OnTap Magazine

ontapmag.co.za | Autumn 2025 | 57 4.0 DANCING HOPS & SIDE HUSTLE BREWERY JAMMIN BREAKFAST BEER | 5% ABV BREW REVIEWS PANELISTS: Megan Gemmell, Brian Leopold, Troye May, Chris Roth, Puleng Zacharia, Olga de Smidt, Dion Van Huyssteen, and Chantell Van Niekerk. 4.5 Johannesburg based breweries Dancing Hops and Side Hustle unite in this collab to bring us their brown ale breakfast beer "JAMMin". The aroma is very malt-forward with notes of caramel and espresso, but stone fruit also comes into play with hints of apricot and white peach. That stone fruit comes from the addition of apricot jam and dried apricots, and it really assists this beverage in creating a perfect breakfast beer. The flavour is very similar to the aroma, but the stone fruit is more prominent and there is a slightly creamy mouthfeel. This beer is very moreish! Certainly, very tasty, and can be enjoyed at any time of day. EDITOR’S NOTE: A panel consisting of eight experienced individuals review beers for the magazine. Panel members do not necessarily review a beer for every issue, but all names are listed. Please note: if any brewery would like a beer of theirs to be reviewed, they will need to contact On Tap editors directly (editor@ontapmagazine.com ). NEWLANDS SPRING DUNKEL | 5.3% ABV This Munich Dunkel has a slight red tint, and long-lasting off-white head. As a dark lager, the expectations are that it should be crisp, yet have more body and complexity than the paler lagers on the market. And this beer does manage to do just that. At first you are hit by the very pleasant aroma made up of delicate layers of herbaceous hops, chocolate and toffee. This then leads into a sweet taste at first, a malty backbone similar to what you pick up in the aroma, but balanced by the hop bitterness as to not be cloying. The higher carbonation aids with a gorgeous crisp finish, as you would want in a lager. A top beer, especially for the lager drinker looking to venture out. SABIE BREWING SHANGAAN STOUT | 4.7% ABV 3.9 If you like coffee, this is a beer that screams it from the hiss of the cap. The dark roasted notes come through very pleasantly on the nose and the creamy off-white head on this jet-black beer has a good mouthfeel, reminiscent of a strong black coffee. It is most definitely a beer layered with the profile changing as it warms slightly. A lovely beer to pair with red or smoked meats or salty seafood dishes. 3.8 JACK BLACK & MAD GIANT JACK AND THE GIANT | 4.5% ABV 4 0 From the moment you crack open this can, your nose is treated to the pleasant fruity aromas, reminiscent of white peaches and other stone fruit. This is a collaboration beer between Mad Giant in Johannesburg and Jack Black in Cape Town, one that is released seasonally and very limited in stock. As the beers are brewed in two locations, my can was from the Jack Black batch. Overall, a fruity beer, nice smooth finish, not too bitter, in fact it has a very moreish balance. Some pineapple and citrus aromas float to the top as the beer warms a touch, making this a very easy drinking, yet three-dimensional beer. HAZELDEAN RASPUTIN BARREL AGED RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT | 8% ABV 4.0 Hazeldean’s Rasputin pours a mesmerizing jet-black hue, completely opaque, crowned by a deep tan head with excellent retention. Swirling the glass reveals alluring alcohol legs, hinting at its robust ABV. With an intense and complex roast character, expect rich notes of freshly brewed coffee and burnt grains, balanced by a medley of dark stone fruits and fruity esters. The bourbon barrel lends subtle oak flavours that become more pronounced as the beer warms, which enhances its depth. All of this delivers a luxurious mouthfeel and Hazeldean’s Rasputin Imperial Stout is a stellar example of the style, balancing bold roasted flavours with barrel-aged complexity. The bourbon notes, combined with its smooth body and warming character, make it an ideal winter warmer.