OnTap Magazine

At last year’s Cape Town Festival of Beer, Devil’s Peak launched six collaboration brews produced in conjunction with breweries from around the world. We got four of our regular contributors to pass judgment on the collaborative six-pack, released in cans in December 2017. As you will see, their opinions often differed, sometimes wildly… BREW REVIEWS Devil’s Peak REVIEWERS: Lucy Corne (LC), Thandi Guilherme (TG), Jaco Hamilton-Attwell (JHA), Murray Slater (MS) If the flavour delivered on the aroma’s promises of citrus, this would have possibly been a winner. Unfortunately the sourness is completely overboard and aggressive, leaving the shattered taste buds barely capable of tasting anything else. 2.1/5. JHA I would peel this all day, its enticing naartjie aroma followed up by intense acidity. You may or may not be able to taste anything else afterwards. But why would you want to? 4.5/5 MS There’s a subtle tropical fruit aroma here, though the nose is dominated by citrus and chocolate. The cocoa character carries through when you sip, and there’s plenty of citrus on the aftertaste. A very enjoyable beer in a style that, in my opinion, not enough people are brewing in South Africa. More! 3.8/5. LC Very approachable for this style, making it feel almost like a “light” version, without actually being light! The citrus is strong in this one, with chocolate coming in just behind on both flavour and aroma. 4.4/5 JHA Although the aromas are pretty much perfect, the flavours are perhaps a touch strong for the style. However, it finishes crisp and clean with stunning floral notes. The clarity could be better, but that’s a minor issue. 3.7/5 JHA Not a bad beer, and the most laid back of the bunch. It’s an easy-drinking, inoffensive beer that is great as a bridge between commercial lagers and craft styles. It’s one of those beers you could certainly have a few of. 3/5 TG Pours a hazy straw colour with good head. All farmhouse funk on the nose. A pleasantly zesty, yeasty brew, though I didn’t get much honey from it. 3.5/5 TG Displays very subtle delicate honey - enough to just about justify the inclusion. The special ingredient did however, along with some frisky saison yeast, dry the beer out and leave it well attenuated. 3.5/5. MS Would it surprise you if I said there’s a dominant mango aroma on this beer infused with mango? Lingering in the background you’ll find sauvignon blanc-style aromas of ripe green gooseberries. I found it a little thick, though the subtle sourness was refreshing. 3/5. LC Mangos leading a sensual dance over a subtle sour palate floor…Delightfully balanced and interesting enough to make you want to get on your dancing shoes. 4/5. MS A good combination of citrus, spice and breadiness on aroma, with similar notes on flavour, but the malt support is a bit lacking. Very approachable and easy-drinking. 3.2/5. JHA Some good grapefruit aromas that got me excited. The flavour leans more toward the grainy/bready lager side but with a good bitter kick in the middle. Certainly a nice brew. 3.5/5 TG Collaboration Series Naartjie Sour Devil’s Peak x Mikkeller EASY PEELER Black IPA Devil’s Peak x Fierce Beer DARK IS THE NIGHT Kölsch Devil’s Peak x Gipsy Hill Brewing GIPSY KING Mango Sour Devil’s Peak x Fourpure Brewing IT TAKES TWO TO MANGO Honey Saison Devil’s Peak x Amundsen Bryggeri WILD BLOSSOM India Pale Lager Devil’s Peak x Alpha Craft DATE NIGHT 50 / On Tap / Autumn 2018