These are officially the best beers in South Africa right now
The fifth annual South African National Beer Trophy is done and dusted and I have to say, I’m both surprised by and happy with the results. Why, you ask? Because the results are proof that the standard around the country, especially amongst the smaller breweries, is on the rise.
As well as the usual suspects winning medals, there was a collection of surprising beers in the mix, and not just in the silver category. In fact, to my knowledge, this is the first year that the smaller guys have outshone the big guys in the gold medals.The competition is tough and the beers are judged according to the international Beer Judge Certification Programme (BJCP) rules over several weeks.
The judges include BJCP judges, wine sommeliers, celebrity chefs and cicerones (another beer judge certification programme). The prizegiving took place once again at Cape Town’s Beerhouse on Long, with brewers attending from far and wide.
The story of the night for me was The Beer of the Year and The Best Hoppy Beer winner. Both went to Afro Caribbean Brewing Co. for Jungle Paradise IPA, which is brewed by Rochelle Dunlop. She’s an incredible woman who got into brewing after starting out as a waitress at Banana Jam Café, which is downstairs from Afro Caribbean. She’s made massive strides in such a short amount of time and is now their full-time brewer.
The gold medal results were a close second for story of the night, due to the complete shake-up of the usual pecking order. Cederberg, Hoghouse, Old Potter’s, Sabie, Shields Indie and Kennel are all tiny breweries that went up against the best and took home gold. This is why competition is so important to the craft industry: It pushes brewers to be better, and I couldn’t be happier, because if the beers are better then we’re all winning.
A massive congrats to all the winners, and let’s keep pushing!
Trophies
Beer of the Year – Afro Caribbean Jungle Paradise
The Best Hoppy Beer – Afro Caribbean Jungle Paradise
Best Light Beer – Zwakala Limpopo Lager Trophy
Best Dark Beer – Cape Brewing Co Doppelbock
Best Wheat Beer – Darling Brew Pixie Dust Trophy
Gold Medals
ABlnBev Castle Milk Stout
Cederberg Brewery Voetsek
Devil’s Peak Lager
Hoghouse Brewing Co. Roadhog Porter
Mad Giant Urban Legend
Old Potter’s Brewhouse Cityslicker
Old Potter’s Brewhouse My China
Sabie Brewery Company Shangaan Stout
Shields Indie Brewing Co; White Falcon American Wheat Beer
Stellenbosch Brewing Co. Born Free Pale Ale
The Franschhoek Beer Co. The Stout
The Italian Job Brewery IPA Forza
The Kennel Brewery Alesatian
Silver Medals
ABlnBev Lion Lager
Brauhaus am Damm Brauhaus Marzen
Brewhaha Jbay Stormy Seas
Brewhaha Jbay Endless Summer
Cape Brewing Co Amber Weiss
Cape Brewing Co Pilsner
Cederberg Brewery Boggom Blonder Ale
Cederberg Brewery Original Lager
Hazeldean Frontier Beer Co. The Haymaker- Round 2
Devil’s Peak Kings Blockhouse IPA
Devil’s Peak Good Hope Pale Ale
Drifter Brewing Company Scallywag IPA
Drifter Brewing Company El Capitan Mexican Lager
Frasers Folly Craft Beer Brandy Cask Finished Ale 2018
Hermanus Micro Brewery Hermanus Pale Ale
Hey Joe Brewery Company Saison
Hey Joe Brewery Company Belgian Lager
Hey Joe Brewery Company Witbier
Hey Joe Brewery Company Blonde
Hoghouse Brewing Co. Worthog Indian Pale Ale
Hoghouse Brewing Co. Haybale Saison
Hoghouse Brewing Co. Hogtale African Pale Ale
Jack Black Brewing Company Skeleton coast IPA
Jack Black Brewing Company Atlantic weiss
Jack Black Brewing Company Lumberjack Amber Ale
Jack Black Brewing Company Butcher Block Pale Ale
Kings Craft Brewing Co. Monks Brew
Mad Giant Super Session
Mad Giant Killer Hop
Newlands Spring Brewing Jacobs Pale Ale
Poison City Brewing Durban Poison Cannabis Lager
Pot & Scot Craft Brewing Spice of Life Belgian Pale Ale
Riot Beer Valve IPA
Riot Beer Vintage 005
Sabie Brewery Co Long Tom Lager (Dunkel)
St Francis Brewing Co St Francis Wildside IPA
Table 58 Brewing No 5 IPA
The Franschhoek Beer Co. Three Oaks
The Franschhoek Beer Co. La Saison
The Franschhoek Beer Co. The Stout – Barrel aged 750ml
The Italian Job Brewery Amber Ale Amore
The Italian Job Brewery Dark Lager Gioia
The Italian Job Brewery Weiss Amicizia
Triggerfish Brewery (Pty) Ltd MonsterfishValley Breweries (Pty) Ltd 783 Pale Ale
Zwakala Moringa Ale
