OnTap Magazine

32 | Autumn 2026 | ontapmag.co.za T yrone Grobbelaar grew up in Limpopo, not far from Kruger Park. When it came time to attend university in 2006, off he went to the University of Pretoria. He had decided to pursue a chemical engineering degree, and soon into his first year at Tuks, he saw brewing as a perfect way to apply the technical skills he was beginning to master. At the time, there was no formal university brewing club, but Tyrone had heard whispering that there was a group of professors working with a small handful of Master's students to brew. Tyrone approached Professor Mike Heydenrych, who at the time was heading up a group of postgraduates and professors interested in brewing, about joining them. He was told that he needed to further develop his knowledge and skills. Undeterred, he tried again in his second year and received the same answer. Finally, in his third year, the professor acquiesced, suggesting that if he could pull a few fellow undergrads together, they could get started. Tyrone jumped at the opportunity. The competition weekend kicked off on a Friday night in August 2009, with participants from across the country gathering at the South African Breweries’ (SAB) in-house bar in Rosslyn, Pretoria. Tyrone and his teammates arrived at the venue early, keen to meet anyone and everyone coming through the door. He admits that he and his one varsity mate may have been a little more extroverted than your average chemical engineering student. Turning up last – and the final group through the door that Friday night – was the team fromWits University. As these final guests trickled in, Tyrone couldn't help but notice a particular student walk through the venue doors: a young woman named Tessa. A DARK KUDU STOUT Tessa was born in Durban, in KwaZulu- Natal. While a student at the University of the Witwatersrand, she narrowed her focus to chemical engineering, eventually dedicating her Master’s research to the complexities of bioethanol production. (Bioethanol is a renewable biofuel produced by fermenting organic materials such as corn, sugar cane, and agricultural waste.) As part of her research, she started using the same lab as the gentlemen brewing beer. When their preparations began for Intervarsitybrew TM 2009, they invited her to join them. "I saw Tessa, and one of her friends who was part of their team, come in..." Tyrone explains. At the time, female students were admittedly in the minority among the eight or nine university teams who showed up that year. But it was an exciting atmosphere, Tessa recalls, before adding: "Tyrone and a friend came over to us and introduced themselves; they were super friendly and welcoming. We didn't know what to do, or where to go, and they were super helpful." At the time, Tessa and her friend thought these two students were in some kind of official meet-and-greet role; in reality, they were just enthusiastic. And perhaps Tyrone was already taken by this new-to-the-scene Wits student. "Tessa's eyes and hair were what attracted me to her instantly," he confesses, smiling. It seems the interest became mutual as the weekend progressed: the following morning, the two decided to sit down with a few teammates and have breakfast together. According to Tyrone, Tessa kept looking over at him, while Tessa insists that it was in fact Tyrone who could not keep his eyes off her. Either way, they got to know one another better over the course of the day, with Tessa emphasising that they shared many of the same interests, including the subject of their degrees – in particular, bioengineering and bioethanol. Saturday was the main event, with the competition activities officially kicking off that afternoon. Following a visit to the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, all participating teams ventured out to the University of Pretoria’s Experimental Farms, where the competitive brewing was to be held. The air was thick with anticipation as everyone awaited the announcement of the results later that night. Tyrone recalls that the standout crowd favourite of the evening was the Dark Kudu Stout, a coffee-infused brew crafted by Tessa’s team. It was a beer of deep, ink- black intensity; when held to the sun, not a single ray of light could penetrate the glass. To Tyrone, it tasted like the perfect marriage of a robust stout and a fresh espresso — the best of both worlds. He liked it so much that he snagged a few bottles after the event concluded as part of the common bartering tradition, later sharing the stout with his father. The two even enjoyed it over breakfast, dubbing it the "quintessential breakfast beer." Intervarsitybrew 2009