OnTap Magazine

Salt River based Shackleton Brewing Company has become the first brewery in Africa to make a beer using water from Antarctic ice. The brew involved collaboration from Bevplus/Dematech, UCT Oceanography Department, Antarctic Legacy and SEAmester. Shackleton’s Steve Peel was deeply inspired by a research trip to Antarctica, with his brand paying homage to the ultimate polar explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton. He approached UCT’s Oceanography department to participate in the project. The ice cores were drilled and collected from an untouched region of the Weddell Sea - SA Agulhas 2 is only the second ship to visit the region since Shackleton’s Endurance sank in 1915. The cores are sampled in one-metre lengths and drilled to a depth of up to 10m. Ice cores hold valuable records aboutthephysicalandbiochemicalstate of the Antarctic Ocean. Understanding these conditions help scientists make more accurate predictions about future climate changes. “We started by gathering the ice cores from the UCT Oceanography laboratories and swiftly transporting them to the brewery,” says Steve. “It was here that we melted them down and immediately sent the water for testing. The results were fascinating and we were particularly surprised to see how saline the cores actually were given that sea ice expels a large amount of salt during the freezing stage.” The water then went through a reverse osmosis process before brewing began. The beer, called "The Icebreaker", is a reinvention of Shackleton’s popular Kölsch. There was a strong focus on sustainability, so organic Weyermann malts were used along with the water from the Antarctic ice cores. The extremely limited edition beer, which has been dry hopped with Smaragd, will be available in 750ml champagne bottles available at the launch on 31 January at Shackleton's taproom. Pre-sales will go live at the start of 2020. Each bottle comes packaged in a collector’s box with a vial of pure Antarctic ice water and an info sheet about the project and partners involved. BEER USING ANTARCTIC ICE CORES Dematech brewer Jan Kaserer and Shackleton's Steve Peel get ready to brew Drilling for ice cores in Antarctica It took four years for the idea to come to fruition, but First 15 Brewhouse is now up and running in central Johannesburg. Old school friends Phumlani Khulu, Kgotso Mokhatle and Langa Ntloko are behind the venture, whose name harks back to their rugby-playing days. The core range features Golden Giraffe lager, City Light blonde ale and Black Wood – a rotating dark beer that could be anything from a simple dry stout to a robust Amarula porter. The taproom serves food and the team are also developing a selection of beer cocktails. A distillery is also on its way. --------------------------------------- Buffels Brewery is the latest addition to the North West’s beer scene. The Kroondal brewpub serves light meals alongside their lager and weissbier. The lager has been four years in the making, with brewer Hattie Albers perfecting the recipe in his garage before going pro. The family-friendly taproom is open from Thursday to Saturday. --------------------------------------- After a long wait for the licence, Lunar Brew is now open in Elgin. The brewery is based at the very popular Hickory Shack, so you can guarantee some fine Texan BBQ while sipping on small-batch brews. Brewers Carel Van Aswegen and Craig Claassen launched with two beers in the core range – a Texan brown ale and a hoppy blonde – with two more rotating taps always pouring something interesting. --------------------------------------- Paternoster Brewery began life as a contract brand but their impressive new facility in the West Coast town was due to open as On Tap went to press. A honey porter will join the current line-up of pilsner and Weiss, all served in an airy, contemporary restaurant setting.. SHACKLETON BREWING COMPANY AND BEVPLUS/DEMATECH BREW NEWBREWERIES UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT Yng Gns Brewery has launched in KZN with a core range of three beers. Taking over the premises from the now defunct Scavenger Brewery in Assagay, Yng Gns is the brainchild of Sam Clark. There’s no taproom at present, but the Session Ale, APA and IPA are available in 440ml bottles at local liquor stores. 14 | Summer 2019 | ontapmag.co.za