Never
intending to see Charles Glass face the guillotine, Mitchell’s and their craft
brewer kin were more Luddites than Jacobins. Dedicated to producing less
processed, fresher more flavourful brews; they set out to capture a niche
market of discerning drinking loyalists. </div>
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<br /></div>
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For almost
two decades the craft brewers soldiered on, joined in their march by small-scale
breweries in <a href="http://www.clarensbrewery.co.za/" target="_blank">Clarens</a>, the KZN <a href="http://www.nottsbrewery.co.za/" target="_blank">midlands</a> and around <a href="http://www.gilroybeers.co.za/" target="_blank">Gauteng</a>. And then things
changed. From around 2010, the fuse they lit has led to a craft brewing explosion.
Following trends from Berkeley to Brussels, beer is flowing as never before:
rich with malts and redolent of hops grown at home or brought in from around
the globe. Although hardly challenging Charles Glass’ dominance of the South
African beer business, the craft brew movement has captivated a growing subset
of South African drinkers. In what might first seem a marketing paradox, SAB is
supplying and supporting the craft industry’s growth. Keen to push price points
up for their own premium products – a quart sells for well under R20 at an
eKasi spaza; a craft beer might sell for four times that amount – they are delighted
with new markets for wallet draining drinks. But while reaching a broader
public, most of the new brewers are following Mitchell’s proven marketing
strategy: small scale local production aimed at a relatively well off, largely
pale-faced following. </div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrJgvuff8HmS1nW61s3EpPTOyCzwxDHF8DydrVetwbf-Kp5hUDHmTXIz1DXVv9ziWSXSdWgU8Wl8iRD3fAFv_m1tdP0rROz_ludds6XpoVYeG_BpIW045Z9tkVuuIpdCwRmaovjNSDcyb/s1600/DSC_0298.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrJgvuff8HmS1nW61s3EpPTOyCzwxDHF8DydrVetwbf-Kp5hUDHmTXIz1DXVv9ziWSXSdWgU8Wl8iRD3fAFv_m1tdP0rROz_ludds6XpoVYeG_BpIW045Z9tkVuuIpdCwRmaovjNSDcyb/s1600/DSC_0298.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apiwe, the not so mad scientist </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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And then
things changed again. Inside the (partial) transformation of South Africa’s
beer industry is another uniquely South African transformation. Leading the way
are two remarkably different brewers with an intertwined past. Both part owners
of their respective breweries, Apiwe<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Nxusani
and Ndumiso </span></i><span class="st">Madlala are out to change the flavour
and colour of the craft brew seen. Recognising the inherent limits of brewing
for an affluent minority, these two are busy crafting beers with more mass
appeal. And with these strategies they hope that the colour of money will accompany the rich golds and reds being served up frosty in a pint glass. </span></div>
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<span class="st">Having served their time working for SAB-Miller in various roles,
these two have the brewing experience, technical skills and training to coax almost
any flavour from the yeast, malt, hops and water that goes into their beer. (Graduate
science degrees and international brewing and distilling diplomas? Who knew
there were such things?) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
self-professed beer nerd, Apiwe is not much of a drinker but has been
captivated by the brewing process since she visited an open day at the
University of Johannesburg. “I’m like </span>chef; they don’t eat a lot. They
just eat to appreciate the tastes they’ve created.”<span class="st"> Ndumiso also
came of age at SAB-Miller, climbing the ranks alongside Apiwe before branching
out in 2011 to start his own operation. When investors failed to pitch, he
headed back to overseeing SAB breweries across Africa and learnt even more
about brewing and branding. A great beer lover – our outdoor interview was
accompanied by a delicious winter sunshine and pulled pint combo – Ndumiso saw
the opportunity to reach an untapped, African market ready to step out on SAB. </span></div>
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<span class="st">Labouring on opposite ends of the city geographically
and socially – Apiwe deep in middle-class suburbia; Ndumiso in the heart of
Soweto – the two nevertheless have a similar reading on how to enchant the beer
drinkers whose thirsts will feed their bottom lines. For Apiwe this means creating
a ladder to more complicated, tastier beers. With her <a href="http://brewhogs.co.za/" target="_blank">Brewhogs </a>Pilsner and Red Lager
she’s building, “</span>a bridge to people who are used to drinking lagers.
What we make is drinkable; it’s more like what they know. We want to play
around in the lager field, but it will be lager with a twist.” Being a taste
fundi, she experiments at home with more outlandish inventions but realises
that South African taste will take time to follow along the yellow brick road. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSu3tX8hlcch0Ag4KyH_mKqOoNuxoUBynnHLBrTfV_46HCN_kG38v57QzWIk1gTGQyHVTFuyiqcyqe7kpceKiqpa1KcqJMNU23QTzQvf-b7bvJ2CqhkQjwdifj_J5clOLygiPN-x8xwJ_6/s1600/DSC_0285-001.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSu3tX8hlcch0Ag4KyH_mKqOoNuxoUBynnHLBrTfV_46HCN_kG38v57QzWIk1gTGQyHVTFuyiqcyqe7kpceKiqpa1KcqJMNU23QTzQvf-b7bvJ2CqhkQjwdifj_J5clOLygiPN-x8xwJ_6/s1600/DSC_0285-001.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ndumiso, the beer loving brewer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Ndumiso’s approach is equally calculated but he hopes to bypass Oz and
get straight to El Dorado. <a href="http://www.sowetogold.co.za/#!home/mainPage" target="_blank">Soweto Gold</a> is not a aimed at beer connoisseurs, nor
is it intended to take its drinkers on a gustatory journey. Instead he has created
a full flavoured beer to capture the lucrative Black market. “If you look at
the recipe, it has similar property to Carling Black Label. It’s slightly
sweet, lowly hopped.” He adds special malts and a proprietary yeast blend to up
the flavour profile, but is not too bothered if drinkers don’t savour the
difference. “What we’re selling is also an aspirational product. We are adding
something for them at the top end. There are taverns here in Soweto that out
sell those in Sandton in single malts and exclusive products. We want to tap that
market.” And tap it he has. With his Orlando brewery only set to open in late July
– he currently crafts in Nottingham Road Brewery’s KwaZulu Natal facility – he
is already outselling SAB products in select pubs around town. With a planned onsite
canning facility and new varieties coming up he is riding a brand wave likely
to lift him and his investors to prosperity. Look out for a <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d7/Orlando_Pirates_FC_%28logo%29.png" target="_blank">Pirates</a>-inspired
Orlando Stout in black and white and a clear sorghum, maize and malt beer sure
to be a hit with Ndumiso’s KZN homeboys. </div>
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As with any
South African industry, race matters. Apiwe is proud of what she has
accomplished and the role she can play in transforming the business: not only wresting
total domination from SAB, but adding diversity to the craft brew scene. There
is evident pleasure in startling people out of their comfort zones. “We serve my
beer in restaurants and festivals and people are often shocked when they find
out I made it. Obviously first because I’m a woman, then because I’m black.”
Ndumiso does nothing to disguise his background instead making it foundational
to the brand: “I’m the face of this company. I’m critical to where we are
going. When I give the beer to my friends in KZN, they love it. One thing I can
tell you about people there, they enjoy anything from Johannesburg. When they
see that this is done by one of their own, I know it’s going to sell very
well.” </div>
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But this is
beer after all, so while race will always be an issue, people would prefer to bicker
over malt or hop profiles or football prowess. Soweto Gold may be mining the Black
market, but almost everyone living in South Africa – and wealthy foreign
tourists keen for a taste of the fabled township – can sip proudly from their
trademark golden cans. <a href="http://www.jhblive.com/userimageservlet/117154" target="_blank">White Braamfontein hipsters</a> are already savouring the
stuff. If you can crack that uber-cool crowd, who knows who is next. Apiwe’s
hopes are, like her, somewhat more muted: “There are a few home brewers who are
black. Sometime they call to ask me for advice. Hopefully with time there will
be more as I’m often the only black person in the room. Still, I’ve never felt
I don’t belong. When they ask, I tell them – and honestly this is how I feel –
that we are like one big family; we’re all there for the love of beer.” Cheers to
that. </div>
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You can
taste Brewhogs at the<a href="http://brewhogs.co.za/contact-us/" target="_blank"> Kyalami brewery</a> on Friday afternoons or whenever the mood
strikes you at the <a href="http://www.hogshead.co.za/" target="_blank">Hogshead restaurants </a>or select pubs around Gauteng.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soweto Gold is pouring from ever more taps
across Gauteng and Cape Town or from their brewery bar in Orlando West’s <a href="http://whatson.co.za/venue.php?venue=2424&name=Ubuntu%20Kraal" target="_blank">uBuntuKraal</a>.<br />
<br />
Note: This is a longer version of a <i>Mail & Guardian </i>article available just by <a href="http://mg.co.za/article/2014-07-10-craft-brew-is-the-new-black/" target="_blank">clicking here.</a> <br />
<br />
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<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15927949939018692176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411838089114674969.post-60997520999450315002014-07-07T01:47:00.001-07:002014-07-07T07:08:52.081-07:00Gilroy's, Seriously? <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Having just landed on a delayed Nairobi flight, I headed straight to a friend's beer
party. By the time I arrived, the afternoon's festivities were well and over, but there were still enough food to sate my hungry belly, a few willing drinkers, and a couple of Gilroy's 'Serious Dark Ale' in the cooler box. Years ago, Gilroy's was one of the few craft brews available in Johannesburg and I'd brave the lousy service and rubbery calamari at the otherwise charming <a href="http://www.eatout.co.za/venue/zoo-lake-bowling-club/" target="_blank">Zoo Lake Bowling Club </a>just to get one. Well, the club stopped serving Gilroys and the old timer seemed to have been put to pasture by a breed of <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNN3aVxWXJbC_XmriigSrsNYorz6Ojm2lViffXMkUbVHDSd22mXqeC-Iv7tT5ymKEaAG1e_UTkHhudjrqofJJizRf3NDmu3yU3GD0sl6AjaBDOTolp8UC0woYChDEWRAxRF-Ad-ic3TsT/s1600/DSCF9794-001.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNN3aVxWXJbC_XmriigSrsNYorz6Ojm2lViffXMkUbVHDSd22mXqeC-Iv7tT5ymKEaAG1e_UTkHhudjrqofJJizRf3NDmu3yU3GD0sl6AjaBDOTolp8UC0woYChDEWRAxRF-Ad-ic3TsT/s1600/DSCF9794-001.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a>aggressive upstarts. The last time I tasted anything they make was a couple of years back at their laddish yet family friendly<a href="http://www.gilroybeers.co.za/" target="_blank"> Muldersdrift brewery.</a> So, I pondered, here was the chance to get re-acquainted and see how this pioneer had stood the test of time. </div>
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The bottle looks nice and 'olde timey' and indeed, the brewers describe the contents as a dark rich ale made in the age old way. This, apparently, includes the addition of a
'majestic' yeast. According the the website, even the sophisticated superspy James Bond drinks the stuff. As we decanted, we came to understand why the quintessential British icon might be so inclined. Despite a vigorous pour, the beer rested in the glass looking like dark tea.
The bottle claims this is done in an Irish style, but since I don't know a jig from a blarney
stone, I can't really say. Regardless, I suspect James Bond wouldn't be caught dead drinking something from the emerald isle. </div>
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Coming to taste, we hoped the majestic yeast might spawn some leprechaun magic to lift the beer above its uninspiring appearance. Alas, from the taste of it, majestic means lazy. Perhaps too many jigs for that leprechaun. Instead, the taste stayed true to the look: barely carbonated and a bit like iced tea on the tongue. Still, the taste would let it pass for a middling real ale at a midlands country pub. A friend, fresh from the US, found it reminiscent of <a href="http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/75/667/" target="_blank">Negra Modelo</a>, a dark German style lager made in Mexico. I can see that, but unless you drink a great number of these, it's unlikely you'll be moved to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN-p4mUbq6k&feature=kp" target="_blank">dance around your hat</a> or take <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Flatley" target="_blank">Michael Flatley </a>for a spin.
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As for the hornpipe, the bottle defends its almost absent carbonation as allowing the beer to "dance on tongue but
cause no distress to the tummy." That's another way of saying it's flat. Which is kind of right; in more ways than one. Perhaps 007 should stick to his Martinis. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15927949939018692176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411838089114674969.post-86317092374131242352014-06-22T08:36:00.000-07:002014-06-23T01:06:58.627-07:00A Smack for all Saisons<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFChK3GvE8-VO5Kty_NtE2eXTJCq6x9DmlHgXAGbihbLFQTXBVLEMk4OUUmFdm_NpQVOydzAeqREszVtuimalzJX9ZSwG5TKzb2pzTVGX-BNufqwcvxgNAnnxWXf0MlJtM3IffIw6FB3gs/s1600/DSCF9752.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFChK3GvE8-VO5Kty_NtE2eXTJCq6x9DmlHgXAGbihbLFQTXBVLEMk4OUUmFdm_NpQVOydzAeqREszVtuimalzJX9ZSwG5TKzb2pzTVGX-BNufqwcvxgNAnnxWXf0MlJtM3IffIw6FB3gs/s1600/DSCF9752.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maboneng Mamas</td></tr>
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</xml><![endif]-->Took some out of town visitors down to the newly developed <a href="http://www.mabonengprecinct.com/" target="_blank">Maboneng </a>for
the weekly <a href="http://www.mabonengprecinct.com/entertainment/market-main/" target="_blank">Sunday market</a>. The elder was an urban studies professor always keen to see what's happening with ever dynamic Jozi. His world-weary teenage daughter tagged along, evidently tired of following her dad through all sorts of strange African developments. While there has been some <a href="http://mg.co.za/article/2013-03-08-maboneng-i-am-an-island" target="_blank">controversy </a>around the redevelopment of the precinct, what with it being a solidly middle class reclamation of the area and the like. But I tell you, if the alternative is another shopping mall chock full of Mugg and Beans, <span class="st">Messieurs </span>Price and Baskets of Ocean, I choose this. By the time it spreads to another 45 buildings courtesy of the uber-rich 29 year old, Jonathan Lieberman, it may have lost its charm. For now, the place was bustling with cool. Even if the district doesn't appeal to those who find Rosebank dangerously close to Soweto, it was packed with people of all sorts (well, of the middle class
sort) smoking, being hip and looking generally far cooler than me. Even the teenager was impressed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Soldier and the Saison</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After wandering around the market and watching the daughter get her shop on, we hungered up and helped ourselves to a
whole fish fried fresh and laying on a bed of some of the hottest, oilyest, and most delicious chips I've had in yonks. With a dash of chili and spice, the white flesh peeled cleanly off the bone as we settled into the courtyard's winter sunshine. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8VP9HnxzfUgcmkik4SoPGW-xCsuY2A-bCf3levvyUJsr7xdXz9bjFoHr25Y4jfMuh1VoXOL-BA_TywN0TePKstl5XLw5vv7J_tb_qOUFSQsoh7U-Jn5AFI4SxodY0lDfBv6RC4gzwEG9-/s1600/DSCF9730.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8VP9HnxzfUgcmkik4SoPGW-xCsuY2A-bCf3levvyUJsr7xdXz9bjFoHr25Y4jfMuh1VoXOL-BA_TywN0TePKstl5XLw5vv7J_tb_qOUFSQsoh7U-Jn5AFI4SxodY0lDfBv6RC4gzwEG9-/s1600/DSCF9730.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smack's almost Subterranean Shop</td></tr>
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Before getting too comfortable, we meandered past the precinct's hole in the wall brewery, <a href="http://www.smackrepublic.com/" target="_blank">Smack Republic</a> for one of
their offerings. From the three tapped up and pouring and we went for the Maboneng Maverick, their take on a saison. While I don't often gravitate to this French style farmhouse ale (there's a reason we know them for wine), this seemed better suited to the sun-kissed weather
and our handfuls of fried finger food than the otherwise tempting experimental bourbon and vanilla infused Stout.<br />
<br />
Once we finally got to drinking, the Michigan friend felt the Smack Saison failed to measure up to his hometown favourite, <a href="http://www.bellsbeer.com/brands/info/2" target="_blank">Bell's Two Hearted Ale.</a> When pressed, he admitted that even if Bells is a fine, solidly crafted beer, the Smack boys had created a solid contender (a 6 or 7 compared with Bells' 10 by his estimation). Sipped from a plastic cup in the Sunday sun I couldn't
imagine anything all that much better. Even if saisons don't typically shout flavours, this one shot
a cool sharpness. Served deeply chilled, it nevertheless put forward a spiciness thanks to a good mix of hops and the somewhat non-traditional naartjie peel and black pepper. Say what you will about these alien additives, but they
worked. Slightly sweet and heavily carbonated – a bit too bubbly for my
tastes – it was it was nonetheless just about the right thing for the day.
Despite the fancy pictures on the website, they don't bottle or distribute
(yet). Given that they're brewing from what amounts to an over-sized closet, it's impressive they're able to even make more than one beer at a time. Regardless, if you want a taste, you have to come to the market to get one. While
it may not be worth a trip from Michigan, if you're in Joburg on a Sunday, make
the journey.
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15927949939018692176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411838089114674969.post-28911236013979250472014-06-16T12:36:00.000-07:002014-06-17T01:15:21.646-07:00Youth and Sir Thomas Brewing Company's Hangklip IPA<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drinking in the Future's Shadow</td></tr>
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</xml><![endif]-->What better way to honour the youth than by sitting in the sun drinking a beer? Sure,
it's not what the<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soweto_uprising" target="_blank"> holiday is about</a> and we ought not forget past sacrifices. Yet, if freedom from oppression doesn't include casual drinking with a diverse crowd in a northern suburban park, then we still have a long way to go. Besides, really, what do the young like better than beer? That's right, nothing. And while young'uns might not all line up behind <a href="http://www.sirthomasbrew.com/" target="_blank">Sir Thomas Brewing'</a>s Hangklip's IPA, there's going to be some who do. Those are the ones to watch; they're going places. As I drank it surrounded by tykes and food
trucks at <a href="http://www.mediaupdate.co.za/?IDStory=65796" target="_blank">Parkview's food truck festival </a>in George Hay Park, I toasted their prospects and quietly celebrated the future generations. </div>
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Let's be honest, this is an IPA for the people; a journeyman for the jol. It is unlikely to please snobbish <span class="st">connoisseurs </span>and even modest critics will easily recognise its failure to crest the pinnacle of taste and balance. (We followed the Hangklip with a smuggled<a href="http://rogue.com/store/products/Rogue-Farms-7-Hop-IPA.html" target="_blank"> Rogue 7 Hop IPA, </a>a masterly brew bursting with botanical bounty.) That said, it was a solid entry offering little to offend and plenty to please. The nose was generally hoppy although missing many of the flowery scents found in its more sophisticated cousins. Bitterness dominated on the tongue with no distinguishable citrus, pine or resin flavours despite the strong hop presence. <a href="http://www.yuppiechef.com/sir-thomas-brewing-company.htm?id=12406&name=Sir-Thomas-Brewing-Company-Hangklip-Ale-IPA" target="_blank">One reviewer</a> found dates and grapefruit in there, but we couldn't. If there was something resembling dates it came from the malt which offered more general sweetness than specific flavours. What somehow managed to punch through were hints<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of a Belgian-like
yeast, a taste unexpected for a South African IPA but not unpleasant (<a href="http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/collaborations/wit-ipa.htm" target="_blank">Belgian inspired IPAs</a> have established a niche elsewhere). The cloudiness could also help it make a play with the Walloons although the slightly harsh over-carbonation<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>– </span>possibly a result of drinking this at Jozi altitudes<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>– </span>might see it side-lined. At only five percent alcohol, it is a beer for the everyday and the everyman (and woman). Some might dismiss it as milquetoast but such an approach may well help win over generation next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkmO00dES_4nFfi8BMvln-uAajHM_Aw8tNRU7LneEwAJkwjMUg_iL2JGfWCpkYQh5zBia8LhYU2KiacReIcjIn15uqNLf9HiGjNJY3mbF-7id7DzknAP33Uui0Rrp2jeiwGpwL-jMIvtD/s1600/DSCF9708.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkmO00dES_4nFfi8BMvln-uAajHM_Aw8tNRU7LneEwAJkwjMUg_iL2JGfWCpkYQh5zBia8LhYU2KiacReIcjIn15uqNLf9HiGjNJY3mbF-7id7DzknAP33Uui0Rrp2jeiwGpwL-jMIvtD/s1600/DSCF9708.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cloudy with a Chance of Tasty</td></tr>
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I found this beer at <a href="http://www.ngf.co.za/" target="_blank">Norman Goodfellows </a>in Illovo for about thirty odd. If you hit the shop you'll see it has one of the best selections of bottled South African beers in the country (and the only place I've seen Hangklip). Many of those on offer will similarly dent your wallet and look just as pretty on your shelf. Ultimately the selling point should be taste. Although Hangklip may not be everyone's favourite, it's a solid offering that adds depth to the mzansi IPA stable. In honour of our youth, past and present, it's certainly worth a turn. Sir, yes sir. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15927949939018692176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411838089114674969.post-36911171825266941322014-06-03T01:44:00.002-07:002015-05-22T08:36:45.147-07:00Devil's Peak Revisited: IPAs Standing Tall<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GychRbVjdTe2tJReltOMhvGJEJ-PqDPJKblKZB3xHCTB5Pwjpt0O0A4bGsIQiNaSBmOE4xFGotiSAJ6rD74OV9lbpDREGfS5CB3hxit4jicEepgAJzia3LPCea7p-JfjLQm6fON0hVHq/s1600/photo4dp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GychRbVjdTe2tJReltOMhvGJEJ-PqDPJKblKZB3xHCTB5Pwjpt0O0A4bGsIQiNaSBmOE4xFGotiSAJ6rD74OV9lbpDREGfS5CB3hxit4jicEepgAJzia3LPCea7p-JfjLQm6fON0hVHq/s1600/photo4dp.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filled to the brim with Cape Townians</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's not my way to revisit old haunting grounds, but as
my last visit to Devil's Peak's Salt River <a href="http://devilspeakbrewing.co.za/taproom/" target="_blank">taproom</a> was curtailed by a private
party, it seemed just the place to start a beery Cape Town weekend. As much as Jozi may rightfully claim its place as the country's economic engine, there's no place as good as the Western Cape to sample South Africa's burgeoning beer scene.
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Once again the place was packed as one might expect on a
Friday evening. Turns out it was end of term for the nearby Universities and a running club decided there could be no better place for post-run hydration. I couldn't agree more. That this place officially serves the best beer in South Africa
only boosts the busy.</div>
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Looking at the menu, I was drawn to two tap-only
offerings. The first was a blaster - the black IPA. Given my almost idolotrous
love for their 'regular' <a href="http://devilspeakbrewing.co.za/the-kings-blockhouse-indian-pale-ale/" target="_blank">King's Blockhouse</a>, I knew this one was going to be full
of flavour (and to be fair, I had <a href="http://mzansibeer.blogspot.com/2013/11/devils-peak-taproom-ipa-surprise.html" target="_blank">tasted it in December,</a> but in a rush). Described in the menu as dark, hoppy and rich but crisp, it
certainly didn't disappoint. My benchmark here is <a href="http://www.firestonebeer.com/beers/products/wookey-jack" target="_blank">Firestone Walker's Wookey Jack</a>, one of my all time stars. But since I hadn't had that one in months, a direct
comparison wasn't possible. Still, there's little doubt<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> the Cape Townian </span>could hold its own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lighter in alcohol than the Wookey and with the double IPA maltiness, the crisp flavour stood tall alongside the dark roasted malt which lent
it the almost charred bitterness of a nice porter. Despite the intensity, it retained a light mouthfeel even if the glass remains dark when held up to the bright kitchen
lights. The hops are a bit flatter than the King's Blockhouse without the citrus buzz,
but the beer was still swimming with the precious flowers. When we asked which ones, 'European
hops' is all the barman could or would reveal. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFPNzpvs8wvyr4IoYBXUMTs1dILB0ohLWMB6V7YkxpcPnTiKCRGzODBi511nVIPslYEa_nxcUqSv-be8VAdH1AX03LlNe_oJi75MSUcJCcR8q6QEMISxLmFE_ONKP3Q8qfMWRt3b7pFI_/s1600/photo5dp.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFPNzpvs8wvyr4IoYBXUMTs1dILB0ohLWMB6V7YkxpcPnTiKCRGzODBi511nVIPslYEa_nxcUqSv-be8VAdH1AX03LlNe_oJi75MSUcJCcR8q6QEMISxLmFE_ONKP3Q8qfMWRt3b7pFI_/s1600/photo5dp.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TheIPAs stand tall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Speaking of Europeans and barmen, apart from those
working the taps, this was by far the darkest thing in the place. I'm sure
there are those comforted by these last enclaves. It seems if you want entry
here you need an electronic cigarette, a beard (if you're a dude), part of your
head shaved (men and women) or vanilla dreads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That the bleached blond next to me spoke
with the one white bartender of the, "little Indian man" who had served them earlier made me glad to live in Jozi. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6g5IfyTSdU07mDFxUrdy-MTcoPXhlq8Ck2VqsX2xUpQGWbujJC4PS6BwQG8V1S9CFH6DnVtASrPfTsMP3uxyoR_G0sAMRt6RvHEMHGXmt6IeJ7rOYgmb0kUKN7I8W8Nk8sfbZKcMETJBe/s1600/devil'speakfish.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6g5IfyTSdU07mDFxUrdy-MTcoPXhlq8Ck2VqsX2xUpQGWbujJC4PS6BwQG8V1S9CFH6DnVtASrPfTsMP3uxyoR_G0sAMRt6RvHEMHGXmt6IeJ7rOYgmb0kUKN7I8W8Nk8sfbZKcMETJBe/s1600/devil'speakfish.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A hunk of beer battered deliciousness</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The second round was meant to go to the rye saison,
described on the menu as medium to strong fruity/spicy. Alas, its tap had run
dry so I was 'forced' into tasting their Imperial IPA, something that's not (yet?) bottled and had escaped me until now. Almost the same colour as
the Blockhouse, there was a slighter fainter citrus nose with more of the resinous
tones wafting into the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>nose. Thicker on
the tongue and rich down the throat the maltiness was well balanced. This is something like a <a href="http://www.carpartkings.com/wp_blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/HotRod.jpg" target="_blank">hot rod</a> version of the regular IPA: slightly less delicate but nonetheless controlled and bursting with vooma. Delicious and well suited to warm one's cockles during the forthcoming Cape Town winter. </div>
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Although I came for the beer, it's worth noting the food
wasn't too shabby. Sure, this is not where you go to sample Cape Town's finest cuisine, but
for it's simple menu, they do the dishes right. Saison battered fish
with chops
and a flavour rich broccoli and goat cheese salad.The neighbour's pizza
made me hope he'd look the other way so I could grab a slice.<br />
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About half way through the evening, one of Cape Town's
hapless youth sidled up to bar asking the bartender for a Castle draught and Coke Zero. Asked to repeat himself, he confirmed what he was after. Taken
aback and almost speechless, the bar tender stumbled over his words as he looked in
exasperation for an empathetic eye. Rolling his, he informed the young man that
the Castle was fresh out, but
perhaps he could be happy with the beers made on site. Chastened he left with a
<a href="http://craftbru.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/devils-peak-first-light-golden-ale-1.jpg" target="_blank">First Light </a>and Coke Light. Not sure which was for the
lady.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Only down side of the evening was at some point the place ran out of
pint glasses and couldn't serve. Either lots of Cape Townians are filling their cupboards with
these vessels or someone forgot to do their washing. </div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15927949939018692176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411838089114674969.post-34581208754003876192014-05-10T09:07:00.000-07:002014-05-12T03:58:04.730-07:00Jozi Craft Beer Fest 2014<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfKzRc7VKztiuYDb00fltmExteELg-MGiR0M6vSjBxFwz8H4d06vNpXxwyd9iwA_PMu70zzWM0Eed0dTwoRR_xK_-1XnxOArC9zAO-QR4xK9vBDwucU-72m769jHRxrfP8oDGqBsVh8Zj/s1600/DSCF9669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfKzRc7VKztiuYDb00fltmExteELg-MGiR0M6vSjBxFwz8H4d06vNpXxwyd9iwA_PMu70zzWM0Eed0dTwoRR_xK_-1XnxOArC9zAO-QR4xK9vBDwucU-72m769jHRxrfP8oDGqBsVh8Zj/s1600/DSCF9669.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a>Walked through jam packed parking lot to make it to the 2014 Jozi Craft beer Fest. Credit to the good people at <a href="http://www.leagueofbeers.com/" target="_blank">League of Beers</a> for organising the <a href="http://entertainmentnutz.com/post/wp-content/plugins/rss-poster/cache/d27a3_morgue10_1980s_urban.jpg" target="_blank">mechanical bull </a>and <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-RJZMmSGWfz-exRnYsd3hZl-ZoP1Uoc-U9Q-6D0fIcEDOY_YXs0SpXIipu2v41hQFcrrlBD9NuarxlpQ3bk2-EqM1jzoEZq518xs2VRYw4jUcR0bhdWAsH4p8qGumS_giIsrLkBNG2n6/s1600/DSCF9688.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-RJZMmSGWfz-exRnYsd3hZl-ZoP1Uoc-U9Q-6D0fIcEDOY_YXs0SpXIipu2v41hQFcrrlBD9NuarxlpQ3bk2-EqM1jzoEZq518xs2VRYw4jUcR0bhdWAsH4p8qGumS_giIsrLkBNG2n6/s1600/DSCF9688.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ride'm cowboy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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ping
pong tables. True Jozi style? Don't know much about the city's cowboy heritage but all
can be forgiven when bathed in that gorgeous autumn sun with just enough high clouds to keep us from roasting. </div>
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Speaking of roasting, there was food too. The vittles will be largely familiar to regular Johannesburg <a href="http://www.neighbourgoodsmarket.co.za/johannesburg" target="_blank">market</a> goers: <i><span class="st"><i>mustachioed</i> </span></i><a href="http://www.balkanburger.co.za/" target="_blank">Balkan Burger</a>, overpriced <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BahaTaco" target="_blank">pulled pork tacos</a> absent any Mexican zest, <a href="http://www.tutto.co.za/" target="_blank">undercooked paella </a>seasoned with what tasted like aromat, and slightly spendy but solid <a href="http://www.casalottis.co.za/" target="_blank">fire roasted pizza</a>. In true Mzansi style, there wasn't much for the
vegetarians among us. For the few still eating dairy, the homemade <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pauls-Homemade-Ice-Cream/140720879312226" target="_blank">ice cream </a>looked good but we weren't in the mood for a float. Rather, it was the beers calling.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2xSF40qGFJXuKl1zhRw3_9ORDazzuqD9AbqVBcwISKsnwjfOmyCed0K2UGIgcec5UJxFbQBgpXOy6LbQR_wyY1e4xiqyIfMv_BgUCN8fm4UrKg2I-Hf8zwaBwKhcQDILx5NCKUy8cnh4/s1600/DSCF9681.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2xSF40qGFJXuKl1zhRw3_9ORDazzuqD9AbqVBcwISKsnwjfOmyCed0K2UGIgcec5UJxFbQBgpXOy6LbQR_wyY1e4xiqyIfMv_BgUCN8fm4UrKg2I-Hf8zwaBwKhcQDILx5NCKUy8cnh4/s1600/DSCF9681.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swimming in Aromat</td></tr>
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And there were beers. Almost all the well knowns and a few local start-ups made the cut filling almost 30 tents with bottles and kegs. Among them were a couple of distillers and one anachronistic (yet delicious) <a href="http://www.brewdog.com/" target="_blank">Scottish brewing company</a>. For the most part, the staff were friendly, knowledgeable and proud of their pours. Yet there were a few baffling exceptions where the local ambassadors knew almost nothing of what they're serving. Telling you that a beer is popular is not quite up to snuff. But let me not judge -- at a place like this there is always another tap waiting for attention. </div>
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The first beer catching our eye was a Haarties local that had somehow escaped my lips for too long. From their good variety, we plopped our tokens down for <a href="http://www.chameleonbrewpub.co.za/Page.aspx?Type=HOME" target="_blank">Chameleon Brewhouse's</a> American pale ale. Made with amarillo and cascade hops - words that sound so sweet with a heavy Afrikaans accent -- its captivating fragrance reassured us that it wasn't brewed with water from the <a href="http://www.harties.org.za/problem.aspx" target="_blank">nearby dam</a>. The dark
brown beer was capped with a good frothy head that stuck around until the very end. On the tongue it was smooth and fruitily hoppy - as one would expect from those hops - with a touch of
sourness on the finish but nothing to erase the round balance at the beer's center. I half
expected a hint of <a href="http://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mampoer" target="_blank">mampoer </a>but certainly wasn't disappointed with what I got. Turned out to
be one of the day's surprises.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lBH8MjAGY_nPuzL5aDlsTw4V2sAwKZBKYx-hRmo1nmwM97KZ2weo-X8NME9jjKpnWzEQeImwF5bZFpu0M157NL9dfLXzmHlldnFbma8SV1bT8Xp4_xpmcYq8-oZWRaAx9ZQ3mrtwk8AT/s1600/DSCF9672.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lBH8MjAGY_nPuzL5aDlsTw4V2sAwKZBKYx-hRmo1nmwM97KZ2weo-X8NME9jjKpnWzEQeImwF5bZFpu0M157NL9dfLXzmHlldnFbma8SV1bT8Xp4_xpmcYq8-oZWRaAx9ZQ3mrtwk8AT/s1600/DSCF9672.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haarties hits Jozi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<br />
Next up was <a href="http://www.acesbrew.com/" target="_blank">Aces Brew Worx</a> (<i>sic</i>) IPA. I've tasted their
middle of the road lager before and can't say I've been much impressed. This is the first time seeing any other
offerings most which were brewed especially for the festival on contract by an ex-Bavarian beermaker at Swagger brewery in Alberton. These trial balloons included a blond, a red, a pale ale, and an IPA. Not
surprisingly we went Indian. At only 4.5% ABV - a good 2-3 points below what it should be - I was skeptical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They said it was made with cascade hops but since it was sub-contracted they couldn't be sure. In the sun the beer looked like a dark
rooibos tea with a corporate looking head of big bubbles. The smell was fresh but faint and a bit lagerish.
Things didn't improve much past the lips where there was almost no hop profile and the malt
presented no sweetness or warmth. That wasn't so bad, but the chlorine finish was made less pleasant with evocations of <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/29/us-safrica-zuma-idUSBRE9AS05P20131129" target="_blank">President Zuma's fire pool</a>. If this was a test, it
passed like a Limpopo maths student. (To be fair we shared it with a couple others who proclaimed it creamy and delish, so to each his own. But I won't budge on something: that ain't no IPA).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNZlgN8CzOgu0uFOTvjRJHxznFODp6VajH2F7kJTrvlfQHPysTQ7Kz2T1nYfAo7nknuVtgxyl6-Hf-36haMIfJ4KCfld_trzlGRUFOTg41RYzYWPk1ZD1mKrxZiZS8XNpmshvLW76YYjU/s1600/DSCF9674.JPG" height="320" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wondering why the chameleon's not turning blue</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After that disappointment, we took a break from beer<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to try out <a href="http://www.draymans.com/whisky/intro.html" target="_blank">Drayman's </a>single malt whiskey. I'm always pleased to see South Africa trying
it's hand beyond brandy and as a whiskey drinker, what choice did I have but to give it a go? Their festival neighbours, <a href="http://www.jd7.co.za/" target="_blank">Jorgensen's Distillery,</a> have already
established a fine reputation even if it's not nearly as tastily innovative as
<a href="http://www.inverroche.co.za/" target="_blank">Inverroche </a>(who were nowhere to be seen). Jorgies was showing off a 500 rand bottle of
absinthe which I didn't have the courage (or the cash) to try so I stuck with Drayman's. While their <a href="http://mzansibeer.blogspot.com/2014/01/dissimulating-drayman-emperor-ipa.html" target="_blank">Emporer IPA </a>fell short earlier in the year, this was a perfectly drinkable whiskey that could rival an entry level Scotch.
That they served the single malt with ice with nary a thought did make me wonder
what they were hiding. That it was R400 made me think maybe they were hiding
just how overpriced it was. At 200 I'd go local and buy, but not at twice the price.
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgocL6v0GU0Mwup_UEi9uaHj07L4UY_ATqdtxhFDjwHx4ucEbtHm48uhHtbB2cc-hK1gU6NQRhwdUUMkVchpXxkMgE_npG9G_5RC7Q40HHNcN3fAp_L961fz_TLLmozkxnxJUd91ZMrwV6d/s1600/DSCF9693.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgocL6v0GU0Mwup_UEi9uaHj07L4UY_ATqdtxhFDjwHx4ucEbtHm48uhHtbB2cc-hK1gU6NQRhwdUUMkVchpXxkMgE_npG9G_5RC7Q40HHNcN3fAp_L961fz_TLLmozkxnxJUd91ZMrwV6d/s1600/DSCF9693.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three's Company</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Back to the beer and <a href="http://www.thestandeavenbrewery.co.za/" target="_blank">Standeaven Brewery's</a> Three Hop IPA. I haven't been particularly chuffed by their wide variety of widely available offerings <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">but the hoppy promise drew me to this one. The eponymous trinity included an <a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/new-wonder-variety-has-south-africa-breweries-hopping/1792458.html" target="_blank">experimental </a>offering from Charles Glass mixed with the country's homegrown Southern Promise and Southern Passion. </span>Shaun Standeaven took a break from pouring to explain that they made this festival special specifically to highlight the oft overlooked -- and somewhat maligned -- local hop offerings. Although it's not available anywhere else just yet, I hope it will be. It poured out with creamy
head comprised of ultra fine bubbles. While it's cloudiness made it look like a slightly coppery wheat beer, its nose had enough floral hop aroma and light citrus lilt to claim its place as an IPA. The fruitiness was there too as you drank although it faded as the glass emptied. So while it doesn't bang you with IBUs, it has a flavour that is comfortably distinctive. Sure, it is a bit
watery without an alcohol punch, but it's balanced nonetheless. By far the best foot they've put
forward. Maybe a new category: African IPA or, better yet, session IPA? I could
certainly drink a few. And big props to Shaun and his fam for sticking South and highlighting what Mzansi has to offer. </div>
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Back to Jozi with <a href="http://www.smackrepublic.com/" target="_blank">Smack Republic</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> and their Braamfontein Brawler IPA. Unlike Standeavan, these guys went all-American with imported c</span>ascade and amarillo hops.
Having been on sale for a year - almost always on draft - it apparently isn't keeping pace with their golden ale and honey rooibos. Still, the brewers claim it sells and they're going to keep it flowing. At 4.1 percent it's
also low on the alcohol, a persistent problem with the local IPAs. What it lacked in punch it made up for with its rich red copper color and a finely
laced head. While their saison is seasoned with spicy black pepper, this one smelled sour. Alas, it tasted
sour too. There's hops and malt but they were lost behind a kind of tamarind
forwardness that might help explain why this isn't a best seller. I'd tasted it before at their brewery in in Maboneng and had fonder memories. From here on out, I'll stick with their Maboneng Maverick complete with rooibos and honey. No sourness there. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBAKLnShQjP9s8ixYbFeZX5MKdUHA_OI4xch4_wFCBoEcxao9g1fIoQ_QRBke-yry8AdWWmyXeqS4uZSVcuecHUWdZvhV_7gFcmEQakW0lLaitNAvqZnwewGdLivv826M9LXBiW7DKYLT/s1600/DSCF9701.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBAKLnShQjP9s8ixYbFeZX5MKdUHA_OI4xch4_wFCBoEcxao9g1fIoQ_QRBke-yry8AdWWmyXeqS4uZSVcuecHUWdZvhV_7gFcmEQakW0lLaitNAvqZnwewGdLivv826M9LXBiW7DKYLT/s1600/DSCF9701.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brewhog's Apiwe Nxusani, free (from SAB) at last</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXlD8nvbuwYaUlTF5Mm7v9vcNMmR2MqUGC3zGuVa3bp6w3DgJBNLnhQl1RPDQkLXt02t5Lr7b2JXV0LlX6dr7DrMHAA1FpWYtntQ7uKKFm7WmOXLLEbsIlmwrwVoYR9VNdOU_GOV9-5OR/s1600/DSCF9697.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXlD8nvbuwYaUlTF5Mm7v9vcNMmR2MqUGC3zGuVa3bp6w3DgJBNLnhQl1RPDQkLXt02t5Lr7b2JXV0LlX6dr7DrMHAA1FpWYtntQ7uKKFm7WmOXLLEbsIlmwrwVoYR9VNdOU_GOV9-5OR/s1600/DSCF9697.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark's Park Massive</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As things for us were winding down, we passed by the<a href="http://brewhogs.co.za/" target="_blank"> Brewhog's</a> barrel and got to wondering what
they were about. Turns out it's a new brewery in Kyalami with an SAB refugee making a
premium pilsner and an original red lager. Still
small and not yet bottling, they sell largely through the <a href="http://www.hogshead.co.za/" target="_blank">Hogshead restaurants and pubs</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although not normally inclined to lagers, I felt compelled to give them a go. As it turns out, the red was tasty if mainly malty, as
reds are wont to be. Served very cold and lightly carbonated it had a blockier, more
corporate taste than anything else I had, but with an underlying freshness. Finished solid with a touch of
sweetness from the malt. Maybe not my cup of tea but an undeniably nice beer
and a giant step for womankind. </div>
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With our final tokens we revisited an old friend: the King's Block House IPA from Devil's Peak. I've reviewed the beer elsewhere and have no reason to redact
any of my praise. That this nectar won South African beer of the year is no surprise given that it already clinched top spot in <a href="http://mzansibeer.blogspot.com/2013/11/mzansi-holds-its-own-uk-usa-rsa-taste.html" target="_blank">Mzansi Beer's IPA smack-down</a>. That we got a
full glass for half the price was a pleasant one. That they may open a
brewhouse in Jozi by the end of 2014 is enough to make the heart sing. The rest
of you better bring your A game. </div>
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETg80scWwLcfq6vFr8enSaZmb8e9M_Gsru5pPFcsWYNgF0t4OAGIY6vsbGCHPBZfWumKdfZX-H7-ROj9mYheG6c4AHUV1twp0avKBq4j7DifPEjz5N_JBU1VlKq99LPka6ivaV9TZ8oRH/s1600/DSCF9667-001.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETg80scWwLcfq6vFr8enSaZmb8e9M_Gsru5pPFcsWYNgF0t4OAGIY6vsbGCHPBZfWumKdfZX-H7-ROj9mYheG6c4AHUV1twp0avKBq4j7DifPEjz5N_JBU1VlKq99LPka6ivaV9TZ8oRH/s1600/DSCF9667-001.JPG" height="240" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to paradise</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXlD8nvbuwYaUlTF5Mm7v9vcNMmR2MqUGC3zGuVa3bp6w3DgJBNLnhQl1RPDQkLXt02t5Lr7b2JXV0LlX6dr7DrMHAA1FpWYtntQ7uKKFm7WmOXLLEbsIlmwrwVoYR9VNdOU_GOV9-5OR/s1600/DSCF9697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
A big hand to the folks at<a href="http://www.leagueofbeers.com/" target="_blank"> League of Beers</a> and<a href="http://jozicraftbeerfest.co.za/" target="_blank"> Jozi beer fest </a>for pulling this together. Whoever you are, you know how to throw a party. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBAKLnShQjP9s8ixYbFeZX5MKdUHA_OI4xch4_wFCBoEcxao9g1fIoQ_QRBke-yry8AdWWmyXeqS4uZSVcuecHUWdZvhV_7gFcmEQakW0lLaitNAvqZnwewGdLivv826M9LXBiW7DKYLT/s1600/DSCF9701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15927949939018692176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411838089114674969.post-83814030498113128462014-04-18T01:19:00.000-07:002014-04-18T01:19:40.128-07:00Cockpit in Cullinan: Mustang meets Spitfire<br />
One
of the local pioneers of the local craft beer movement, I
was drawn to Cockpit's the Mustang American Pale when it won the best of beer
prize a few
years back. At that point, I was convinced that Andre, the brewer, was
making one of the best beers in the country. Clearly others agreed. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDJBM3EFtokHAlrzFijVV7FXTUscABPIEUscI4XesDdvOvddxBywSvVQeWSiQzNoHo03sFQUvC2-ybaGofhodyDqH-IqmwZq0dHj3cMOCMiXdI9TahjfaCJzxI7DSRfuL2pemotzX6Sxt/s1600/DSC_0320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDJBM3EFtokHAlrzFijVV7FXTUscABPIEUscI4XesDdvOvddxBywSvVQeWSiQzNoHo03sFQUvC2-ybaGofhodyDqH-IqmwZq0dHj3cMOCMiXdI9TahjfaCJzxI7DSRfuL2pemotzX6Sxt/s1600/DSC_0320.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
And while he imports his hops (and it shows), he doesn't do much to
distribute his beer. If you want his stuff, you you've got to make the
trip. And that's exactly what we did.<br />
<br />
We pulled in to the reinvented mining town of Cullinan
after almost running over a few billy goats and street hawkers on the journey through Mamelodi. Set
in a strip of old mine managers' houses, the <a href="http://www.thecockpitbrewhouse.co.za/Page.aspx?Type=HOME" target="_blank">The Cockpit Brewhouse</a> was but one in a strip of sunny, rambling gardens
filled with folks enjoying a warm autumn afternoon. So while her majesty, the Queen of England may have ended up with the town's most <a href="http://www.cullinandiamonds.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/slide5-370x300.jpg" target="_blank">famous product</a>, Spanakopita, eisbein, mystical Himalayan salt and crystals, or kitsch jewelery are on offer for us commoners. Meandering down the the street could hear live music from the Cockpit. Knowing that classic rock and beer always gel, we hurried down the road and grabbed the last free picnic table outside.
Once the band took a break, it became a relaxed local
feel with a smattering of yanks and uitlanders like us. <br />
<br />
After being greeted by the friendly staff, we ordered up the Mustang American Pale and the Spitfire <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaz9uoAfMAAslYvkXVYSd7LdUFy1sLJlEFXHYIt48P3r_XkQbPsVpD2puWpu06Qtm72qmthndFFWDzoa_wEvzBHlSurInKuATwLQ64-LUNdSqTRoPO6qPx7LKm3bI9nrplK5sYy1oHydA/s1600/DSC_0329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaz9uoAfMAAslYvkXVYSd7LdUFy1sLJlEFXHYIt48P3r_XkQbPsVpD2puWpu06Qtm72qmthndFFWDzoa_wEvzBHlSurInKuATwLQ64-LUNdSqTRoPO6qPx7LKm3bI9nrplK5sYy1oHydA/s1600/DSC_0329.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
English Ale. The menu claims the latter to be a 'true session' beer while the Mustang was described as a showcase for tropical and citrus fruit. Only taste will tell.<br />
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When it arrived, the Spitfire looked right: lightly carbonated with small,
fine bubbles making a pancake of a head. In the glass it was slightly cloudy with a rich, red tinged coppery
colour. It proved light on the nose with hints of sourness. By the time it got on the tongue, that sourness blossomed into a sourdough like taste. Having spent my fair share of time in blighty's pubs, this is not quite what I expected as the English bitters tends towards light and fruity if anything. Still, on its own terms it was not unpleasant to be
sure and boasts considerably more flavour than many a limey pint. The Kenyan pondered that it might be nice at the end of a long
run to rehydrate and re-energise: a kind of alcoholic gatorade. We also agreed it would probably do well with bar food. Since we weren't likely to go jogging off into the veld any time soon, we opened up the meat-heavy bar menu. As it turns out, it did indeed go nicely with our fish & chips and the pulled pork special. So, while not a
remarkable offerring, it is indeed a solid one.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjew5qW64yDZeySk-sOuubueuI4nNkiXddJC6SRMhOupwITQZlPscLMWj04nrJ3nMt2l_pPLvckphkLEsfazvEbnBAFPxJCSY_U95UOfdVb_7Owc-uUr7xQiBuwp1QyrO93E2tojrrR0qky/s1600/DSC_0340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjew5qW64yDZeySk-sOuubueuI4nNkiXddJC6SRMhOupwITQZlPscLMWj04nrJ3nMt2l_pPLvckphkLEsfazvEbnBAFPxJCSY_U95UOfdVb_7Owc-uUr7xQiBuwp1QyrO93E2tojrrR0qky/s1600/DSC_0340.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pulled Pig</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Yeehaw, I said, let's tame that Mustang. This American champ came in a tall hourglass
glass, <span id="goog_1569556886"></span><span id="goog_1569556887"></span>considerably headier than its British counterpart. Despite this, it showed up only fine bubbles and was far more lightly carbonated than many yankee brews.
It also looked like it had spent a bit more time in the sun and had become cloudier and more browned than the Spitfire: a golden caramel up and
down. The smell was generally beery with faint citrus that was overwhelmed by the smoker at
the next table. In the mouth the hops jump forward in their citrusy fullness.
Malt counters for a nice combination of tastes. Still, it felt somehow feels pushed together - almost like a malty beer
blended with a hoppy one in ways that don't yet completely fit. Tastes with food we lost a bit of the hoppiness and tasted
more caramel sweetness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no
doubt I would pick this over the spitfire to be sure but no long certain I
would drive the hour to come get it when there's beer springing up in town. As
an outing, it's more than worth the drive although one has to be sure of making
it home safe. And at 30 rand a pint, this has to be one of the better
craft beer values around.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48Gx_9Hz8ta5jPfvioqPHxguQj1BvBwa34Ilji1KjQErenz0iee2NBMW5uuqD5g0C78ssHqNT3VTsP-vPj71vUNnbqD8UAnB1gKkcmdBexPklRZj8O-b8_9qo4G1mD0ddwLMdGaL0yLMj/s1600/DSC_0321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48Gx_9Hz8ta5jPfvioqPHxguQj1BvBwa34Ilji1KjQErenz0iee2NBMW5uuqD5g0C78ssHqNT3VTsP-vPj71vUNnbqD8UAnB1gKkcmdBexPklRZj8O-b8_9qo4G1mD0ddwLMdGaL0yLMj/s1600/DSC_0321.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The British Spitfire and its more mighty American cousin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15927949939018692176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411838089114674969.post-46065397451023627362014-04-04T07:15:00.003-07:002014-04-04T07:17:23.212-07:00Copperlake Jozi Pale Ale<div class="MsoPlainText">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">The <a href="http://www.theradium.co.za/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Radium
Beer Hall</span></a> is one of the best places to grab a drink in Joburg.
Although not in the most stylish part of town, you simply can't beat the
vibe at rush hour with traffic honking its way down Louis Botha en route to Alex and beyond. The owners
claim it's the second oldest bar in town and it looks like some of the regula</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">rs have been
there since opening day. But the natives are friendly and </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1v2DCueIYhHrxizr9COhy3WeB6JuipHb5BAmUnJ0-7LrU8s4WWS4N3tnkNkz_3IBVibOroVEZVwaRWwda8K0np_TysOkUFHzpfWyx8Dcmd9eFxA3jhlhUrKvEDqepDN2hUZJpXf7Dhbn/s1600/copperlake2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1v2DCueIYhHrxizr9COhy3WeB6JuipHb5BAmUnJ0-7LrU8s4WWS4N3tnkNkz_3IBVibOroVEZVwaRWwda8K0np_TysOkUFHzpfWyx8Dcmd9eFxA3jhlhUrKvEDqepDN2hUZJpXf7Dhbn/s1600/copperlake2.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always Beer O'clock</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">it is one of
the few places you'll find such diversity of people -- colour, class, and
even a smattering of single professional women (not the 'working girl' variety) -- lounging together. The
food is predictable and priced right and the beer selection has become increasingly varied. As long as I can remember, they've had Hansa,
Black Label, Castle and Kilkenny on top. Back in the dark-days of local brewing, I was grateful for even this smattering. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Some time back they installed a <a href="http://www.mitchellsbrewing.com/home.html?disclaimer=y" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Mitchell's </span></a>tap which made the drive to Orange Grove worth the effort. They've now traded that it for </span>two locally made specialities. The <a href="http://www.acesbrew.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Ace's
Lager</span></a> will have to wait for another time. Even if they have
cool glasses, I'll almost always take an ale first. And that's just what I did.
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">To be
fair, when I started out, I wasn't entirely sure what I was drinking. The
friendly bar tender served this up as Ace's Pale Ale. Although it came
spilling over the top of a Guinness glass, the guy next to me was drinking his
out of an Ace's pint glass so I soldiered on in my ignorance. As I walked out I double
checked the tap and realised he was mistaken. The barman didn't have much else
to add about the beer other than its popular, they often sell out, and he
didn't quite understand why people would want to drink it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Truth be
told, after having made it through the pint, I was also not fully convinced why anyone
would want to drink it. Sure, there are worse beers out there, plenty of them, but if
there's a choice, this would probably not be mine. The beer arrived
(incognito) looking good: it was dark bronzy gold with a head of fairly large
bubbles capping the thing with all the pride of an <a href="http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/BF/50AEB9A1DE3848B7DDB3DBF39667D4.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">EFF beret.</span></a> Not to impugn
the EFF lest they try to nationalise mzansi beer for the good of the people, but what was under this beery
beret had about as much credentials as the party's commander in chief. Up close
and personal, the </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">smell was fairly rich and beery with some strong earthy
notes, but otherwise without much to draw you in.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"> It could
probably pass in a blind taste test as a strong lager. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSJgrXreU8Uc1E6TrYBIajBITWWP8vKQn7D08-mpyScOmlDuYT7hVE8TkD328NHHMfX7Ps9lbKHVxjyDyBj92ZdjKpUDG5XHzBFUXBRsBF2KOFWwVumxN26inSKotIKcOAUVJmJ0_e8iO/s1600/copperlake3.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSJgrXreU8Uc1E6TrYBIajBITWWP8vKQn7D08-mpyScOmlDuYT7hVE8TkD328NHHMfX7Ps9lbKHVxjyDyBj92ZdjKpUDG5XHzBFUXBRsBF2KOFWwVumxN26inSKotIKcOAUVJmJ0_e8iO/s1600/copperlake3.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copperlake atop the Famous Ferreirastown Bar</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">On the tongue? To
its credit, the beer has taste. It's just not the kind of taste I was looking
for. Rather, it offered a sourness that lingered on the middle of
the mouth for too long after the beer itself went down my gullet. There was an almost a tamarind-like tang but without the balance that makes Asian food sing.
I thought that perhaps the tap had been open too long or it was otherwise
skunked but the beer man assured me it was freshly tapped and fresh from the
distributor. But then again, what does he know? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">So, just
as we're all excited to see new players on the </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">political agenda, we should
applaud Copperlake's appearance on the Radium's roster. Showing up gets
you a look and taste, but if you want to stick around, you're going to have to
offer more than the right look and a fancy hat. If someone bought me another round of this one,
I'd probably drink it. If I'm paying for myself, I'd pick the Hansa.</span> </span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15927949939018692176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411838089114674969.post-33945389882457882972014-02-21T23:02:00.002-08:002014-02-24T23:17:57.033-08:00Once you go black? Three-way stout family taste offIt’s not a
normal weeknight when a motley group gathers to taste 13 beers from the extended stout
family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But on a late February evening,
we did just that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Building on last
year’s successful three way <a href="http://mzansibeer.blogspot.com/2013/11/mzansi-holds-its-own-uk-usa-rsa-taste.html" target="_blank">IPA throw down</a>,<b>
</b><i><b>Mzansi Beer</b> </i>assembled a diverse group of aficionados, visitors and newbies to
sample some diverse offerings from the British Isles, the United States and, of course,
the Republic of South Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
comments below reflect what this merry band – a lawyer, an Irish playwright/journalist,
a public health specialist, a human rights campaigner, and an assortment
of others – had to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> S</span>pecial thanks
goes to Alaska-native <a href="http://www.socy.umd.edu/gradprofile/Gross/Mark" target="_blank">Mark Gross</a> for smuggling in the Americans and sourcing
the others in and around Joburg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9oznyeaKvAWsG3sSoKSpMSp4KzDAgm2YfI-dxlhvhHELfHguRzPwMypnCCmubGArrbFSWgljdrGRjTPuQ7sNGYy1zqaVYFcBoJYAfFZhVpDSdIJivU6SS7-358tpmd8m_6lB1J1p28cA/s1600/DSC_0180.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9oznyeaKvAWsG3sSoKSpMSp4KzDAgm2YfI-dxlhvhHELfHguRzPwMypnCCmubGArrbFSWgljdrGRjTPuQ7sNGYy1zqaVYFcBoJYAfFZhVpDSdIJivU6SS7-358tpmd8m_6lB1J1p28cA/s1600/DSC_0180.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standing Stout: Bravely Facing Their Destiny</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Following
form from the last taste-off, each beer was organised into a cluster before
getting wrapped in paper and assigned a number.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first was the mega-producers: SAB,
Guinness, Youngs and Marston. Figuring
that this would set a general standard for the night before we moved on. The next group we termed
the ‘S-Class,’ or standard, straight up stouts, a category including the
highest proportion of South African micros.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a scheduled dinner break of pizza and prawns–the latter bought fresh the
day before from Cyrildene–we broke ranks with a group of ‘outliers’ including porters and other stout brothers or cousins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
being the new South Africa and all, we didn’t feel it right to exclude just because they didn't pass a stout purity test. Our
pudding was a couple of American imperials. </div>
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Things
started a bit slower than expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mark, <a href="http://www.jacana.co.za/58-jacana/author-pages/1635-helen-struthers" target="_blank">Helen</a> and Tor (who until that night hadn't known beer was made with barley) arrived first. No sooner were they in the door than
Helen was on the phone busting a colleague from a
holding cell at OR Tambo International.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While that drama unfolded, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vna7qrc126Q" target="_blank">Colin</a> the itinerant playwright
walked in newly relieved of his phone, SatNav, and a fistful of Rand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark, who spends his days researching township
crime and vigilantism, lost interest in the story when he heard it happened downtown, but the
rest of us pressed him for details while Helen lit up the switchboard assaulting an ever intransigent Department of Home Affairs. Remarkably, she
ultimately prevailed and the dude was <a href="http://groundup.org.za/content/ugandan-doctor-released-home-affairs-thanks-south-african-activists" target="_blank">released</a>. Colin, on the other hand, ran back to Dublin with only
his story to tell. </div>
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After finally settling down, we confronted the momentous task ahead: thirteen beers on a weeknight and it was
already well past eight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to be
dissuaded, we forged ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alas, in this
smack-down, South Africa was flattened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As you’ll read below, there were no Mzansi standouts although South
Africa’s champions were by no means the worst on offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this surprising? Thick heavy
beers in the tropical sun? For a drinking public accustomed to light lagers? That said, there’s nothing as satisfying like a hearty beer
on a cold evening. For those without under<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>floor heating, there are a couple of locals
worth drinking. However, if you want the real deal, you’re still better off going with the exotics .</div>
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<u><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Round One: the Macros</i></b></u></div>
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<u>Castle
Milk Stout (RSA)</u>: We unwittingly started the evening off with this true South
African stalwart. Hero to the working man, we found the distinctive, lactose aided
stout had a relatively flat flavour. As one might expect, we found it slightly
sweet, but with a bit of not altogether pleasant sourness at the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With its light carbonation, someone at the
table described it as slightly thin (although you wouldn’t be if you drank too
many of these).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others identified an almost
metallic scent on the nose. This evolved into the taste of burnt
or stale coffee after a few swigs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although
we all agreed it was a pretty standard stout, no one was dying for a refill. Nonetheless, it came in a respectable second (of four) in the
macro-category. </div>
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Second on
the agenda was the global standard bearer: <u>Guinness (Ireland/RSA?)</u>. This one, brewed in
Cape Town S.A., went unrecognised by our Irish guest, although he admitted he
hadn’t drank his native son in years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest of us found it slightly more carbonated than the Castle with a
little bit of creaminess countered by a higher level of carbonation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first reactions related to being ‘fruity
up front.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That quickly faded with the fruit giving way to what one might sprouting find beneath the trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yes, I’ll take fungal,” shouted the Alaskan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indeed, there was something musty and, well,
fungal in the taste albeit not in an unpleasant way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With its heightened bitterness and
fruit-fungal flavours, we agreed it had more character and was just that more, ‘stouty.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the big reveal, we
were surprised to find it was a Guinness, and a little surprised that the Irish flagship is
quite so popular. </div>
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<u>Young’s
Double Chocolate (UK):</u> The
beer poured almost jet black in the glass with a thin, creamy head – like you
might find on a nicely shot espresso.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given the name, it should come as little surprise that the taste was
sweet and chocolately, a bit like one of those chocolate pinotages<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in vogue these days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After we started thinking wine, someone mentioned
tastes of black cherry. Fruit, yes. But the sweetness was countered by a pleasant bitterness
on the back side which lets you know there’s some hops in there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although it wasn’t on the after-dinner menu,
it could easily pass as a beer to go with pudding. Or, better yet, as desert
all its own. And like most deserts, this one would be good to share – its
richness might be overbearing for a singleton. Although it was thinly textured and had poor lacing, we liked the
carbonation, we enjoyed the lingering chocolate taste in our mouth and elected
it our clear category winner. </div>
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<u>Marston’s
Oyster Stout (UK)</u> drew last on this dance card in more ways than one. It poured out with the strongest head of the
groups with a slightly red tint in the beer. A bit of chocolate on the nose,
but far fainter than the one before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beneath
that chocolate was a bit of barley scent, a hint of grape nuts past. Once it
was in the mouth, it came across as almost watery on the tongue. The light chocolate
tasted complemented with a bit of nothing: almost like a ‘stout lite’, diet
beer, or watered down cola.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end,
we agreed it looked like stout, poured like a stout but sure didn’t taste like
a stout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While it might pass as a kind
of black IPA, it lacks the flavour profile. The clear loser. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiBmriY6W0QiHNTSdKmo_dv4k2DQSu9dmqf-C0VBAL8Zpf0wRLXpsc5uCeKLDu9gbi8jG5EvlfhYFOH84lzR41YRgc9Y9ONpbwjMzOlG2TKikmQUj-shah4v2Udk6wbHWVU3MnhOV-wzw/s1600/DSC_0192.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiBmriY6W0QiHNTSdKmo_dv4k2DQSu9dmqf-C0VBAL8Zpf0wRLXpsc5uCeKLDu9gbi8jG5EvlfhYFOH84lzR41YRgc9Y9ONpbwjMzOlG2TKikmQUj-shah4v2Udk6wbHWVU3MnhOV-wzw/s1600/DSC_0192.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mzansi vs. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_MAgyBQy8wjPUYobpv6FeZdRKG_Mt3whSGuMxOetfIZH6-ALgZqCPK3Cg8Dam4hai3CYg4DxbW9EYxBEH4JVWs10FcbNkk2c9tbxljSwIfAM8YiHQCY73KH2JeV7w1zO1moMOZx3SNqc/s1600/brimley.jpg" target="_blank">Wilford Brimley</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Round Two: S-Class (Standard Stouts)</u></b></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Having downed
the big boys, we moved to the group including the highest proportion of
South African competitors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's also worth noting that the Notties draught snuck into this category due to a clerical error. That said, it wouldn't have managed any better amidst the outliers where it belonged. Despite our
best efforts to stack the deck, the one alien in the group managed to claim to
the crown. Read why:<br />
</div>
<u><a href="http://www.mitchellsbrewing.com/home.html?disclaimer=y" target="_blank">Mitchell's </a>Raven Stout (RSA)</u>:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Brewed in Knysna by one
of South Africa’s best-established craft brewers, this one poured out with a
fruity, almost herbal and flowery scent that percolated through a big, foamy
head. On the tongue the first thing we noticed was the carbonation behind that
head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given the big smell, we were all a
little surprised by just how thin the beer was on the tongue. Still, we found
the fruit and an almost black currant taste: berry but with a bitter kick.
Tasty, but also just a bit too watery with the pleasant berryness
eventually faded to something pretty dry leaving you with a final, almost sour
or overly bitter taste. The beer was fine, but no one would go out
of their way to drink the thing. Sure, it had more complex and nuanced flavours
than the mass action, but not yet did we find satisfaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite its thrown togetherness, it
came in second of the four. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.nottsbrewery.co.za/products.html" target="_blank">Nottingham Road Brewing</a> Pickled Pig Porter (RSA)</span></u><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </span>came
up next from the crowded coolerbox. The only beer of the night to pour from a can, it
showed up with an extremely creamy head and firm bubbles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone smelled roses in the glass. Another
less generously scented toothpaste. I first thought the thing hinted at anti-septic
but was then convinced to switch my assessment to ‘metal’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone added that it was more of a bubble-gum
or cough syrup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before long we were
divided. One side of the table couldn’t finish their glasses while Tor, the Brooklynite,
was so into it the florally toothpasty taste he filled his glass with the
others’ leavings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He later admitted growing up on malt liquor. Looking on with disgust, the Irishman elegantly described the
aftertaste as beer poured through an ashtray. If you’re after a 4 AM
nightclub kind of beer, fill your glass. The rest of us (apart from Tor)
thought this was by far the worst of the crowd. </div>
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<u><br /></u></div>
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<u>Darkhorse One Oatmeal Stout (USA)</u>:<i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Back out of the bottle, this one poured with almost no head but released
some find bubbles when swirled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Caramel,
chocolate and roasted malt with a bit of dark fruit and coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Generally
had a good mouth feel – no wateriness like the others. Instead it was creamy
and consistent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This, we thought, is
what Guinness was supposed to taste and feel like. South African Stephen didn’t
jive with the bitterness and burnt taste so much, but still thought it better
than the previous two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall,
consensus was this was this was what a stout should taste like. A clear winner for the Americans. They may not
have won much in Sochi, but this is theirs. When it came to choosing our
overall winner for the night, this was right up there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Mark wasn’t such a Goose Island
chauvinist, it would have prevailed.</div>
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<u><br /></u></div>
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<u>Press
Club Stout, <a href="http://www.thestandeavenbrewery.co.za/" target="_blank">Standeaven Brewery</a> (RSA):</u> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The
final of the four took us back to South Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This came to the glass super-duper foamy, almost like someone had
dropped in some soap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After spilling all
over the table, we took the glasses outside and finished pouring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When finally got past the foam, we were
confronted with a sour, metal taste complemented by and a slight toastiness on
the nose that carried through to the taste. Bitterness was okay, but it was generally flat and boring and Hardly worth the sticky mess. No one needed a
second sip but it was hardly inoffensive. Third place for the press club. </div>
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<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
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<i><b><u>Outliers</u></b></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Here we
pushed to the edge of the stout family with a few beers that look like a stout
from outside the bottle but make no claims to being one.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwyNCjE8RM1Qb-7leXzVvHbCY2gNazY2CvEeeQa8HTbE1Ir39Dg-153fWtrJl5me7xE6mWug7dEGQdu-W2Bpu1YskZldbotLhKUkrdKqNp1XRp9c6q34_b33PRWz5sngnf6NjpZBSyItuz/s1600/DSC_0194.JPG" height="214" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Mist and Candy Corn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<u>Robinson
Old Tom with Chocolate (UK):</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Out of its
dark packaging, we quickly realised that this was not a stout at all, but
really a dark ale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The colour was ambery
and the smell woody with some vanilla; far more fragrant than what we’ve been
drinking up till now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as it hit
the tongue, someone proclaimed it tasted like ‘a bag of Halloween candy.’ We
agreed the taste profile was basically '<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Candy_corn_strewn_on_a_black_background.jpg" target="_blank">candy corn</a>.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Kenyan was convinced that they’d added something
to corrupt the brew. No one could figure how you'd get an orangey corn syrup flavour
without additions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To its credit, it had
a nice light head and good carbonated. Still,
someone feared they’d get a cavity if they kept drinking, probably not what most are not looking for. “I quite like it” says Steven, which kind of
summed up the feeling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Oddly, p</span>robably the
best of the bunch, but not a clear winner. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<u>Robinson
Old Tom ‘The Original' (UK)</u>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back to
a more stout like visual profile this one poured out with a small head and
light carbonation. Even with the nose in the glass, there was almost no scent.
Someone thought they caught a whiff of swimming pool. Another one – the doctor
– thought it tasted like Actifed while the Alaskan dismissed it as <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvVcfaBCzH0WkStEkmy9DwZfTFbrLlNoT_WjCJyGiTGZOLDCEscbcJFh6hQOgVtGF8zgIVyhqq9AlcmhNN7KGAsN4Gl1DdJc2rPQP98ofgc6s6Gr88BwYawCCSpfQnxl0TO31lmqQqYSh/s1600-h/Steel+Reserve.jpg" target="_blank">'Steel Reserve'</a> with chocolate. Vic, another New Yorker, tasted drain cleaner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The remainder settled on cough syrup. Riding the wave, a corner of the table wasn’t convinced that cough syrup was so bad.
I mean, teens get drunk off it all the time, right? The Irishman liked it
even if it had a bit too much alcohol for the taste (it is 8.5%).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the end, only one at the table thought he
might buy it again even if the bottle claims it was the ‘best ale in the world.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><a href="http://www.darlingbrew.co.za/" target="_blank">Darling Brew</a> Black Mist (RSA)</u>: The only South African in this crowd, this one showed up darker
than the rest, but without much else. Like many of the other South Africans,
this offered up a ‘metal’ taste, probably a result of limited local malts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone quickly dismissed the beer as
‘pointless’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colin offered that it
tasted like sparkling water mixed with a bit of leftovers from before<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few people thought that wasn’t so bad and
could be a better session beer, although they admitted that there were far
options out there that tasted better and would be slower to bloat your belly. Mark agreed you could drink it all night but feared
lead poisoning. It came in second place: middling but certainly drinkable. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Imperials<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></b></u></div>
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With but two, very different contenders, we had no clear winner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Basically, it came down to taste and it split
the table down the middle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, not
really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark and I stuck with bourbon
county while the Lagunitas rounded up the rest. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Imperial Strikes Last</td></tr>
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<u>Lagunitas
Imperial Stout (USA)</u>: This one was all dark chocolate and hops countered with
light bubbles. Like many Lagunitas beers, this one was sweet; almost syrupy on
the tongue in fact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark felt there was
a beef jerky taste. Michael, who’d lived in South Africa a bit longer agreed on
meat but better described it as ‘biltongy.’ Whatever the taste, it coats your
tongue with the meaty maltiness. It lets you know it’s around before passing
through. Appropriate for the end of a long night, it was almost like drinking a
post-meal (if meaty) brandy. Once you got past the biltong, there certainly
were rich fruity tastes that almost shrouded the 9% alcohol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should probably be drank at cellar
temperature rather than chilled. Generally delicious. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<u>Goose
Island Bourbon County (USA)</u>: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most
distinctive of the night, this bourbon barrel aged beer pours like oil into the
glass. Helen thought you could probably drive your car on this. Judging from
the taste, there is certainly enough alcohol in this to fire up a science class
full of Bunsen burners (15%). Colin thought it smelled like blood, but that
might just be his earlier trauma coming back to haunt him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others sense it had a Port like taste,
probably the result of its barrel aging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Tor argued that this was not beer at all, but was kind of like a desert
wine in a Halloween costume.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This taste
like mixing your drinks,” Colin said, “a glass of wine and Guinness all at
once. that’s just wrong”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Helen felt it
was like toffee with chocolate in the middle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whatever you say, those small bubbles on the tongue and the strong taste
were something you could love or hate. I loved it. On a cold winter’s night,
there would be nothing like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15927949939018692176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411838089114674969.post-68715968575336174482014-01-27T01:01:00.000-08:002014-01-27T04:30:05.759-08:00Dissimulating Drayman: Emperor IPA <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sometime before Christmas, I made my way to the <a href="http://www.bryanstonorganicmarket.co.za/" target="_blank">Bryanston Organic Market</a> to seek out a gift or two for family and friends. Despite strong endorsement from people I generally trust, the market was cloying, lily-white, and about as far from a farmer's market as Makro's frozen food aisle (but without the bargains). Like Makro, the market's redemption lay in the various tipples on offer. After tasting sips of deliciously chilled white wine, I stumbled on the <a href="http://www.draymans.com/" target="_blank">Drayman</a> beer booth: an evident oasis in the mass of oppressive faux-hippie elitism. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4TLQFEHF55H-pz3h92mF4CQw18Jn025QiKUKz-VAXqoNf6bLE9RjXxGva3JFF6a8znZ13Ytn0emuY5ZFNd1lvgVuDojcgjm1s0C9OR3z-4f_KCEjOc-ZGvDVZ1cZo4jKUkTOOEWOEkP4/s1600/Bryanston-Organic-Market31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4TLQFEHF55H-pz3h92mF4CQw18Jn025QiKUKz-VAXqoNf6bLE9RjXxGva3JFF6a8znZ13Ytn0emuY5ZFNd1lvgVuDojcgjm1s0C9OR3z-4f_KCEjOc-ZGvDVZ1cZo4jKUkTOOEWOEkP4/s1600/Bryanston-Organic-Market31.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gateway to Garden Gnomes</td></tr>
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Having long hankered to taste a Drayman, I hoped their taps and cooler boxes would offer consolation for my temporary captivity while promising Pretoria's best for the discerning drinker. Although leaning towards German-style beers, I was titillated by the appearance of an India Pale Ale in their stable. Having to continue my holiday shopping elsewhere, I got in the queue with hopes of asking a few questions and scoring a few bottles. Perhaps the proprietor had been hitting the taps or was just overwhelmed by the heat and the market, but he was struggling to manage the increasingly pink, boisterous men lining up to fill their glasses. When I managed to get his attention he proved surprisingly cagey about the beers. at odds with geeky beer culture, he refused to even hint at the hops or malts being used or reveal anything about production. Put off but not deterred, I nevertheless bought a bottle of the <a href="http://www.draymans.com/beers/emperor.html" target="_blank">Emperor IPA </a>and high tailed it out of there. (The website includes no detail apart from the label, so
there's no scoring details there either.)<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4miGh3c1p0RMWn903KPujgZg-mNwWVqdOl480c8OfGcdK2BSpeLIf2WiOAhnuf3D-1BvRUCKB5hzDrNA59MIss36iNCC6vHINQRFN5PeZDLpg2z7tm76PlML-yJkxTTs82Z8GqcjBv0U/s1600/EmporerIPA.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4miGh3c1p0RMWn903KPujgZg-mNwWVqdOl480c8OfGcdK2BSpeLIf2WiOAhnuf3D-1BvRUCKB5hzDrNA59MIss36iNCC6vHINQRFN5PeZDLpg2z7tm76PlML-yJkxTTs82Z8GqcjBv0U/s1600/EmporerIPA.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The IPA in its plastic litre</td></tr>
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With the holidays come and gone, I finally found a sunny Sunday afternoon suitable for a casual tasting. My first surprise was that the Emperor was only four
percent alcohol, two or three percent below most IPAs and even further below an imperial IPA. Turns out I could have drank the thing and made it back from Bryanston. Indeed, you could drink it all day and still make it home on your donkey or trike.<br />
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The question is, would you want to spend your day drinking the thing. If you're after an IPA, the answer squarely lands in the 'no' column. Although the beer is hoppy and crisp, there's not a huge amount of flavour or anything distinct on the nose. In fact, while it is fresh there's no distinguishable hop profile -- no citrus, no pine, just some basic bittering. Even for a Tuetonic IPA (including the fairly tasty and comparable<a href="http://mzansibeer.blogspot.com/2013/08/brewers-union-handwerk-all-day-ipa-at.html" target="_blank"> Handwerk All Day IPA</a>), this is a pretty flat offering. <br />
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If you're keen on a crisp beer and can't be bothered about labels, this is a surprisingly versatile offering. It's a bit cloudy, natural tasting and comes complete with a nice fine froth that sticks to the
glass even after the beer is gone. Again, there's heavy carbonation for an IPA, but its perfectly bouncy and sharp bubbles are well suited to a crisp picnic ale. That it comes in a big, one litre plastic bottle makes it practically perfect for drinking under the sun. If you peel off the elephantine label, you could probably convince the local cop that you're downing a ginger ale. In this election season, shedding the cute elephants might help avoid unwanted cadre attention offended by your implicit <a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRY7AqKBPwWqcblqM3m4nPpWjJN_6UFm-66ijYScQjvDGja_VyPzQ" target="_blank">IFP</a> support.<br />
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In conclusion, this is a fine ale shrouded in IPA clothing: simple, straightforward, and sure to quench a summer thirst. But if you're after a hoppy beer filled with rich, floral tones, this one is not for you. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15927949939018692176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411838089114674969.post-10914921520293167132013-11-18T00:54:00.000-08:002013-11-18T01:50:29.163-08:00Triggerfish is Dyn-O-Mite<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxl-EZbGgTtitybuJwRwZoqnWjItNiffv5Dhe36FbBcnKO37HGVtGXiwEeUTHpoPmdo4q9Fkg4uaeWU1Mcwc7H8ghQDhmf4bLqZ96y4Id_MRFyJRFFIHE_Vzo8uDiTbkMHNNNL5Z01d0u/s1600/DSC_0074.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxl-EZbGgTtitybuJwRwZoqnWjItNiffv5Dhe36FbBcnKO37HGVtGXiwEeUTHpoPmdo4q9Fkg4uaeWU1Mcwc7H8ghQDhmf4bLqZ96y4Id_MRFyJRFFIHE_Vzo8uDiTbkMHNNNL5Z01d0u/s320/DSC_0074.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Road tripping from Plett to Cape Town in one day may not
be the best idea if you plan to get to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/triggerfishbrewer" target="_blank">Triggerfish Brewing</a> its 7 pm
closing time. That the brewery is deep in a re-purposed industrial settlement
(it was once a dynamite factory)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>didn't help us get there any quicker. Set at the back end of Somerset West, we were pleased to arrive but disappointed we wouldn't have more time to taste
their fifteen or so offerings. Given the time at hand, we picked the three IPAs they had tap. Their better known and locally distributed Hammerhead, the Titan imperial IPA and the MayStay. </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9jSV44vOONb5d-NtbAFMd-X2sHB2ZLi3Nfyreq-pYxeQC34R-uPkuVI6D7UCffjEvGfhLDTPAyY1XydoiQ4CvS_AiSGgHXZhxeI1Auc10zmfaSQE4oF7AjbZl_ogQw3Q9zTmk19lus0u/s1600/DSC_0067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9jSV44vOONb5d-NtbAFMd-X2sHB2ZLi3Nfyreq-pYxeQC34R-uPkuVI6D7UCffjEvGfhLDTPAyY1XydoiQ4CvS_AiSGgHXZhxeI1Auc10zmfaSQE4oF7AjbZl_ogQw3Q9zTmk19lus0u/s320/DSC_0067.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An E<span class="st">mbarrassment </span>of Riches</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
All were rich, bronzed
gold with the kind of light carbonation one expects in a fine crafty draft. We decided to start in with the Hammerhead which proved considerably less hopped than expected. It presented a caramelly maltiness that hungover the
lighter hop bitternesss with only faint floral, pine and citrus on this nose. Perfectly
drinkable, well made if not balanced as we might have preferred but that is personal preference and not much else. By the end of
glass I was tasting a bit more hop profile but it was only poking its head
shyly shyly out from behind the malt. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Next was the MayStay IPA, a beer with a less malty profile. Alas, it didn't make up
for it with strong hoppiness. Again, a fine and well appreciated beer but not
one that will be remembered long after we leave. </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
The Titan Imperial IPA was the real winner here. Served in a 350ml
glass it shouted piney hoppiness but in a polite and mannerly way. From the start it showed off all the malt
vs hops balance one expects and desires from a double IPA with only the faintest
hint of extra sweetness. A dangerous weapon for those who had lunched early in
the day and were surviving on a Wimpy milkshake bought in Riviersdale many hours back. We learned later that this is one of the few single
hopped beers being made in South Africa. Highly recommended.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRwgCop91jDHjxicPej-7T9jI8NW6inR-3wmyspPBj2EyCt3MzO3ydUz1EOZXz4TRIYQ_c7D6WC6PrsrtoDq6PleqkpS-Hv8bJLZe-aVxjrWFes-Q3nl_4-A0YM2qRKNS02DH_RgV4K_o/s1600/DSC_0065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRwgCop91jDHjxicPej-7T9jI8NW6inR-3wmyspPBj2EyCt3MzO3ydUz1EOZXz4TRIYQ_c7D6WC6PrsrtoDq6PleqkpS-Hv8bJLZe-aVxjrWFes-Q3nl_4-A0YM2qRKNS02DH_RgV4K_o/s320/DSC_0065.JPG" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Perfectly Balanced Titan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As we packed up and paid, we met the brewer who took us back to taste the Russian
imperial stout aged in an old oak wine barrel he's calling the Oaked Black Marlin. A challenging beer with its sour richness but it was undeniably complex and intriguing. He then tapped the Kraken, a beer not yet for sale anywhere. Named after a sea monster, it was made
with the land's bounty: bushels of hops and home roasted malt. Incredible balanced but
flavoured to the max, front, right and center with almost a Christmas tree and spicey
taste. The brewer claimed it had 1054 IBUs, a hundred times more than any
other SA beer. I don't know if such a thing is possible--and if it were if it would be drinkable--but it was delicious. At 11.5 percent alcohol, one has to be careful, especially since that taste is hidden behind the
massive flavours. </div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Lesson learned. Leave plenty of time to savour the beer
and wander around the duney fields. Sip, look at the mountains and savor some
of the best of what the Cape can offer. I wouldn't yet move here from Joburg,
but if I did, I might consider a place with ready access to Triggerfish. If
there's a distribution company reading this, we want a CT-Jozi pipeline ASAP.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnX9Su1czXQn1bqdYJol65gHMSyKUtCeSEpPcXJig7ZHXDJ4wHBMqP5l6YBFKPl3rGXPExuqNFUqT6gfRDGU93F7F5d56L7rEEZRHDNJx0Yc6QQ4WknY5wd3OcEZQXjpOtAjNmiQeViVr/s1600/DSC_0078+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnX9Su1czXQn1bqdYJol65gHMSyKUtCeSEpPcXJig7ZHXDJ4wHBMqP5l6YBFKPl3rGXPExuqNFUqT6gfRDGU93F7F5d56L7rEEZRHDNJx0Yc6QQ4WknY5wd3OcEZQXjpOtAjNmiQeViVr/s320/DSC_0078+-+Copy.JPG" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Man Behind It All</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15927949939018692176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411838089114674969.post-2254675205548834042013-11-18T00:15:00.001-08:002013-11-18T01:54:50.410-08:00Devil's Peak Taproom IPA Surprise<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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After an afternoon dedicated to car repairs and driving circles around a rainy Salt River, we arrived at the <a href="http://devilspeakbrewing.co.za/taproom/" target="_blank">Devil's Peak Taproom</a> just after five on a rainy Friday. Stumbling through puddles on the pavement outside, one of the co-owners helpfully guided us to the doorway and the wonders within. Alas, his aid came with an apologetic warning: they were closing the Taproom for a private function at 6 pm. Determined to make the most of the experience, we set about our work and managed to get
in a couple of the special, draft-only offers before heading back into the stormy evening. <br />
<div class="MsoPlainText">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvl648pbgiwP_tDUv4Of79y213_pMp5NQI-AAvnvBLGCEI1I0cXaDSPespenXODdWJjf-AFjgTpDQpu_xtj8ebFS5IGnWwv0stsrJ50nRa_HRVnBWyxQaRW2rk5bnR-pto7JhT0wfmsUA/s1600/DSC_0114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvl648pbgiwP_tDUv4Of79y213_pMp5NQI-AAvnvBLGCEI1I0cXaDSPespenXODdWJjf-AFjgTpDQpu_xtj8ebFS5IGnWwv0stsrJ50nRa_HRVnBWyxQaRW2rk5bnR-pto7JhT0wfmsUA/s320/DSC_0114.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
I must say that however skunky or sublime the beer might have been, the newly opened Taproom is a gorgeous and welcoming space
with floor to ceiling windows wrapped around the corner of a building. The
giant copper tanks just behind the bar let you know this place is for
real, a complement to the repurposed industrial, urban feel. Out the window is a partial mountain view while inside the decor is cultivated Bohemian with hodge podge furniture and junk store knicknacks carefully organised on shelves and cabinets throughout. After a few more months, I suspect the newness will wear off leaving behind an even more comfortable and cozy getaway. Although the customers were almost all white -- what one might expect for Cape Town despite the more colourful street life below -- there was a sprinkling of afrochic making its way in. For those disinclined towards beer, there was a full bar with South African wine and spirits (including a new discovery for me, <a href="http://www.inverroche.co.za/#!products/vstc6=the-gins" target="_blank">Inverroche Gin</a>) along with pour-over coffee. </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
But we didn't come for the look, we came to taste. First up was a a
rye IPA, a beer I've seen no where else in South Africa but thoroughly enjoyed in the US. Out of the tap it poured far darker than I expected with a
strong, toasted malt taste with great hop taste. It is not for the first time beer drinker, but it was balanced, delicious and well suited to the cool drizzle outside. With 6.2 percent alcohol it also quickly helps take the week's edge off. </div>
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Sticking with rye, we tried their Rye Saison, even stronger at 6.5 percent. It came with Belgian
tasting yeasts and the a touch of the rye spiciness you might expect. There was inklings of sweetness which were nicely countered with a hint of yeasty funk and a sour touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AXnU9DaQ2uOTbdqiUPA7LEFTqjjE8nVAtqDPHNYHrUfN8A0s12NVVKB7h3YUfOc66xBANqAv5K6Ku3vhpnd6GvKtkY7_pfwlwcNTmrY6N2Rew7xsPLLJRtbWgSn22OLhfCR0JHr1gMvb/s1600/DSC_0116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AXnU9DaQ2uOTbdqiUPA7LEFTqjjE8nVAtqDPHNYHrUfN8A0s12NVVKB7h3YUfOc66xBANqAv5K6Ku3vhpnd6GvKtkY7_pfwlwcNTmrY6N2Rew7xsPLLJRtbWgSn22OLhfCR0JHr1gMvb/s320/DSC_0116.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
The only thing we didn't fully dig was the English Ale. We only had a taster since we were on the way out, and were immediately put off by what seemed like a scent of puddle water on the nose. Maybe that's a bit harsh but not too far off.
In the mouth it had low levels of carbonation and a flat taste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Since we only had a couple of ounces, </span>there wasn't time for it to grow on us. However, I don't suspect
there were even roots to sprout. But not to end on a low note, we left carrying a bottle of their barrel aged Saison so this one ain't yet over.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15927949939018692176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411838089114674969.post-18661116859967339422013-11-11T23:48:00.001-08:002013-11-12T01:35:34.768-08:00Mzansi holds its own: UK-USA-RSA Taste-off <div style="text-align: left;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Australian Smuggler, Kenyan Coordinator and Canuck onlooker</i></td></tr>
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<![endif]-->On an early summer Sunday, Mzansi beer organised an elaborate
beer tasting braai involving an Australian, Kenyan, three Americans and one Canadian (the designated driver).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Thanks to our various meanderings, w</span>e had accrued seventeen beers now including everything from light ambers to double IPAs. The task for the day was to answer a single question: do South Africa's best craft brews hold their
own against established American favourites and some British options?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Special thanks to our dedicated smugglers, the Australian Joel
Quirk who brought down drinks from the drizzly isles and Dan Kronenfeld, our
American Han Solo. </div>
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How did it
work? A somewhat fluish Kenyan organised and anonymised the beers. She began
offering us tastes from numbered bottles wrapped in crumpled newspaper. Dan provided a tasting sheet filled with evocative and somewhat snooty words to help us compare and contrast each glassful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although we had seen the selection before hand, we decided on favourites without knowing specifically what we were
drinking. Given that many of the beers were new to us, identifying them required a grand reveal which only came after exhausting all the beers in a category. As with any good tasting, we started light with the pale/golden ale category
before moving to IPAs and finally a trio of double IPAs. </div>
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Overall, the
South African brewers held up well in almost every segment. No one could quite believe it when the bottles were unfurled. That said, all the beers deemed practically undrinkable were also South African, some sold at prices more appropriate for the low end wine market. Perhaps it's fitting for such an economically unequal country that the best were very well off while the poorest
were very, very poor; a kind of gini ranking for beer. Furthermore, while
there were a number of respectable South African entries into the taste-off, it
was really <a href="http://devilspeakbrewing.co.za/" target="_blank">Devil's Peak Brewing</a> that truly lifted the effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The unruly jury </span>would drink any of their beers (with the possible exception of First
Light, even though it won its category) almost any day of the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
some other American or British beers might have done better in the contest –
some of those we included were unknown to us–the contenders were all high quality products. For a country with a young craft brew scene, South Africa can most definitely hold its own.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnrUecXufufA9Q9mXhjfQl94cprZUmusKFKWQtYACloPeFzNKKKozmSj2IPZmZEWfK3DHjHTqnzUq4fFjJHtUKjz8zj7vrdP2Kyc5UnK984c7pGTJS6weGQTC_sFpXOypi6D-ESOG9COu/s1600/DSC_0042.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnrUecXufufA9Q9mXhjfQl94cprZUmusKFKWQtYACloPeFzNKKKozmSj2IPZmZEWfK3DHjHTqnzUq4fFjJHtUKjz8zj7vrdP2Kyc5UnK984c7pGTJS6weGQTC_sFpXOypi6D-ESOG9COu/s320/DSC_0042.JPG" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Spoiled for choice</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The following are the comments we made during the taste off. Keep in mind that at the time we didn't know what we were drinking, only the numbers. </div>
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1. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fraser’s folly pale ale (ZA.) </i>Golden amber
with a bit of cloudiness with small bubbles. Very beery, almost lagery taste.
Not much hop on the nose. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Someone described it as ‘smelling like college.’ Another added that it would have to be a better college than she went to, but we all got the reference. There seemed a general (and ultimately msitaken) consensus
that this must be a British beer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The taste was light with an almost unintentional
bitterness on the aftertaste: bittery with a significant hop presence but not anything to love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> In the end, we gave it a score of 1.5 out of 5. While better than </span>Charles Glass' offerings, no one was likely to go out of the way to buy (or drink) this beer. </div>
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2. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Robson’s East Coast Ale (ZA). </i>This one poured cloudy with a somewhat lighter, more straw colour with quite round, champagne bubbles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It had </span>a slightly fruity nose and offered up a light summery taste with a few unfortunate lager overtones. Some felt the mouthfeel was a bit harsh
due to to the carbonation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taste is about right but not
at all memorable: it started nice but didn't really carry itself through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like it or not, whatever it’s doing, it’s
what it’s intending to be. Just not all
that much going on although the Kenyan found a bit of manure going on that, but that may
just be her or the flu talking (she said the same about <a href="http://mzansibeer.blogspot.com/2013/10/cutting-cute-at-clarens-brewery-clarens.html" target="_blank">beer from Clarens</a> too). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">All the same, it was a</span> step up from the previous – a 2.5 and a
half to 3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">3. Devil’s Peak First
light golden ale (ZA) </i>A bit clearer than 2, but still fairly cloudy with a
slightly richer brassier colour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fruiiiiity, someone claimed as soon as it was poured. To be sure, there was enough hoppiness on the nose to awaken the easter bunny but without pushing beyond the category's boundaries. Once we tasted we agreed it had a resiny freshness and florality, although we disagreed over whether that was a word. On the tongue there was a clearly intentional, almost medicinal bitterness but in a way that covered up the fruitiness we found on the nose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We all felt this </span>flattened out the taste with someone claiming <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>it as bitter as a 'vengeful Italian grandmother.' It ultimately came down to preference: some liked it, others not so much. Reasonably carbonated, but more pleasant on the
tongue than the others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Australian went for 3.5 while Dan stuck with number 2. Others push it to 2.5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Our guess for alcohol content was </span>4.5 – 5.5% alcohol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was actually 4.5% </div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">4. Tribute, Cornish
Pale Ale (UK). </i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The l</span>ast of the amber golden ales.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the glass it was by far the darkest, rich and golden with fine, fine bubbles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost crystal clarity. Unusual dark fruit
on the nose, almost prune-y. Rich nose was not supported
when it hit the mouth where it was surprisingly empty and watery with almost no bitterness only a small hint of caramel. Generally a little vacant although it would work as a session beer or for a long-afternoon at a cricket
match. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Some
thought it might be good with food, but others said it wouldn't hold up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good clarity, but is clarity something to be
proud<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> of? </span>Widespread agreement on the
mid-2 on the rating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kind of like of the
corona of craft beer. Alcohol guesses were that it was low, 4 but Dan said 5% <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turns out to be 4.2%</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuNi_IsrAfXqieClQxBVVetb6mp-4-43nocA7X5ClGe-YluoFqZc4UGl8hwGQMop1qnhjmZgV8mRKt-K-JmNhm3CbKAxKVdw_h2HAi_6Pp-m9u3uDJDYz7-JVwoQKB4U4oLaBpO5-ozmG/s1600/DSC_0045.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuNi_IsrAfXqieClQxBVVetb6mp-4-43nocA7X5ClGe-YluoFqZc4UGl8hwGQMop1qnhjmZgV8mRKt-K-JmNhm3CbKAxKVdw_h2HAi_6Pp-m9u3uDJDYz7-JVwoQKB4U4oLaBpO5-ozmG/s320/DSC_0045.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Round One</i></td></tr>
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Finishing up,
number three, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Devil’s Peak, </i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">goes into the championship round</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. </i>Not a surprise although this category is probably the
least competitive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the entry space
to craft beer and most likely to appeal to Mzansi beer drinking
public.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not, however, where the judging panel's
preferences lie.With that in mind, we were all keen to move on to the pale ale category.</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">5. Robson’s Durban
Pale Ale (ZA).</i> First entry into the ‘proper pale’ category. Hoping to move
beyond the pale, someone quipped, while the rest of us groaned. The beer itself was moderately carbonated and highly cloudy but
without much particulate interrupting its rich, golden colour. The bubbles were fine to large.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it moved towards the nose, it elicited ‘slightly funny’ from a few people. The Kenyan said it was like a new car, but the rest of us could only imagine that if someone had spilled beer on some new leather seats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That said, the taste was a surprise with a smoky, tobacco
richness followed by a bitter aftertaste which might, under the right circumstances, be seen as somewhat leathery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> So even if the </span>nose had little going on, the taste was relatively strong. The question is, is that the kind of taste you are really looking for in a beer?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We felt it might work in the midst of winter, but
we were not overly impressed on a summery day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Kenyan--who seems to like new cars--said she’d drink it, but the boys said
no saying that while it was worth a commendation for trying,
it didn't really work. Overall we settled on a 2 rating. </div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">6. Devil’s Peak,
Woodhead (ZA). </i>Gasps of 'oohs' when the thing came from the bottle in all of its reddish caramelly
glory. It was the most carbonated of the brews so
far with big bubbles serving a full chapeau
in the glass which was hard to see through given the cloudiness. On the nose it was hoppy and fresh. without punching you in the face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> To really get the scent, someone offered that you have </span>sniff hard, “like you’re looking for a line of coke.” No one else had any experience in that area so we just nodded and continued. As with a few of the other beers, its fairly heavy carbonation led to a debate: some found it a bit harsh on the tongue, others refreshing. We all agreed it had a good malt backbone balanced well with the hops. Still, didn't t
quite deliver on the promise of the nose. Beyond that, the only real taste critique was that the
bitterness was disconnected from the rest of the flavour. Still, it was the first of the beers we
weren’t ready to spill out before the glass was empty as it was clearly
the best thus far. Alcohol guess of above 6%-- but it was only 5%.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Generally agreement that this was a highly
drinkable, with a score of 3.5-4.</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">7. Wildbeast Amber
Ale </i>(ZA), Darkest and most cloudy to date. Described as ‘cloudy,' ‘bricklike’ or 'muddy river water'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> In the glass it was a</span>lmost toffee coloured and sediment filled. Over time, we all came around to describing its brown milkiness as river sludge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> While it was m</span>ore lightly carbonated than the other, it had a cloying sweet nose: "like you’re
stuck in a molasses factory but with the left overs, not the fresh stuff you’d
use in cookies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">" </span>On the tongue, Lisa's first
reaction was, "well, maybe a bit of fish?" <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Another suggested possum or bush big. The taste didn't deliver on the
smell though, which was almost certainly a good thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More malt than hops, a bit unbalanced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a bitterness that we detected once
the smell has faded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall we felt it quite an amateurish
effort. One imagines a bunch of young kids trying things out. In five years they’ll
probably be doing it right. Pretty alcoholy in the taste, but without much
else. Turns out it was 6%. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seemed there
was general agreement that it was at a 2 or below. </div>
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8. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Brew Dog, 5 AM
Saint (UK) </i>Poured with low carbonation, fairly clear and rich brown colour
with a reddish tint. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Nice nose with fruit and maltiness in good
proportions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">The h</span>ead dissipated before we
even got it past the lips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>A bit of floral on the nose that carries through
to the taste, but not by much. Indeed, t</span>he taste was
a mild disappointment after the balanced nose although the Australian went for it, with its
hints of caramel and a kind of distant smokiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Others thought it </span>fairly thin and a bit lighter than the
colour would let on with not as much oomph
as it should have. A kind of ‘balanced wateriness’ may capture what the brewers
intended, but maybe their hopes weren’t high enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably somewhere between the 2.5 and 3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they could intensify the flavours, it
would stand up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Disagreement on the beer
overall. If others hadn’t already been drunk we’d probably be happy. </div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">9. Boston Cannon Ale (ZA).
</i>Minimally carbonated, reasonably clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Looked flat in the glass where it offered up<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> l</span>ager
notes, with a fruity sort of nose that impressed no one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Perhaps it could be best described as an atticy, </span>musty smell. Someone said it was
like a toilet freshener in a kind of upscale ladies bathroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one
could determine where this came from, but we were sure we didn't like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The tasting brought about </span>widespread smirks
and pain across the faces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> "</span>Tastes like a
kind of aerosol spray," someone offered. Even loses out to the muddy water, another noted. The foretaste? The
aftertaste? No one could find something to say that was a positive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only reason it didn’t get an overall zero was
that it had a lot of alcohol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As it turns out, it had 10%. Sad when that's your only selling point. </div>
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Winner of
this category was number six, again a Devil’s Peak with their Woodhead Ale.</div>
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On to the
long-anticipated IPAs where we felt the American blasters were likely to show the commonwealth who is boss. Turns out we were surprised again </div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">10. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jack Black, Skeleton Coast IPA (ZA).</i> Completely
clear, very low carbonation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colour, golden
caramel. The faintest, hint of a smell but nothing that could be named.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dan thought it was caramelly, but no one else
could be sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Overall, the t</span>aste was pleasant and
crisp, but fairly indistinct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A straight
solid and nicely crafted beer but nothing that’s distinctive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remarkable in ways for its middle of the
roadness when it comes to the IPAs. Certainly a nicer drink than many of the
others. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>We decided to give it a three to distinguish
its quality – there was nothing negative about the thing – but didn’t feel it
could rank highly since they weren’t taking many chances. A non-ambitious, workmanlike
IPA. Far better than most of what you’re going to find in S.A. Guesses of the
alcohol content at around 6, but turns out to be 6.6.</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">11. Dogfish Head 60
Minute IPA (USA). </i>A little lighter, more of a golden or amber colour. More
carbonated than number 10, but still pretty light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fine bubbles forming a nice thin head that
dissipates. Fairly clear with a hint of cloudiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A kind of butterscotch hint when
smelled followed by a kind of flowery taste, all surprisingly
light for an IPA. Mild bitterness follows a fairly faint, light taste. Dan
disliked the sweetness although the others weren't bothers. Still, not all that much going on, certainly nothing that’s going to claim space
in the memory banks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some described it as a ‘ladies
IPA’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indeed, all the lady folks liked
it while the mens were less impressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Generally score was a 2.5 although there was some sense that this might
be a bit harsh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>6% alcohol.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgav-VKNqYHAdodeVU5I_mbHXAkyekXcKjOnHpNRL8Of8tPRoyhz4C4ZKwwTiBtb15i08ov5gzwMTcmT_TaGkQE2fRgEh0d8W612-tzFDJyNPxromtS4cAlOZfG3hjLGE6fe1wHfN_bh8RJ/s1600/DSC_0050.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgav-VKNqYHAdodeVU5I_mbHXAkyekXcKjOnHpNRL8Of8tPRoyhz4C4ZKwwTiBtb15i08ov5gzwMTcmT_TaGkQE2fRgEh0d8W612-tzFDJyNPxromtS4cAlOZfG3hjLGE6fe1wHfN_bh8RJ/s320/DSC_0050.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Indian and Pale</i></td></tr>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">12. Devil's Peak Blockhouse IPA (ZA). </i>A
pure golden colour with slightly more carbonation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slightly larger bubbles and, once the foam
disappeared, it turned out to be fairly clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Piney hops, classic sort of profile. Old school, new school west coast
resiny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like a Christmas tree fresh in
the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taste is a bit fainter than
the smell, but the pine and the
maltiness was balanced with the bitterness and floral flavours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Complexity
in a way the others didn’t match. Dan marked it as a 4 but Joel disagreed
saying he would have liked a bit more flavour but felt he might be doing that
just out of principle saying he wanted something
slightly more to chew on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, we agreed this was one we could
drink every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alcohol taste
stuck around and we guessed 6.5% but was 6%.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
After much deliberation, we gave it a </span>4+, highest of the day. </div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">13. St Peter’s IPA </i>(UK) Lucky thirteen – poured as a slightly darker, almost utterly clear golden
pour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bubbles were light – low to medium
carbonation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost a chocolate,
surprising nose. Not universally loved by the group who had been spoiled by the
previous taste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Its m</span>altiness dominates, but
it wasn’t overpowering. A little bit of burnt caramel on the nose that follows
through in the taste. Hops really nowhere to be found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not bitter, and not floral so that it ends up leaning too heavily
to malt. All together, fairly well put together, but largely flat and a bit dull.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing was off or unpleasant, just nothing
to pull you in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were all surprised that
this was entered into the IPA. Scores ranged from 1.5-2.5 with surprising strong disagreement for such an innocuous beer. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Generally, came down with a 2.0.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alcohol was there, but not pronounced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cool bottle though.</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">14. Jaipur IPA</i>
(UK<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">) </i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yellow</span> enough to be a
well oaked chenin blanc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others said it
was like highlighter yellow, with low to medium carbonation that formed a bit
of a head that stuck around for a little while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Surprising piney, resinous on the nose. A bit thinner than the others and someone said they
smelt chlorine but that scent it came and went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Generally described as not bad, kind of a weaker version of what we
really liked (number 12). Maybe like a session IPA or, since it's what you might want to
drink on a hot day – a kind of ‘African IPA’. To be sure, its pleasant mildness would be nice while driving around a
game park or in the company of wart hogs. Probably the second best thus far, a
3.5. Well put together and balanced. Well-made and a small bitter aftertaste
that fades surprisingly quickly into the sunset. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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X - unnumbered late addition.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Curios IPA (UK). </i>A late
addition to the roster, this one poured out considerably darker than the one preceding
it. Fine, micro-bubbles forming a tiny head. As clear as any beer you’re going
to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Decent nose, a bit reminiscent
of lesser quality (and cheaper) beers but with a bit of malty freshness that
sets it apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone described it as having
a ‘fustiness’ but no one else knew what that meant. Nothing else that can be
named. Someone else described as the smell of an old person if they were a
beer. Taste is a bit of malty sweetness and not much else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evaluations ranged 2 -2.5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lisa was like, why bother?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put this one in the ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a winner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Probably circling around a 2. Nothing remarkable here but not a bad
beer. Wins its points for being clean but the lowest ranking of those in the
suite. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>5.6% alcohol. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br />
<br />
Blockhouse
wins hand down. A shocker to everyone at the table – while we were thrilled to
award the championship to this one, none of us could believe the outcome. Dumbstruck.
Becoming increasingly clear that this crowd loves hops and we’re impressed by
what the people at Devil’s Peak are brewing. </div>
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On to the
double IPAs, a category where SA and the UK are barely contenders. In our
sample, the UK wasn’t even represented. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrcoBsfx0fAhWwu3cHSctZzVa1ob50l4jjbSLsmYnlMeKi_YMKyN8oPNgC66prNEYjI5cr5qLYcxwsmnvCRZ_31ySp1oc5AcJq6mqAafMJDwLKfya8dGtXdPUB38vTIhm-INit1tocTuW/s1600/DSC_0053.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrcoBsfx0fAhWwu3cHSctZzVa1ob50l4jjbSLsmYnlMeKi_YMKyN8oPNgC66prNEYjI5cr5qLYcxwsmnvCRZ_31ySp1oc5AcJq6mqAafMJDwLKfya8dGtXdPUB38vTIhm-INit1tocTuW/s320/DSC_0053.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Doubling Down</i></td></tr>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">15. ZAR Imperial Red
IPA. </i>Cloudy, almost muddy and brown again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Light carbonation, forming a thin skim of a head. On the nose it was
heavy with malt but punctuated by hints of floral hops. Alcohol rises up the
nostrils like it’s coming home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thick on
the tongue, with a kind of heavy bitterness but not much else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dan described the aftertaste as ‘bleachy’ or
a kind of formaldehyde. Others didn’t find it quite so problematic and no one
else tasted anything but bitterness. No one was overjoyed to be drinking
this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We decided it was nothing </span>too complex, nothing too
special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lisa rubbed her eyes, ‘so many
beers’ she said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given that this was the
first of the category, it should have easily impressed us although perhaps we were getting a bit weary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be fair, the Kenyan was a bit more plussed arguing the
flavour was full and flavourful, with a lingering bitterness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">She gave it </span>a three, the rest of us with 2.5. Alcohol content was 7.5%.</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">16. Anderson Valley
Heelch O’Hops </i>(American)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>Yellowy
gold and super low carbonation in the glass with a slight milkiness, but
generally fairly clear and bright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Malty
nose with almost no hints of hops and slightly syrupy around the glass. Someone
felt it had a little chlorine in the background, but again no one else smelled
it. Kenyan was incredulous, ‘double IPA, who are they kidding?’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This doesn’t kick one in the ass as one might
hope. If you’re going to have this much alcohol and maltiness, you want a bit
more flavour; a kind of hoppy bitterness
to counter the malt. Some felt it was almost sour but without lending it any
distinctive flavour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Debate over whether
this bested fifteen with the group somewhat divided. Generally people felt 15
bested 16. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall we would give this a
2.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">17. Firestone Walker
Double IPA. </i>Syrupy, super sweet nose matched with a golden almost honeyed
colour in the class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plenty of bubbles,
but fine and spread throughout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Head didn’t
stick around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nose was sweet with
only the most distant whiff of a kind of citrusy hops. Sweetness carries
through the taste, with some hoppiness but they couldn’t stand up to the malty
sweetness. Still managed a crispness, but doesn’t seem like you could even
finish a glass of it given the intensity of the flavour and malt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall the sweetness was its undoing. Kenyan described
it as leaving behind an ‘itchiness’ that no one else could quite understand,
but Lisa jumped on this. Yes, histamines. The rest just shrugged and went
along. Overall, we felt it scored a three. 9.5%<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>alcohol. Was probably the best, but not one we'd jump out and buy again. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
No clear
winner here, although the firestone walker squeezed by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We decided this was probably better suited to
a winter afternoon than the warmth of summer. This remains relatively unexplored
territory for South Africa, but the ZAR made a fine showing compared with the
two American contenders. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15927949939018692176noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411838089114674969.post-47229953250844965732013-10-17T09:23:00.000-07:002013-10-21T23:54:15.815-07:00Cutting the cute at Clarens Brewery: Clarens Red and IPA <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">With a much cherished weekend away from Jozi, I found myself sitting in
the twee Free State town of Clarens. There are few spots as
beautiful as the </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.sanparks.org/parks/golden_gate/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Golden Gate National Park</span></a>, </span>one of South Africa’s lesser known gems. Were it not for the boisterous breezes </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">howling through the park, I’d have been enjoying a bottle or two brought from
home while overlooking the valley from our stunning veranda at the <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g1883606-d2083260-Reviews-Basotho_cultural_village-Bethlehem_Free_State.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Basotho Cultural Village</span></a>
guest house (don’t let the name fool you, the village is culture kitsch, but the accommodation would be good value at twice the price).
As for bargains, we jumped at the 25 Rand drafts (500ml)
served at the renovated and decidedly swishier <a href="http://www.clarenbrewery.co.za/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Clarens Brewery</span></a>. Since
their beers are only poured at the brewery, festivals and the rare Clarens restaurant,
the chance seemed too good to miss. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04OUCJ0MpeQF5o1q68KNZQ20eQC_jmy-ZUdPCZgAv-6nfiKwVW3cTkSi1r1w_IHAxLuna_N0FcX1RcvfnWDvefL8dzm9z1Ib47_AjvpNQj7Mo-2xsiU8EuS6drch_vyvYuInrjScik6Ds/s1600/ClarensOutie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04OUCJ0MpeQF5o1q68KNZQ20eQC_jmy-ZUdPCZgAv-6nfiKwVW3cTkSi1r1w_IHAxLuna_N0FcX1RcvfnWDvefL8dzm9z1Ib47_AjvpNQj7Mo-2xsiU8EuS6drch_vyvYuInrjScik6Ds/s320/ClarensOutie.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dutchman and his beer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">After walking through town looking for their new(ish) location, it was
evident this was the place to be. While there were a few other spots
open and serving drinks, by 5pm when we arrived, none had many people or the
Brewery’s buzz. Alas, although the bar’s open until 7 on Fridays and Saturdays,
the kitchen closes some time before. Without a scant peanut or nacho to sate stomachs emptied by hours of mountain walking, we were wary of the brewery's liquid offerings lest we fail to navigate the curvy
road back to the park without hitting a pothole or gnu. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sitting on picnic tables outside, the sun soon settled behind the hills
beyond the town square. We had plenty of time to enjoy nature’s show while
waiting for our two beers to be delivered. Ten minutes after ordering, the
waiter returned and mumbled an apology, something about knowing we wanted
something but not remembering exactly what. Okay, they have a few beers to
choose from–a blonde, an English ale, a stout, a Weiss and the red and IPA
we’d selected–but it's not like we were asking the poor chap to spell <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phuthaditjhaba" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Phuthaditjhaba</span></a>. I expect he might have done
better with that. Frustration peaked on realising that while waiting in vain, a
recently seated pair of young women were offered tastes of the brewery’s housemade
cider and received their pints. At least we knew where we sat in the pecking
order. Given our peckishness, we were nonplussed.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bill of Fare</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">When our drinks finally arrived, we hoped our frustrations would soon be forgotten. The sun was right, the air was warm and breezy, and the beer was in proper beer glasses, fully equipped with
the small head, light carbonation and the deep colours normally associated with
fine craft. The red offered a nice malty aroma and an almost smoky, toasty
taste. It was smooth on the tongue with a touch of sweetness but almost no hop
profile until after the swallow. Once the beer was down the throat, a positive, faint bitterness lingered on the palate. The first few tastes were nice, but I
tired by mid glass. With its single smoky note, it was something of a one trick
pony. (After a few beers mixed metaphors are perfectly okay). The beer too, was
okay. It could have been far better if the brewers found a way to intensify the
flavours and overcome a general wateriness. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Late Arrivals</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The IPA’s first whiff revealed almost nothing of the zesty, hoppiness
distinguishing many American IPAs and the newest breed of Mzansi's fresher,
fruitier offerings. If there was a citrus or piney scent in there, the light
breeze carried it off to the mountains. On the tongue, there was half enough
bitterness to justify the brewers’ claims that this beer broke the hop bank.
While I support a big hop splurge, I would have erred for thrifty rather than
spendthrift. More carefully chosen and fragrant hops could add dimensions and
depth that were noticeably absent. All the same, there’s no doubting the
brewers claim that the IPA has a ‘distinctive hop character.’ But not all
distinctions are to be applauded. What we got was a flavour that my Kenyan
companion described as ‘manure-y’. To be fair, she meant that in the best possible way.
Indeed, it evoked a fecund garden with its organic, almost vegetal flavour.
Still, is that what you expect (or want) from an IPA? Well, it is the Free
State after all and no one else seemed too bothered. Yet even if the makers are mimicking British rather than American
style ales, I still found it closer to an ESB. Regardless, it was 7% alcohol
and 25 Rand a glass, so even if it came slowly, who am I to complain?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Five years ago, I would have driven out of my way to visit the Clarens
brewery. And I almost certainly would have left with a six pack or more of
their 440ml dumpies. Indeed, that’s just what I did five years ago when they
were still selling their wares in Stoney plastics with screw tops. This time
around I didn’t give a thought to takeaways. That said, while Clarens Brewery
may not be worth a dedicated drive, if you're there and finished a day buying art and
furnishings for your granny’s retirement flat, there’s probably no better way
to spend a late afternoon or evening than by downing a beer or cider
(our Dutch neighbour claimed his girlfriend dug the cherry one; watch out Dr Pepper) on
the town square. If your service is anything like what we got, you may just
spend the late afternoon and evening downing one.</span></div>
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</span><br />
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Not usually a lager fan but was seduced by a bottle promising 'secret scents of the Karoo' as I wandered the aisles of<a href="http://montysliquorboutique.co.za/?p=1" target="_blank"> Monty's Liquor Boutique</a> in Parktown North. After a coma inducing breakfast at <a href="http://www.moemas.co.za/" target="_blank">Meomas</a> I was perplexed as to how they get these secret scents and honey to Parkview, a process that must involve plenty of lengthy road trips through the Free State. After tasting the stuff, I suspect they've eked these secrets out of neighbouring Hillbrow. That would
certainly explain the almost tropical spiciness weaves through the
surprising hoppiness. It also seem fitting given the energetic freshness that infuses the cloudy, homegrown amber lager. Without much fanfare -- I've seen neither hide nor hair of this beer anywhere else -- they've found a taste overshadowing many a mzansi ale. I suspect Loxton may be tough
to find, but if you follow the taxis past the Hillbrow tower, they're sure to lead you
somewhere delicious. A surprising recommendation. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bagels and Loxton?</td></tr>
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From the Karoo to KwaZulu. Robson's Durban Pale Ale
proves that every Vaaly's favourite seaside province has more to offer the country's culinary
tableau than bunnies alone. This is not my first taste of DPA, but it's the first time I've given it the attention it deserve. As it hits the mouth there's an almost sharp bitterness countered by smooth maltiness down the
back. A slower more Durban style sip reveals hints of flowers and a touch of
spiciness hiding behind the yeast. I was disappointed at the absence of citrus notes, but perhaps that's better suited for an beer named after Mpumalanga. I wish they would hurry up and brew one. If this is their pale ale, my
mouth waters at what wonders an IPA might bring. Served up in a 550ml bottle
with 5.7 percent you may be ill advised to drink many of these on a hot beach afternoon
but you're going to want to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No bunnies required</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15927949939018692176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411838089114674969.post-79156016504297976212013-08-31T10:24:00.001-07:002013-08-31T22:07:05.938-07:00Devil's Peak Woodhead & First Light at House of BaobabWandered down to the <a href="http://www.mabonengprecinct.com/" target="_blank">Maboneng Precinct</a> in hope
of a late night meal (9pm, late for Joburg forty somethings). As we meandered between <a href="https://plus.google.com/106574126552409816452/about?gl=za&hl=en" target="_blank">Arts On Main</a> and <a href="http://www.thebioscope.co.za/" target="_blank">The Bioscope</a>, we stumbled in to the the Afro-chic <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/House-of-Baobab/409099695837256" target="_blank">House of Baobab</a> keen to taste something beyond the braai and pizza scene. Run by Tala, a Senegalese who's made his name
peddling African crafts at the <a href="http://www.themallofrosebank.co.za/store-rosebank-mall.htm?shopMGID=37681" target="_blank">Rosebank Craft Market</a>, his new gig sees him selling West African culinary classics - fish, veggies, lamb or beef in peanut sauce or yassa, plantains, and curries of various varieties. While the food and music have obvious appeal, the restaurant's Muslim roots
mean the menu leans more to <a href="http://www.akytagastro.com/2012/04/08/secrets-of-bissap-2/" target="_blank">bisap</a> than beer. But in good West African fashion,
everything is possible; there's always space to make a plan. While we waited for our food to come, I ducked around
the corner to <a href="http://www.mabonengprecinct.com/index.php/entertainment/restaurants/chalkboard-pizza-craft-beer/" target="_blank">The Chalkboard</a> and came back with a couple of <a href="http://devilspeakbrewing.co.za/" target="_blank">Devil's Peak</a> bottles in
my coat pocket.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmIRjQrmW2OtnjcQwl7whQRF8f51rGBn9fUZxY0Ct3tu28CRYfsO6t0cav_aiSVd6Imys1ERh-OtLTX0j1NiyM567LW2nDRPUn0P1CacXqGsImxWZtFyTjsAGvLb7JBmt7yRWYCFgzDJ0/s1600/Baobab2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmIRjQrmW2OtnjcQwl7whQRF8f51rGBn9fUZxY0Ct3tu28CRYfsO6t0cav_aiSVd6Imys1ERh-OtLTX0j1NiyM567LW2nDRPUn0P1CacXqGsImxWZtFyTjsAGvLb7JBmt7yRWYCFgzDJ0/s320/Baobab2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House of Baobab food photographed by an uncredited professional</td></tr>
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After Tala produced miniature beer steins from a hidden
corner of the kitchen, we filled them with the <a href="http://devilspeakbrewing.co.za/woodhead-amber-ale/" target="_blank">Woodhead Amber Ale</a>. A self
proclaimed American style brew, they delivered on their promise. Without the head
banging bitterness of their class leading <a href="http://devilspeakbrewing.co.za/the-kings-blockhouse-indian-pale-ale/" target="_blank">Blockhouse IPA</a>, there was undeniable
hop aroma from the second we cracked open the bottle. The nose was full of complex richness that was buoyed by a rich warm colour and flavourful malty
sweetness that counter balanced the hoppy flora. Together with the IPA, these are the
standards by which South African craft beer should be judged. </div>
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Second for the night was the considerably less startling <a href="http://devilspeakbrewing.co.za/first-light-golden-ale/" target="_blank">First Light Golden Ale</a>. Far less
a statement than their other beers, this is nonetheless a worthy alternative to the lagers that still fill 95 percent or more of the
Mzansi drinking space. It was light and crisp without losing the embrace of malt and muted hops. If you've been drinking Amstel or Pilsner Urquell, take
the next step and grab one of these. If you're already down the rabbit hole, then stick with the Woodhead and Blockhouse bounty. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15927949939018692176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411838089114674969.post-40574412970945565852013-08-23T11:00:00.000-07:002013-08-24T00:06:57.646-07:00Boston's IPA and Pumpkin Ale at the FoundryHow better to spend a weeknight evening than bunking work
and heading off to find something frothy at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Foundry/222889057839944" target="_blank">The Foundry</a>. On arrival I discovered plenty of others had the same idea. By six, the casual tables near the pavement were all but
full with dinner tables long sold off to bidders. The real lucky ones were
already at the bar, part of a private function for some office or the other. Working and drinking together with management's blessings seems how things should be done. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKriboR74SoeCPU_q2uGJ7__nw2AEhoPifwNf5UKOscwKjVhMJ-gpdXGVTuWlifAVCxZ8Sq9emBHhQbccjE9CPt4obPCbfvv5UAA00L704v3E5HXRsC4uTTp_Qz-HTqnLQaAxU4N8Gdm4/s1600/FoundryPan2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKriboR74SoeCPU_q2uGJ7__nw2AEhoPifwNf5UKOscwKjVhMJ-gpdXGVTuWlifAVCxZ8Sq9emBHhQbccjE9CPt4obPCbfvv5UAA00L704v3E5HXRsC4uTTp_Qz-HTqnLQaAxU4N8Gdm4/s640/FoundryPan2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Foundry After Dark</td></tr>
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I eventually found a stool-less high table on the enclosed alfresco
stoop<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">. Before long the attentive </span>waiter, Thoko, quietly slipped a couple
stools from under the drunk office workers without them noticing. In the meantime, I ordered
two from Cape Town's 'Boston' brewing: <a href="http://store.bostonbreweries.co.za/products/van-hunks-pumpkin-ale" target="_blank">Van Hunk's Pumpkin Ale </a>and the <a href="http://store.bostonbreweries.co.za/products/boston-ipa" target="_blank">Boston IPA.</a> There were another eight South African beers on tap: nothing too
unusual but a broad mix of lagers and light ales. With the addition of a stout, all but the least adventurous tipplers will find something to their liking. I
just snacked this time, but the cafe menu is filled with enough fancy casual fare for a long evening of tasting. The stylish interior and dim lights
also mean your neighbour's unlikely to keep track of how many you've had.</div>
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To the beers: although the full moon lent the street a spooky halo, Halloween was still too far off to start with pumpkin. Instead I whet my palate with the IPA. Having tasted Boston's entry into the field from a bottle some time before, I feared it would be another lager in ale's clothing. Moving in on the
newly poured draft version, my nose positively prickled as it picked up a good dose of fresh citrus hoppiness, the right kind of
start for this, the king of beer varietals. There were
definitely strong hops in the taste but the crisp, citrus was nowhere to be seen, tasted or even smelled again. In its wake was a malty back of the mouth bitterness which, while
not unpleasant, didn't call me back for more. Overall, the beer would be better slotted as an ESB or pale ale. So while not a lager by a long shot,
it's unlikely to reach the podium in an IPA drink off.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1KHkJ4gf2ytRTcUJSxjQ-cqayN4g5DORwq-ibHknKRSLTEECH4ZX6c8qGbTGBWY5pTGRhPRcVw7pMiF8748AkJSlOtexkGzk5ofUdmDELxRGt9BfAvENOBqUHiQ7csc2dyZQFpHI9jwR/s1600/BostonatFoundry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1KHkJ4gf2ytRTcUJSxjQ-cqayN4g5DORwq-ibHknKRSLTEECH4ZX6c8qGbTGBWY5pTGRhPRcVw7pMiF8748AkJSlOtexkGzk5ofUdmDELxRGt9BfAvENOBqUHiQ7csc2dyZQFpHI9jwR/s320/BostonatFoundry.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boston Brew with Snacks</td></tr>
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With half the IPA left in the glass, I turned to orange with the only pumpkin ale I know that's brewed in South Africa. Given that pumpkin (or at least butternut) accompanies almost every meal in these parts, I'd
have thought people would be brewing pumpkin beer, vodka or mampoer in every
alley, shebeen and empty oil drum. This, however, is no bathtub brew. As it should be, Boston has taken inspiration from pumpkin
pie. Both the nose and mouth got filled with cinnamon, a bit of nutmeg and
enough<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pumpkiny flavour to satisfy the
<a href="http://www.spidervillain.com/Villains/GreenGoblin/GreenGoblinASM23.gif" target="_blank">Green Goblin</a>. While pie may be what comes to mind on first sip, the dryness and
balance make this a fine beer to quench your thirst. It's lively, refreshing and
bursting with flavour. By the bottom of the glass I found hints of <a href="http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/83/248" target="_blank">Hoegaarden</a> and its characteristic coriander.
This may not be right for a long night out or every night, but it comes highly recommended diversion
from the norm and the evening's champion. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15927949939018692176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411838089114674969.post-54171352104696414472013-08-17T22:42:00.004-07:002013-08-24T00:04:10.865-07:00Jack Black's Lumberjack, Butcherblock & Braai First summery Saturday in Joburg practically cried out
for an early season braai and some outdoor beer tasting. Tonight's offering, were 440ml bottles from <a href="http://jackblackbeer.com/Jack_Blacks_Beer.html" target="_blank">Jack Black</a>
chilled in the ice box. I've had their lager in Cape Town and always
celebrated its crisp, rounded taste but never gone out of my way
to find it on the highveld. Now that Mr. Black's gone ale, I figured it
was high time to taste their newest offerings. <br />
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First
up was the lumberjack amber ale. As a red headed, bearded Oregonian I
was understandably drawn to the bottle featuring a ginger,
moustachioed woodsman. The reverse side describes its contents as having
huge hop
additions with piney-citrus aromas and lots of malt. 'Timber!,' I say,
'Grab the
chainsaw and let's pour.' Definitely amber in the glass. First whiff and
I was
wondering if the braai smoke had somehow blown away the burst of
promised hops.
Sticking my nose deep in the glass and found a piney note, but not of
the
fresh cut variety. More like a tree that's aged a bit in the sun. I can
see where
they're going, or where I'd like them to go,with this, but it seems
they've got the balance of Oregonian ingredients slightly off: more rain
that hops. The result is a bit watered down
although it remains fresh and refreshing. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack Black Goes Ale</td></tr>
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As we reached into the ice bucket a second time, we came to suspect
Jack Black has a thing for men with knives. From the forests to the abattoir
with their butcher block pale ale. They don't say so, but this is a 100 percent
vegetarian friendly ale (despite the cow on the front it's cascade hops that
give it its flavour).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The back of the bottle promised an ale that would be
less hoppy and malt forward than its sylvan cousin. When poured it had the
promised colour and a firm frothy head. It had a nice full flavour without any
distinct, identifiable hop notes. The malt was distant on
the tongue, leaving the bitterness to rule the roost. On the nose, however, we found hints of cascade pineyness. My host
described it as dry, but not in a Savannah sort of way. Result was an undeniable pale ale - nice with
food but not overpowering. Did well with the roasted red roman that followed it
down. Head to head, it was cleaver over chainsaw.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15927949939018692176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411838089114674969.post-55188579311310680082013-08-11T11:56:00.001-07:002013-08-11T23:06:40.019-07:00Darling Brew Native Ale at the Chalkboard<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]-->Seems I was moved by the loggerhead turtle,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> the reptile to whom the folks at <a href="http://www.darlingbrew.co.za/our-beers/" target="_blank">Darling Brew</a> dedicate their Native Ale. I bought a </span>550ml bottle at the <a href="http://www.thebioscope.co.za/chalkboardcafe/" target="_blank">Chalkboard Cafe</a>, the funky
restaurant / bar attached to the Bioscope at the heart of the ever expanding <a href="http://www.mabonengprecinct.com/" target="_blank">Maboneng Precinct</a>. Reminiscent of the Portland (that's the Oregon one) film scene with
theaters offering second run and art house flicks, pizza and top notch beer and
wine. The Wine at the chalkboard leaves something to be desired--seems they rely largely on '<a href="http://www.boerandbrit.com/our-wine/bobs-your-uncle/" target="_blank">Bob's Your Uncle</a>'--but it's nonetheless worth a try almost any night of the week.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Chalkboard Bar</td></tr>
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For the beer drinker, the chalkboard has five taps although only four were wet when I dropped by. These included the <a href="http://www.jackblackbeer.com/" target="_blank">Jack Black</a> family and an old pioneer standby, <a href="http://mitchellsbreweryct.wordpress.com/tag/foresters-lager/" target="_blank">Mitchell's Forester Lager</a>. The fridge is stocked with plenty of bottles and the pizza ain't bad with a few inspired, movie themed offerings. Even if the bartenders might prefer a Black Label to anything they've got on draft, it's still a place to take out-of-towners who think Jozi is a giant shopping mall stretching from Rosebank north. As customers are self-conciously hip, come prepared to don (or tolerate) skinny jeans, oversized glasses and an unusual chapeau. If you do, you'll be welcome regardless of colour or creed. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chalkboard Pizza Delivery with Hats</td></tr>
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When the time came, I braced myself. I've had a few Darling Brew products before and always found their marketing more impressive than their beer. If nothing else they deserve credit for attracting a new generation of beer drinkers with their stylish labels and near ubiquity. If there's a South African joint serving micro-brews, it's better than even odds they're pouring Darling. </div>
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The Native Ale filled the glass with a nice and somewhat surprising colour: brownish, almost mocha-y. Although the bubbles formed a fine foam that stuck around for a while, carbonation was moderate and the bubbles smooth. Moving closer, the aroma hinted lager but a more extended snort revealed a bit of ultra-restrained hoppiness. When it finally reached my mouth, I was reminded of middling British bitters, the 'real ales' that were almost extinct before rebounding into gastropubs across the Isles. At four percent alcohol undergirding a mellow, easy drinking flavour, it
seems the Darling brewers had both turtles and such ales in mind. This beer is unlikely to titillate experienced tipplers, but it offers training wheels for
lager drinkers dabbling with something different. For those planning a long night out and have a few bucks to spend, this could also work as a session beer
for the slightly hearty. </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15927949939018692176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411838089114674969.post-10325686566547737682013-08-09T08:48:00.003-07:002013-08-11T11:56:35.645-07:00Brewers & Union Handwerk All-Day IPA at the Beer Yard <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]-->How better to celebrate women's day than to drink good beer in the mid-winter sun? Sure, there's probably more you could do to promote equality, prevent sexual violence and otherwise advance a good cause, but it's got to do about as much as buying your colleagues spa vouchers (besides, I already did that earlier in the week).<br />
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Anyway, today's offering was Brewer & Union's All Day IPA. Alas, this is not a South African beer but one that is widely available these days across the Republic thanks to the good work of the Gabriel Collective. It normally comes in bottles but the one I had was a draft served cold at the <a href="http://www.zomato.com/johannesburg/stanley-beer-yard-milpark" target="_blank">The Beer Yard</a>, 44 Stanley Ave. Before I get to the beer, it's worth noting that The Yard, is a great
(and relatively new) place for exploring local and imported beers. Truly a boon to the jozi
beer scene. Come spring the yard
will be packed daily, but even on sunny winter days the wood tables are
inviting as is the warm, eclectic interior. Although there's a limited food menu, the food was served
quickly and was well suited for a beer or two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I had the surprisingly tasty haloumi and mushroom prego. Although the bartenders are perhaps not always as knowledgeable as one might expect about what they're serving, there's at </span>least six drafts going all the time. Let's hope they rotate regularly and that there's enough variety to fill
the taps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the day I visited they had three from Cape Brewing Company (a pils, and amber weiss and the butcher block pale)
and another three from Brewer's and Union. They also have almost all the bottles
you're likely to find anywhere in S.A.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SZjxinkKgaJ1ppeQ_YkwoBA8zvFAW8UelB9UOXnlqkciqeEHl5xOHp25AvCCe3PJt5KeKoAetOdYWTmbSFzRLM4d_Yl-RWi2WPtrqV-QyaVeWF2BTezWi1vySjTZRhnMBcf6dWqTiPwl/s1600/TheYard.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SZjxinkKgaJ1ppeQ_YkwoBA8zvFAW8UelB9UOXnlqkciqeEHl5xOHp25AvCCe3PJt5KeKoAetOdYWTmbSFzRLM4d_Yl-RWi2WPtrqV-QyaVeWF2BTezWi1vySjTZRhnMBcf6dWqTiPwl/s320/TheYard.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Yard's Cozy Interior</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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As for the beer, it was an appetizing looking brew with a warm, slightly cloudy orangish hue.The folks at Brewers & Union claim its only lightly carbonated but the draft we had bubbled hard until it was gone lending the beer something of a rough mouth feel. Still, there was no denying the stuff was tasty although it lacked many of the floral scents and bitterness I often associates with American style IPA. As the importers say, it's a good introduction to the style and will make a fine bridge for those scared off by heavy cascade or amarillo hops. Even so, it had good hop flavor with distant hints of citrus. For those new to IPAs, it is a taste of the wonders yet to come. <br />
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In conclusion, a generally nice beer but not a stand out in a rapidly
growing niche of the South African beer market.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15927949939018692176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3411838089114674969.post-49791895112674712402013-08-01T12:26:00.000-07:002013-08-24T00:20:06.661-07:00First Annual Jozi IPA FestivalThe ZAR Imperial Red IPA wins hands (and maybe pants) down. Special brew just
for the day, could compete with strong American offerings. Second place
is one of our mzansi favourites, the <a href="http://devilspeakbrewing.co.za/the-kings-blockhouse-indian-pale-ale/" target="_blank">Blockhouse IPA</a>. Past that, there
were a few good efforts but no one grabbing the brass ring.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-aeWGJO7K3Cfs4zrzR7mfQYx8I89OLi3s0N4KEu1JJsgfFM1L1GKke9kNMKuNN1aE2pGogCLT_2rwzbgyIrMVGCg6SvuXI5AJF7ZW5qs5-cSL2p4W7QkfNP3F8qFC9kWmfWj1eDctPmr/s1600/IPAday.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-aeWGJO7K3Cfs4zrzR7mfQYx8I89OLi3s0N4KEu1JJsgfFM1L1GKke9kNMKuNN1aE2pGogCLT_2rwzbgyIrMVGCg6SvuXI5AJF7ZW5qs5-cSL2p4W7QkfNP3F8qFC9kWmfWj1eDctPmr/s320/IPAday.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Props to <a href="http://www.thecraftbeerproject.co.za/beer-destinations/breweries/three-sculls-brew-works/" target="_blank">Three Skulls Brew Works </a>for trying a black ipa even if it ended up tasting
like a watered down porter. <a href="http://www.smackrepublic.com/" target="_blank">Smack! Republic Brewing Co.</a>, Jozi's own, hoisted the mainsail
with their Braamfontein Brawler complete with Cascade and Amarillo hops
but only managed to best the best of the rich lagers.<a href="http://craftbru.co.za/brewery/citizen-beer/" target="_blank">Citizen </a>did well with their stiff upper lip British-style IPA: well rounded with
delicate flowers fit for Prince George's bottle and Mzansi's more
delicate palates. Thumbs down to Union Brewing for staffing their table
with a dude who didn't know his hops from his malt. Wait, he didn't
even know what malt was. And the beer was practically undrinkable.<br />
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Regardless of the beer, the beer scene is clearly on the up and up. Jozi
is getting off its knees while the Capetonians are making their way
north. The festival, even if overpriced, attracted an appreciative and
thirsty crowd all pleased to toast the marginalization of Charles Glass
and his ilk.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdII9nZiEhZnfgSCLMH6iwLIXLfJvxw9lADJu4FUnGGbMka9tJd2JGILIl2q87dW8E3i7nmT30beTufZRCf1K00GHdUi8Bm_FOInUWOz6q6cMJ5O2xd4XiFmVUDnRjnZMVfozoZXLtoDVK/s1600/LeagueofBeers.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdII9nZiEhZnfgSCLMH6iwLIXLfJvxw9lADJu4FUnGGbMka9tJd2JGILIl2q87dW8E3i7nmT30beTufZRCf1K00GHdUi8Bm_FOInUWOz6q6cMJ5O2xd4XiFmVUDnRjnZMVfozoZXLtoDVK/s320/LeagueofBeers.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain of the League of Beers</td></tr>
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So, back to the Imperial Red IPA. Starting from the outside in. Was surprised to
see Oregon style lettering on their packs lined up at the stand but then learned that <a href="http://www.leagueofbeers.com/" target="_blank">The League of Beers</a> imports the real deal from the motherland. So far, so
legit. Better yet, it turns out that they weren't serving <a href="http://rogue.com/beers/yellow-snow-ipa.php" target="_blank">Rogue Yellow Snow IPA</a> after all, but something they dreamed and brewed up just for the night. Then the taste - one of the most flavourful. Wait, the most
flavourful and balanced South African beer tasted to date. Amarillo,
cascade, pretty much all in there without making a dog's brekkie. Nice
malt too. So much, in fact, that the brewers are losing money on the 800
litres they've made for the occasion. Unclear if we'll taste the likes of
this again, but we're keeping fingers, toes and legs crossed that we do.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15927949939018692176noreply@blogger.com1Johannesburg, South Africa-26.2041028 28.047305100000017-26.432114300000002 27.724581600000018 -25.9760913 28.370028600000015