OnTap Magazine

OT: When and why did you start homebrewing? AD: I was introduced to craft beer in 2017 by a guy called Jacques Booysen while we both hung out at a local model flying club. He had brought one of his craft beers every Sunday, followed by a late afternoon braai and more ice-cold craft beer. Not very long after, Jacques invited me to a brewing class at one of the Free State Fermenters’ houses. Ever since then, I was hooked on homebrewing. I got more involved with the Free State Fermenters and with the help of other club members, my passion for brewing took off. One of the reasons I got hooked on brewing was because I could suddenly brew any type of beer in the world in the comfort of my own garage. I would say that homebrewing totally opened the craft beer world for me. OT: What’s the best beer you’ve ever made? AD: A Red IPA. OT: What is your biggest brewing disaster? AD: My biggest brewing disaster was when I forgot to close the tap on the boil kettle after I cleaned it. I started lautering and walked away just for a few seconds, but got a huge surprise when I came back and saw the wort all over my brew room’s floor. What a sticky mess. OT: Describe your system in a sentence. AD: I have very recently started using an all-in-one Brewzilla system, after retiring my original 3 vessel system. OT: Do you have any brew day quirks or traditions? AD: The only tradition I have is to start very early in the morning and during the mash I will go and make a huge breakfast. I used to start a brew day with a beer or two, but those days usually ended in chaos. OT: What would be your ultimate clone? AD: The Honey Blonde (Honey wheat ale) by Birkenhead. I am just crazy about the honey aroma and taste. I will definitely be stopping there on the way to Fools and Fans this year. OT: What is your main homebrewing goal? AD: I would like to introduce as many people as possible to craft beer; brewing and drinking. There is a huge craft beer scene in South Africa. I would have loved to open up my own brewery one day, but unfortunately, I might be too old now. I am a very dedicated supporter of craft beer, in fact the first thing I look at when contemplating a holiday is how many craft breweries are found in the area. MEET A HOMEBREWER Andries Du Plooy Club: Free State Fermenters ontapmag.co.za | Autumn 2023 | 49