OnTap Magazine

Red Sky under new management Jo’burg brewery Mad Giant has been inviting drinkers to guess the style of their new beer. When customers bought a six-pack of Mad Giant brews in select stores, they received a seventh mystery bottle with a label asking WTF they thought it was. Five lucky winners who correctly identified it as the brewery’s new lager received a pile of Mad Giant goodies. The 4.2% ABV lager is now available in singles and six-packs across Gauteng. SOUL BARREL OPENS INTHEWINELANDS MAD GIANT ASKS 'WTF' IS THIS BEER? After announcing the closure and sale of the brewery last August, Red Sky Brew has reopened with new owners, but fans will be pleased to hear that Mark Goldsworthy remains as brewer. Local entrepreneur Clinton Steyn has long been a follower of the brewery and says that taking over and keeping Mark on was a ‘no brainer’. “My wife Gemma and I have known Mark and the Red Sky brand for a while,” says Clinton. “He had been making great beer and had an awesome brand but it was only going to work for us if he stayed on.” The brewery has seen a few upgrades since the new owners took over, and there are new brews and branding in the pipeline. There is also a plan to expand distribution to Mpumalanga and Gauteng in the near future. IN BRIEF BREW NEWS Devil’s Peak has started brewing beers for three European brands for release into the South African market. Scotland’s Fierce Beer released Day Shift, a 5% ABV pale ale, and Easy Shift, a grapefruit-infused summer sipper late last year. Shortly afterwards, Devil’s Peak announced a partnership with much-lauded Danish brewery Mikkeller, with Peter, Pale and Mary (pale ale) and Capenhagen (NEIPA) now available year-round in South Africa. The latest overseas brewery to join the fold is Norway-based Amundsen Bryggeri, who spent time in South Africa in 2017. Grab their Run to the Pils and Ink & Dagger IPA in 330ml cans. International craft brands now brewed at Devil’s Peak A third microbrewery has opened in South Africa’s top surf town. Jeffreys Bay Craft Brewery is the passion project of Bruce Tavenor. After two years of construction and planning, the brewpub opened its doors in December. The six-strong core range includes Supers Light Lager, Boneyards Dark Lager, Albatross Amber Ale and The Oom Weizen. The beers are currently available exclusively at the brewpub, but Bruce has plans to expand to nearby bars and restaurants. JEFFREYS BAY CRAFT BREWERY OPENS SHACKLETON BREWING CO. BOLSTERS SA’S CASK ALE SCENE Based in a well-known student pub in the shadow of Newlands Brewery, Shackleton Brewing Co. opened without fanfare last winter. Brewer Steve Peel is still playing around with the line-up, but you’ll currently find a Kölsch, an English Bitter and a red ale on tap at the Springbok Pub. An Australian Pale Ale is also in the works. The Shackleton team plans to specialise in cask ales and will be installing hand- pulled pumps in select Cape Town outlets. In April, they’re enlisting seven other breweries and hosting a real ale festival on the street outside the brewery (for more info, see page 9). Although best known as a wine town, the Franschhoek region is rapidly becoming a great place for a beer. The latest addition to the beer scene is Soul Barrel, based in Simondium. Owned and operated by American brewer Nick Smith, the focus is on barrel aged and hoppy brews, plus beers showcasing South African fynbos. Nick has no plans to distribute, so if you want to sample, head to the brewery for a tasting session and grab a growler to take home. 14 / On Tap / Autumn 2018