OnTap Magazine

14 | Autumn 2019 | ontapmag.co.za BREW TAPROOM MANIA! W hile 2018 saw a marked slowdown in the number of breweries opening, it doesn’t necessarily signify a stagnation in the industry. Many breweries have upped their production and we are seeing a happy boom in the number of taprooms opening across the country. Durbanville-based Havoc Brewery opened Havoc Tap & Grill early this year, where beers from other Cape Town breweries are poured alongside Havoc’s range. Also in Cape Town, Shackleton Brewing Company has moved brewing operations to new premises in Salt River. Due to launch just as On Tap went to print, the new spot will be open daily for tastings and pints, with a canning line planned for later in the year. Two well-entrenched players in the Cape scene are also expanding their tasting footprint – Woodstock Brewery launched a new taproom on Lower Main Road in Observatory and DarlingBrew’s Woodstock taproom opens opposite the Woodstock Exchange in March. Taproom fever has also hit Gauteng. Frontier’s brewery and tasting space finally opened in early February and looks set to be a staple for Jo’burg beer nerds seeking Friday after-work drinks. Over in the east, Three Stags Brewery and Naked Face Brewing launched a tap room at their shared Jet Park premises on South African National Beer Day. They’re open for tastings on Friday afternoons from 2pm. On the other side of Jo’burg, Copper Lake Breweries opened a tasting room at the brewery site in Lanseria. The family-friendly taproom will be open Friday to Sunday and offers brewery tours, mountain biking routes and pub lunches. Further north in Pretoria, Legends Brewery launched a taproom at the Kuungana Bush Lodge. Five beers are on tap and you can sample them with a food pairing board and even stay the night if you decide to continue the tasting. Also in the capital, rock band Fokofpolisiekar opened Fokof Bar following the huge success of their Fokof Lager. Beer and food pairing at Legends new taproom Three Stags Brewery Woodstock Brewery