OnTap Magazine

Nova Beer Project-label Monday, August 16, 2021 2:10:17 PM Anja van Zyl is a well-known face on the South African beer circuit. Starting out at CBC eight years ago, she’s best known for her role as head brewer at Hey Joe since the brewery launched in 2019. Now, for the first time, she has branched out by herself and launched Nova Beer Project, a contract/gypsy brewing brand. Breakaway is the debut beer, brewed at Karoo Craft Breweries in Paarl. It’s got a delectable citrus character – marmalade-like, but not your overly sweetened, store-bought marmalade. This is farmer’s market marmalade, with great whiffs of bittersweet orange peel. It’s a beautifully balanced beer with a toasty malt character and enough body to notice while still remaining hugely quaffable and moreish. Look out for the beer in cans from Best Craft Beer and directly from Nova. – LC 0 5 25 75 95 100 roject-label ust 16, 2021 2:10:17PM Nova Beer Project BREAKAWAY HOPPY PALE ALE (4.8%ABV) 3.9 This is the third release from the “one time only” contract brewer, and it’s another goodie. A pale ale with added mango and granadilla puree, it’s a beer that quickly slaps awake the olfactories. As well as the expected mango and granadilla, there’s litchi here and some pineapple – a veritable tropical breakfast juice of a beer. In fact, the aroma reminded me of one of my favourite styles on Earth, the Brazilian Catarina Sour with its added tropical fruits. Tropic Fiction is an interesting beer, with the additional fruit offering a tartness that some will perhaps find a little confusing. It’s almost like it is bridging a gap between a juicy, hazy pale ale and a fruited sour. That’s not to say that it is sour as such, but there is an undeniable tartness here. Unlike Jump’s medal- winning Extra Hoppy Lager, this probably wouldn’t do well in a competition since it doesn’t quite fit into a category. But it does fit nicely into my fridge and I really enjoyed it, finding it interesting (in a good way) and refreshing. I suspect not everyone will agree and that’s just fine – that’s the marvellous thing about craft beer. Keep sipping and you’re bound to find something you love. – LC Jump Brewing TROPIC FICTION (5.1%ABV) 3.7 www.brewcraft.co.za Contact us for the Worlds Finest Craft Brewing, Distilling, Wine & Cheese Making Products and Ingredients. LiquidCulture Your next brew is our passion!