OnTap Magazine

ontapmag.co.za | Spring 2021 | 23 NEWS NEW BREWS Afro Caribbean Choc Shakes and Unicorns (8.4% ABV) Savour a can of ACBC’s latest creation – a pastry stout with a “bucket load” of Mexican cocoa. Also on limited release is Marshmallow Bourbon Darkness – a barrel- aged stout with added marshmallow and vanilla. Soul Barrel Brett IPA (7.2% ABV) In a bid to recreate an 18th century IPA, Soul Barrel’s brewers made a hop-forward IPA, inoculated it with Brettanomyces and aged it in oak barrels for three years. Grab some from the taproom while it lasts. Table 58 Oktoberfest (5% ABV) Locals in East London will be happy to welcome back the annual release of Table 58’s Oktoberfest from early September. It’s available on tap at the brewery only. The Kennel Brewery Come to the Bark Side (8.8% ABV) An imperial pastry porter with cacao nibs, vanilla beans, coconut and cinnamon, Bark Side forms part of Kennel’s latest batch of special releases, each with their own wonderfully puntastic names and striking labels. Much-loved brewery and training venue Brewsters Craft has closed down due to the pandemic and associated lockdowns. The Johannesburg based brewery, which specialised in contract brewing and was also the home of Tolokazi Beer, officially closed doors in July of this year. Founded in 2015 by brewmaster Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela, Brewsters Craft served as an important launch pad for a number of black-owned brands, including Township Brew, Mohope, 1632Crafts and Newcastle Brewing. Happily, those brands, as well as Apiwe’s own Tolokazi range will continue and are currently being contract brewed at various Johannesburg breweries. “The decision to close down Brewsters Craft was a very difficult one,” says Apiwe. “But the ongoing lockdowns made things impossible for us, no matter what we tried to do to keep afloat. I will be continuing with the Tolokazi Beer range through contract brewing and will also be focusing on Brewsters Academy, offering training and consulting.” Entrepid Pacer Lite Beer (3.9% ABV) The latest release from Makhanda based Entrepid is a low-cal, low carb pale ale finished with citra and mosaic hops. For more new beers, check out the reviews on page 64