SUIP!

The Keg King Open Tap

lespritdascenseur — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:00:00 +0300

My apologies to Mark and Martin from Keg King for how criminally late this post is. Thanks for...

The Start of a New Craft Beer Project

lespritdascenseur — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:27:26 +0300

This past Saturday, Banana Jam Cafe was host to the first iteration of the Craft Beer Project, a...

Oh God I'm on radio again

lespritdascenseur — Thu, 03 May 2012 08:02:24 +0300

Starting tonight I will be starting guest appearances on Gary Cool’s Rock Dimension...

Royale Eatery, inarguably Cape Town’s most revered burger...

lespritdascenseur — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:03:18 +0300

Royale Eatery, inarguably Cape Town’s most revered burger joint, has a new house beer. Brewed by newcomers Citizen Brewery - a small start-up that has at least one of the eatery’s Berolsky brothers involved - Royale’s Amber Ale is a WYSIWYG amber; soft and sweet with an apricoty, light hop profile.

It’s a good beer to pair with Royale’s undercelebrated fish and vegetarian burgers, where its sweetness spars with the sour pickle of the Winks-Newman, or the fresh salmon-and-salsa combo of the Jenghis Khan. Lightness also means it can sit in the gut next to a big burger with little discomfort.

On the whole, it’s a welcome addition to the beer lists of both Royale and the fairy-light, wood-clad Waiting Room upstairs, glistening favourably next to the staling B&U oeuvre that has occupied half of the beer list space here for a while. That said, I was taken aback by the price - R35 a pint, half the price of a double Classic Royale.

That said, it’s good to see local craft here at last, even if the price leaves something somewhat unsavoury in the stomach. Luckily it’s still a good quaff, and seeing as this was seemingly only the second keg of this brew put on tap, hopefully a view of things to come from a Cape craft newcomer sneaking in the back door.

Lyon has great craft beer at Ninikasi Opera that changes every season. It was really good. Get down here! Effie

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:25:53 +0300

That’s quite a recommendation, Effie. I might have to take you up on it. ;) I’m looking...

Coming up in May: More Suip!, beer in Getaway and me on 2OceansVibe Radio

lespritdascenseur — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:50:00 +0300

After a much-needed break (that admittedly went on much longer than expected), regular updates on...

TONIGHT! Oh dear, I am so excited.

lespritdascenseur — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 15:11:12 +0300

TONIGHT!

Oh dear, I am so excited.

Tasting Notes: Porcupine Quill, Botha's Hill, KZN

lespritdascenseur — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:00:05 +0200

Above three images from Porcupine Quill website Porcupine Quill Brewery in Botha’s Hill,...

Photos: Valley Brewery, Kommetjie

lespritdascenseur — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 10:00:00 +0200

Metalworker Glenn Adams leads a double life. Round the front of his factory in a patched-up...

Photo

lespritdascenseur — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 08:00:05 +0200

A biologist’s St. Patrick’s Day song. About beer, of...

lespritdascenseur — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 14:02:47 +0200

A biologist’s St. Patrick’s Day song. About beer, of course.

Happy St. Patrick’s!

Three black beers: drinks for watching Natal lose rugby matches

lespritdascenseur — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 08:00:05 +0200

Rugby season has started again. Exciting! That means that it’s time for me to have childish...

Last night I went to my second SouthYeasters meeting, held at...

lespritdascenseur — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:28:07 +0200

Last night I went to my second SouthYeasters meeting, held at the African Train Lodge on Old Marine Drive in Cape Town. The SouthYeasters are a group of passionate, innovative and knowledgable homebrewers who meet every month to talk, share brewing recipes and techniques and, of course, have a couple beers.

Although I’m usually the youngest there, and am an extreme novice at homebrewing, I’m always made to feel at home and never patronised. A discussion about mashing was the focus of the meeting and I learned a lot.

If you have even a casual interest in homebrewing, you should visit the SY website and try to come to one of our meetings.

Perhaps your best introduction to our little community would be our very own beer festival: The SouthYeasters Summer Festival, to be held on 14 April at Newlands Village Green from 10 a.m. ‘til 4 p.m. It’s R50 for entrance, a free glass, and free reign to taste as many beers as you like! Some of our more advanced homebrewers will be there to show you how to set up a full all-grain brewing rig for under a grand. Even without the educational aspect, it’s going to be a great time. Email analize@honingklip.co.za to book your ticket. (Tickets also available on the day for the same price.)

A Devil’s Peak Brewing Co. beer is finally readily...

lespritdascenseur — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:00:05 +0200

A Devil’s Peak Brewing Co. beer is finally readily available to the public. The First Light Golden Ale is now on tap at Banana Jam Café in Kenilworth, and it’s lovely.

Clear yellow-gold with a two finger-thick head, First Light is full-bodied and creamy, and predominantly hoppy and light orangey on nose and palate. Although the nose is quite soft, the palate is rounded off with soft hints of mango peel and acidic naartjie. It’s lively and sprightly, and finds the holy balance between fullness and refreshment with ease, making it perfect for sessioning.

I’d been looking forward to this pint since I became acquainted with the guys from Devil’s Peak at the Cape Town Festival of Beer last November. It was worth the wait. First Light is a thoroughly thoughtfully-made ale, satisfying and wholesome. Good job, guys.

Good bottle stores #1: CQ Tops

lespritdascenseur — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 09:00:05 +0200

On Friday night, for reasons numerous and uninteresting, I found myself wandering around Green...

Stocking up.

lespritdascenseur — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 10:24:18 +0200

Stocking up.

One of my very favourite new blogs is the suitably named Oh...

lespritdascenseur — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 21:15:00 +0200

One of my very favourite new blogs is the suitably named Oh Beautiful Beer, a collection of thoughtful and good-looking beer bottles, posters, glassware, logos and other beer-related design. It’s a celebration of slick illustration, glassware and branding innovation.

Although small South African breweries have often neglected the importance of considered and consistent design with their identities and advertising – added to the difficulty of sourcing specialist materials and packaging – I was pleasantly surprised to see Triggerfish’s handsome bottle for Ocean Potion featured on the site. Good on ya, Trigs.

In any case, I’d bookmark it. It’s a daily dose of beer and design porn of the highest standard.

Lithuanian court quashes Carlsberg strike by ruling beer brewing "vitally essential" to life

lespritdascenseur — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:24:00 +0200

Lithuanian court quashes Carlsberg strike by ruling beer brewing "vitally essential" to life: In an...

Lately...

lespritdascenseur — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:00:06 +0200

Seeing as I haven’t posted anything new for 10 days, I thought I’d pop in and explain...

Recipes: Graham Paterson's Braai Pizza

lespritdascenseur — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:03:00 +0200

Graham Paterson is an illustrator. He is also my housemate. He moved down from Durban at the...