OnTap Magazine

Soul Barrel’s Nick Smith and Brewsters Craft brewer Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela have joined forces to produce the first commercially available umqombothi hybrid beer. Wild African Soul (6.5% ABV) represents a coming together RELEASE SA’S FIRST Brewed andbottledwith soul at: SoulBarrelBrewing R45Simondium WC www.soulbarrel.co.za Ingredients: •Malt: KingKorn sorghum,maize,oats,pilsner,pale, localorganic unmaltedwheat •Hops: Cascade,SSpalt •Yeast: Native sorghummicroflora,housewildmixed culture, brettbrux, champagne •Water:SimonsbergMountainwater e e flects ity. e , ry. 340ml ThiscollabwithBrewstersCraft is inspiredby SouthAfrica'samazingbeerculture.Thinkof itasa modern renditionof traditional sorghumbeer, Umqombothi. We'veblendedEuropeanbarrel-aging techniqueswithAfricanmethodsof sourmashing andopen,natural fermentations forafirstof itskindale. AbatchofUmqombothiwasblendedwithourmixed culture farmhousealeanda twoyearold barrel-agedbrettbeer. Thisfinishedblend was refermentedandmatured inanoakbarrel. Thisbeer is fascinatingandunique. Flavorsofcreampear, citrus&honeymeld intoa stickybarrelcharacter, balancedbyacidityand funkygrainnotesderived from thewild sorghummaltand spontaneous fermentation withnativeyeasts. Don’t drink and walk on the road, you may be killed. Wild African Soul Umqombothi Beer cur. UMQOMBOTHI HYBRID SOUL BARREL AND BREWSTERS CRAFT In a recent survey from CBASA, 21 brewery owners said they had decided to close their businesses permanently since the start of lockdown. Due to the anonymous nature of the survey, the details of these closures are not available. However, a number of breweries have confirmed that they have ceased trading, with some advertising their equipment for sale. Closures include Sir Thomas Brewing Company in Stellenbosch, Stone Circle Brewing in Cape Town, Owl & Hare Craft Brewery in Wakkerstroom, Robertson Brewing Company in George, Red Rock Brewing Company in Johannesburg and Odyssey Craft Brewery in Durban. LOCKDOWN LEADS TO BREWERY CLOSURES of traditional African beer nd modern craft. The traditional umqombothi was brewed in February for South African National Beer Day, then blended with Soul Barrel’s mixed culture farmhouse ale and a two-year-old barrel-aged Brett beer. The finished blend was refermented and matured in an oak barrel. “Think of it as a mode n rendition of traditional sorghum beer,” says Nick. “We've blended European barrel-aging techniques with African methods of sour mashing and open, natural fermentations for a first of its kind ale.” The beer launches on Heritage Day (24 September) and will be available on Best Craft Beer as well as from Soul Barrel’s brewery in Simondium. LIQUID YEAST CROWN CORKS LAB EQUIPMENT BREWING EQUIPMENT MALT, YEAST, HOPS PARTY KEGS TAPS & TOWERS GROWLERS KEGS & FERMENTING VESSELS Visit our Cape Town showroom store and browse our latest craft brewing products & consumables! Chat with our experienced brewmasters who are happy to guide you through your homebrewing journey. We offer repackaged malt & hops as well as liquid yeast. View our dispensing equipment and wide product offering to suit any home or craft brewer.