OnTap Magazine

FRONTIER BEER CO JOHANNESBURG FEATURE What’s been the highlight of the past five years? Many highlights, but probably setting up our online store bestcraftbeer, which is now successfully breaking down the barriers of getting the best indie stuff from around the country into beer lover's homes, fresh and cold stored. This country ain't very friendly to indies. Have you had any major brewing flops since 2016? I once almost blew myself up trying to sanitise an old spirit barrel. The barrel Brendan Hart - founder and head brewer Trevor Gerntholtz - founder OLD POTTER’S INN & BREWHOUSE GREYTON I once almost blew myself up I got into the tank in my undies What’s been the highlight of the past five years? Doing my first double brew right through the night then cutting my hands on the plate chiller screws. I fell asleep on my brewery floor surrounded by blood and beer and beautifulness. It was a very religious moment! Have you had any major brewing flops since 2016? My favourite "fail" was when I cleaned out my cold liquor tank using caustic flakes - they form a type of gel which The Old Potter team - and a a fan - at the 2020 Clarens Craft Beer Fest Brendan pours a sample from one of the barrels that he didn't blow up was old enough that gaps had opened up in the staves, and I just (wrongly!) assumed there would be no fumes in it any longer. It was a very busy December and my brain had numbed......anyway, when I lit a sulphur stick and dropped in into the barrel, it exploded! The lid blew to bits and landed about 20m away. I was left with a scalded hand, and lost a few eyebrow hairs! I console myself that a famous and influential brewer, Gordon Strong, hospitalised himself doing the same thing! Perhaps it augurs well..... Who are your fantasy five? Posthumous some of them, and no, not sticking to beer folk. Nelson Mandela, Albert Einstein, Bill Murray, Denzel Washington, Hunter S Thompson. What’s the one thing you’d like to see the brewery achieve in the next five years? Profitability, mostly, among other things. But really, it has been such a tough time. It was tough before Covid, and we are on business model 21c. I'd like to see something come together so we can live our passion without so much stress. Can you describe your perfect beer in exactly five words? Deep, dark, complex, comforting, engaging. The Frontier taproom is open on Friday afternoons and draws a regular crowd Here's to our time lasting another five years - and many more beyond 28 | Spring 2021 | ontapmag.co.za