OnTap Magazine

BREWER'S DOZEN Beer people understand that beer is a perfect companion to food thanks to the huge variety of flavours and textures displayed by different styles. The more people that understand this, the better the chance that beer will take its rightful place in the culinary world. So invite friends and family around and get a special beer – something which pairs well with the food through complementing or contrasting flavours and textures – to serve with the dinner. We’ve all had the misfortune of getting a bad beer, whether it’s at a restaurant, bar or in a bottle from the liquor store. Unfortunately this does happen - and the reasons for it are varied. If you do get a bad beer, then please contact the brewer to tell them. Most breweries will be grateful for this feedback. Tell the brewer where you got the beer, when you got the beer, what format (bottle/tap) and what the problem was. Be specific about the problem. This doesn’t mean you need to give the brewer a full sensory analysis of the beer, but don’t just tell them the beer sucked. Constructive feedback is easy to give and you will be doing your part to make the beer scene in South Africa a better place. NEW BEER'S RESOLUTION 10 HOST A FOOD AND BEER PAIRING NEW BEER'S RESOLUTION 11 DO A BREWERS PILGRIMAGE NEW BEER'S RESOLUTION 12 GIVE PROPER FEEDBACK TO A BREWER NEW BEER'S RESOLUTION 09 USE WOOD IN YOUR BEER Wood and beer can be the best of friends, whether it’s a barrel- aged barley wine, a light woody note in a stout, or the added complexity wood brings to a mixed culture sour beer. There are various options available to both home brewers and commercial brewers for introducing wood flavours into beer. Barrels are the ultimate, with the complex interaction between beer, barrel and environment, but these are not always appropriate or accessible for each brewer. Other options include wooden staves, chips or blocks which can be added to the fermenter. If you are looking to do some wood ageing I would advise reading up about contact times (wood flavour can easily become overwhelming) and how best to limit potential contamination if you are not producing a sour beer. Beer is intrinsically linked to geography. Cities around the world where particular styles developed are typically still home to a special celebration or general sense of appreciation for that style. Examples include Guinness in Dublin, Pilsner in Plzen, Altbier in Dusseldorf and so on. Visiting these places deepens your appreciation for the style and beer in general, and is a fun lure to take you to a place you may never have visited otherwise. 13 Michigan Street, Airport Industria, Cape Town 7490, South Africa T: +27 21 385 0483 | F: +27 86 719 2632 | E: info@dematechsa.com www.dematechsa.com • 60 liters Micro-Brewery • 304 ss water tank + 304 ss basket • Double 304 ss false bottom • 304 ss over flow pipe + removable 304 ss curve pipe. • Step mashing program PCB & LCD screen with memory function. • 304 ss false bottom connect pipe • 304 ss basket handle • Industrial magnetic drive pump • Glass cover with ss handle • 220V-240V/50hz/3000W DEMATECH IS A TURN-KEY SOLUTION PROVIDER TO THE CRAFT BEER AND SOFT DRINK INDUSTRY OFFERING EVERYTHING FROM BREWING EQUIPMENT TO BOTTLING LINES AND PROCUREMENT SERVICES PRICE: R11,800 Excl VAT