OnTap Magazine

BILTONG AND BEER, THE PERFECT PAIRING WAGYU DROËWORS AND MOUNTAIN BREWING COMPANY’S TEMPLAR ENGLISH IPA HONEY GLAZED BILTONGMIX AND RICHMOND HILL BREWING COMPANY’S 2 RANDMAN FATTIES AND JACK BLACK’S CAPE PALE ALE Wagyu droëwors is soft, velvety and mouth-coating. The first bite is an explosion of rich flavours. The moment you pick up the Templar, which has a soft and balanced bitterness, the aroma is heightened by the salt in the meat. The effect is not only one-way, because as the bitterness from the beer cuts through the richness of the meat, it also enhances some spices that was masked by the quality of the beef. The wors enhances the crisp nature of the beer. A very good pairing. This experience suggests this beer will also pair very well with a fatty tjop. The beer has a slight “breadiness” and very pleasant caramel on the nose. The moment you pop a handful of honey glazed biltong in your mouth, some of which has a touch of chilli added, that malty nose softens and brings out the creaminess in the beer. What is more, is that the creaminess seems to embed the flavours so that there is no one distinguishable characteristic, but a dose of complimenting layers. The bold hoppiness from this classic pale ale off-sets the fatty texture of the biltong fatties. (The fatties are probably only 10% meat per bite.) The spices on this variety of biltong brings out depth of flavours from the hops, not obvious when drunk by itself. A very good marriage of flavours. BEER MEETS FOOD By Anél Du Preez and Nicolas Burger In this addition Anél De Preez and Nicolas Burger pairs a variety of biltong with some new and regular craft beers. With Heritage Day approaching and South Africa (hopefully) in the full gloriousness of Spring, it is the perfect time to try this pairing. FOOD PAIRING MOUNTAINBREWING COMPANY RICHMOND HILL BREWING COMPANY JACK BLACK’S 54 | Spring 2023 | ontapmag.co.za