OnTap Magazine

12 | Autumn 2025 | ontapmag.co.za A BEER LOVER'S DREAM WITH A HEART FOR RHINOS! Brewcraft Southern Africa has been around since 2007, but their famous Saturday Session at Brewcraft in Jet Park, Gauteng, only kicked off around 2009. Back then, it was just a handful of homebrewers—maybe 5 to 10—getting together to share, sip and chat their common love: great homebrewed beer! As the word spread, more friends and brewers joined in, whether they had a beer to share or not. Brewcraft wondered how they could create some greater good from such a gathering, and they decided to add a small charity element. Originally, the selected cause was the SPCA and then in 2014 introduced to the Rhino Orphanage, adopted a baby rhino orphan named Lesego. This changed everything. The Saturday Session grew, from around 20 home brewers in attendance in the early days, to over 350 people at the last event! In 2015, Brewcraft adopted another 11 orphaned baby rhinos, each with a heartbreaking story of losing their mothers to poachers. Today, their rhino family includes Nandi, Stevie, Kabelo, Nenkani, Little Ryan, Mofalodi, Lesego, Kabira, Grace, Bombi, Jamie and Thula. A few years later, when opening Brewcraft Centurion, another awesome event was launched: the Home Brewers Bash! It’s just as big, just as fun and just as meaningful. Here’s how it works: There is no entry fee. There are over 35 incredible homebrewed beers to sample with live music and tasty food options. All they ask for is a small donation to the Rhino Orphanage. In return, attendees get a limited-edition branded glass—and then it's time to sip, mingle, and enjoy! RUSSIAN RIVER’S VINNIE AND NATALIE CILURZO ARE COMING TO CAPE TOWN FOR BEEREX AFRICA This year’s keynote speakers at BeerEx Africa are Vinnie and Natalie Cilurzo, founders of Russian River Brewing Company in California. They’ll be speaking at the conference alongside UK beer journalist Jonny Garrett, founder of The Craft Beer Channel on YouTube. BeerEx kicks off on 22 May with a limited release beer launch at Afro Caribbean Brewing Co. The two launch beers are being brewing in collaboration with Russian River and will feature hops never before used in South Africa. The events continue at Makers Landing (V&A Waterfront) on 23 and 24 May, with the BeerExpo where beer lovers can check out the latest innovations in beer and brewing, and the conference, featuring local and international speakers, workshops and tastings. Evening events include a food and beer pairing dinner at Woodstock Brewery on 23 May and the African Beer Cup awards party on 24 May. You can buy tickets for individual events, or a package deal that includes everything. Full event details are available on the BeerEx website: https://beerex.africa/ and tickets for all events are available via Quicket. ENTRIES TO THE 2025 AFRICAN BEER CUP ARE NOW OPEN Entries to the African Beer Cup, the biggest beer competition on the continent, are now open. Any commercially operating brewery in Africa is eligible to enter the competition. This year the competition includes a new category for fruit flavoured beers, and is accepting entries for braggot and mead for the first time. Online registration is open until 18 April. Check out www.africanbeercup.com for full details as well as the entry form.