OnTap Magazine

52 | Autumn 2025 | ontapmag.co.za MEET A HOMEBREWER As a nail salon owner and with nearly 20 years experience in the Beauty industry, Anelda started dabbling in homebrewing a few years ago. Her beers placed quite well in the KwaZulu-Natal homebrew competitions and she even presented her story of what it is like to be a woman entering the homebrew scene at the Africa Brew conference in 2024. ANELDA FOUCHÈ OT: When and why did you start home brewing? AF: My husband started Brewing during Covid. After joining the Durban Home Brewing Club, he started going to the meetings and eventually I joined him. I had a great interest in this new hobby and community he discovered and invested some time into understanding it. Fast forward a few years and I attended the last day of Africa Brew in PE. While talking to all the brewers at the end of the conference, they asked me why I wasn't brewing myself, seeing as I can talk the talk.... And here I am, a rookie brewer one year into my journey and absolutely LOVING it! OT: What's the best beer you ever made? AF: I entered our club's BJCP style competition with a Porter that placed third. I was very proud of that beer! It was super delish too... OT: What is your biggest brewing disaster? AF: My second brew into my journey I decided to try crush my own grains while my husband was out cycling. What I didn't realize was that the grain mill gap was widening as I used the drill. The rookie mistake was that I didn't check the grain... Half of it never crushed and surprise, surprise! I had a horribly low efficiency and the original gravity (OG) was waaaay off the mark! (We absolutely loved the Beer nonetheless.) OT: Describe your system in a sentence. AF: It's a well-oiled machine.. OT: Do you have any brew day quirks or traditions? AF: I HAVE to be precise with my mineral and hops measurements. I will start weighing it again, if it's not exact. I also stir the wort with the hop spider when the wort is cooling down - it's like an itch I have to scratch, I can't help it! OT: What would be your ultimate clone? AF: I would love to clone the Petrus Bordeaux - it's absolutely delish!! OT: What is your main homebrewing goal? AF: I want to make an impact, give back to my fellow brewers and inspire others through my brewing. (And of course make award- winning beers alongside my hubby.)