OnTap Magazine

KUILA LAGER (5% ABV) It’s no great secret that craft beer has a diversity problem, so it’s great to see the first coloured-owned beer brand launching in Cape Town. Kuila Lager is the debut beer from the new contract brand, Northern Bru. Deep gold and with a slight haze (it’s unfiltered), it’s certainly a more interesting brew than the average pale lager. Malt- forward and complex, the beer impresses with aromas of lightly toasted brown bread and a subtle herbaceous hop note. There’s a mouth-filling sweetness up front, but this quickly gives way to a lingering bitter finish. Rich and malty, it’s going to make a great food beer and I can imagine plenty of them getting sipped around the braai this summer. A quirky talking point is the ring pull bottle cap – unusual and at least in our household, rather tricky to master… - LC Northern Bru 3.7 If there’s one thing that Trevor Gerntholtz from Old Potter’s is known for, it’s his gregarious nature so it’s no surprise that the brewery’s latest release was a collab through and through. The recipe was put together by Stefan Wiswedel (Patiala), Olaf Morgenroth (Franschhoek), Mike Hallls (Feral) and of course Trevor himself, with the beer brewed on a rainy weekend in September with a dozen or so Cape brewers and beer lovers in attendance. So how did it turn out? It’s a refreshing, well-made and moreish beer that serves as a good intro to sour styles. Appelkoos kicks off with a great whiff of honey and a more subtle note of under ripe yellow plum (or perhaps apricot, since the recipe utilised 50kg of them). It doesn’t quite manage to capture the lactic sourness typical of the style but it’s certainly a fine summer sipper that will refresh on even the hottest of days. - LC Old Potter’s Brewhouse 3.6 APPELKOOS TROOS BERLINER WEISSE (4% ABV) The story behind this beer all stems from the alcohol ban brought on by the pandemic. You couldn’t sell beer but in the second ban at least, that didn't mean you couldn’t make it. Richmond Hill invited the local homebrew club to shelter in the brewery and join forces on this saison brewed with elderflower and orange peel. The aroma was floral as well as malty with a light citrus character, but a pear-like aroma took centre stage. The pear notes stem from the elderflower and they made for a really delicious treat of a drink. There’s light carbonation and minimal bitterness but it still makes for all-day refreshing beverage that would be best enjoyed during the South African heat. - BL Richmond Hill Brewing Company GIMME SHELTER ELDERFLOWER SAISON (6%ABV) 3.8