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It’s been one week since the 4th annual National Beer Trophy Awards and the hangovers have finally subsided. What’s the National Beer Trophy, you say? It’s only South Africa’s premier beer competition and it’s a driving force behind the rise in beer quality and consistency. It’s judged according to the international Beer Judge Certification Programme (BJCP) rules, and with a record 212 entries this year, the standards were higher than ever.
Beers are judged out of 50 according to the BJCP guide which outlines every beer style in great detail. In order to win a silver medal, the pass mark is 39/50, and for gold, it’s 41/50. Judging took place over several weeks by 25 judges including BJCP judges, wine sommeliers, celebrity chefs and Cicerones (another beer judge certification programme). The prize giving took place at Cape Town’s Beerhouse on Long and brewers from around the country descended.
The success of the South African National Beer Trophy is a testament to the progress of our craft industry. It’s not just another awards show but a proving ground for breweries to be judged by their peers. Matthew Hurst is one of the partners behind the show and he had this to say, “I’ve been involved since the first edition of the National Beer Trophy, first as a judge and now as a partner and I’m extremely impressed by how far the industry has come in such a short time. Every year the number of entries, as well as the variety and quality of beers goes up. This is a great sign that the beer industry in South Africa will go from strength to strength in the coming years and we look forward to helping to move the industry in the right direction, by educating consumers and rewarding brewers who brew fantastic beer that they can be proud of.”
Best in Show:
Beer of the Year: Amundsen Brewery South Africa – Ink & Dagger IPA
Best Light Beer: Cape Brewing Company – Lager
Best Dark Beer: Darling Brew – Black Mist
Best Amber Beer: Darling Brew – Gypsy Mask
Best Speciality Beer: Fraser’s Folly – Brandy Cask Finished Ale
Best Wheat Beer: St. Francis Brewing Co. – Kromme Rivier Witbier
Gold Medals:
Atlantic Storm Brewery – Black Tempest
Brauhaus Am Damm – Dunkel
Brewhaha Jbay – Stormy Seas
Cape Brewing Company – Dunkel
Devil’s Peak Brewing Company – Lager
Drifter Brewing Co. – Stormy Black Porter
Hermanus Brewery – Old Harbour Lager
Impi Brewing Co. – Homestead Lager
Kings Craft Brewing Co. – Madking Pilsner
Lakeside Brewing Co. – Summit Red Ipa
Mitchell’s Brewery – Forester’s
Mountain Brewing Company – Klipbock
SAB – Castle Light
Spillhaus Brewery – Marzen Lager
Striped Horse – Pale Ale
The Italian Job – Famiglia Pilsner
Silver Medals:
Boet Beer – Pale Ale
Brauhaus am Damm – Märzen
Brewhaha Jbay – Moonlit Beach
Brewhaha Jbay – Endless Summer
Cape Brewing Company – Pilsner
Clockwork Brewhouse – Schwarzbier
Darling Brew – Arrowhead RIS
Darling Brew – Long Claw
Drifter Brewing Co. – Scallywag IPA
Drifter Brewing Co. – Off The Dock Doppelbock
Fierce Beer South Africa – Day Shift
Frontier Beer/Stimela – Brett Saison
Frontier Beer/Hazeldean – The Cuban
Hazeldean Brewing Co. – Fruit Lambic
Hazeldean Brewing Co. – Vienna Lager
Hazeldean Brewing Co. – Milk Stout
Hoghouse Brewing Co. – Warthog IPA
Hoghouse Brewing Co. – Haybale Saison
Hoogeberg Brewery – Lager
Impi Brewing Co. – Warrior Pilsner
Karoo Craft Breweries – The Kudu Lager
Karoo Craft Breweries – The Jackal IPA
Karoo Craft Breweries – Passion Smash Pale Ale
Kas Bier – Weiss
Kings Craft Brewing Co. – Lionheart Lager
Lakeside Brewing Co. – Festival Oktoberfest Lager
Lakeside Brewing Co. – Supernova Porter
Mad Giant – Urban Legend
Metal Lane Brewery – Pale Ale
Mitchell’s Brewery – Milk & Honey
Mitchell’s Brewery – Old Wobbly
Mitchell’s Brewery – Bosun’s Pale Ale
Mountain Brewing Company – Templar IPA
Mountain Brewing Company – Loadshed Lager
Mountain Brewing Company – Stamina Potion
Mountain Brewing Company – Copper Dawn
Newlands Spring Brewing Co. – Jacobs Pale Ale
Newlands Spring Brewing Co. – Tribute Lager
Noon Gun Brewery – Gunslinger Pilsner
Noon Gun Brewery – Muzzle Loader Weiss
Noon Gun Brewery – Smooth Bore Lager
Old Potter’s Brewhouse – Rooinek
Old Potter’s Brewhouse – City Slicker Rice Lager
Old Potter’s Brewhouse – City Slicker Pale Ale
SAB – Castle Lager
SAB – Castle Free
St. Francis Brewing Co. – Storm Warning Stout
Striped Horse – Lager
The Franschoek Beer Company – La Saison
The Franschoek Beer Company – Three Oaks Craft Lager
The Franschoek Beer Company – Liberty APA
The Italian Job Brewery – Amore Amber Ale
The Kennel Brewery – Bierboel
The Redrock Brewing Co. – Painted Black
The Redrock Brewing Co. – Rusty Trigger
Toast Ale – South Africa Pale Ale
Urban Brewing Co. – Monkey’s Paw Pilsner
Zebonkey – Weissbier
Zwakala Brewery – Mountain Weiss
Beerhouse People’s Choice:
SAB – Black Label (for the second year in a row much to the annoyance of the craft community).
Karl Tessendorf is one part of the duo that hosts ‘Beer Country’, South Africa’s first TV show dedicated to beer, braai and the open road.
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