OnTap Magazine

What’s been the highlight of the past five years? Launching Extra Fresh and delivering beer to homes, milkman style - finally free from labels, plastic, and just waste in general. Then obviously Clarens Beer Fest is always a highlight. And everyone loves a little fail tale – have you had a major brewing flop since 2016? I wouldn't call it major, but during the first few brews I had a massive boil over in the kettle. So I ran to close the manhole and in the process sprayed some wort in some lady's hair. I just hid behind the kettle and pretended nothing happened. Who are your fantasy five – five people that you would love to sit down with at your brewery for a pint and a chat? Steven Rinella, Aaron Franklin, Rassie Erasmus, Jim Koch, Christian Horner. Finally free from labels, plastic, and just waste in general MAD GIANT ZWAKALA BREWERY Looking ahead, what’s the one thing you’d like to see the brewery achieve in the next five years? To become the local Johannesburg brewery. I mean this to be similar to the local German breweries: the brewery of the town, supplying customers, local pubs and restaurants with beer directly from the brewery, milkman style. Can you describe your perfect beer in exactly five words? The one in my hand. JOHANNESBURG MAGOEBASKLOOF What’s been the highlight of the past five years? That’s a very hard one to answer. A highlight for me was our first ‘brewversary’. Seeing all the people flock to the most inconveniently placed brewery in the world made us realise we didn't make a mistake. Have you had any major brewing flops since 2016? Trying to put 200 litres of mango puree into a batch of weiss beer which was slightly dodgy. It went everywhere – the biggest mango slushy you have ever seen. Luca Tooley – co-owner and brewer Our goal has always been to become a household name Eben Uys – founder and owner Who are your fantasy five? My great, great grandfather, Ci Xi (one-time empress of china), David Livingstone, Chris Hani, Cleopatra. What’s the one thing you’d like to see the brewery achieve in the next five years? Survival!! Our goal has always been to become a household name in South Africa and then in the world and after another 20 years, the universe… Can you describe your perfect beer in exactly five words? Delicious, cold, refreshing, moreish beer. Eben Uys with his original line-up when Mad Giant was still a contract brand Zwakala's brewpub sits on the family farm Mad Giant's brewery is based in central Jo'burg The name means "come closer" and you likely won't want to leave ontapmag.co.za | Spring 2021 | 27