OnTap Magazine

UMQOMBOTHI BREWING COMPETITION 2023 RESULTS FROMTHE SOUTH AFRICANNATIONAL BEER TROPHY WP CUP AND HOMEBREW FESTIVAL The Umqombothi Brewing Competition held its fourth installment of their annual competition on the 30th of September 2023 in Thembisa. The event winner was 25-year-old Tsholofelo Senwelo from Hammanskraal; she was crowned Queen of Umqombothi 2023 and awarded R5,000. In second and third place were Diketso Naledzan and Nonzwakazi Modise respectively. This year saw 80 entries to the competition – although participation was restricted to Gauteng residents – which was an increase on previous years. The event was hosted by Fika Mokwana, Secretary General of Ekurhuleni Tourism and Heritage Association (ETHA), and sponsors included Tolokazi Beer Co., Mohope Premium, and King Korn. In addition to the prize money, the winner will be mentored by none other than Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela herself on the “art and business of brewing.” Senwelo will also get the opportunity to showcase her Umqombothi Brew as part of the Tolokazi team at the upcoming Clarens Craft Beer Festival and Capital Craft Beer Festival. For 2024, organizers plan on taking the competition to the national level. The South African National Beer Trophy (SANBT) convened in Cape Town on November 16, 2023. This awards event, in partnership with the Beer Association of South Africa, recognises “local excellence in the art of brewing.” When the SANBT began in 2015, only 65 beers were entered. This year that number exceeded 180 entries. The overall winner was 1000 Hills Brewing Company’s “The Foreign Exchange Student,” a Belgian ale described by the brewers as “a strong and dark brew, with a hint of caramel and toffee, mildly bittered with Perle and Fuggles hops”. Other winners included: • Best Light Beer: Jack Black Brewing Company’s “Brewers Lager” • Best Dark Beer: The Franschhoek Beer Company’s “The Stout” • Best Speciality Beer: 1000 Hills Brewing Company’s “The FES” • Best Hoppy Beer: Cape Brewing Company’s “CBC Pale Ale” • Best Red and Amber Beer: Richmond Hill Brewing Company’s “Two Rand Man Irish Red Ale” For the complete list of winners, go to https://sanbt.com Four of the Western Cape homebrew clubs competed at this Cup, hosted by Jack Black Brewing Co., alongside a homebrew festival with over 24 beers on tap. Coming in first was the Wijnland Homebrew Club, followed by the Helderberg Homebrew Club in second, and the North Yeasters Homebrew Club in third. The winning individual brewer was Ian Runnalls, with John Fontini coming in second, and Mark Haselhau in third. Fika Mokwana (L) and Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela (R) Individual WP Cup Winners - Ian Runnalls (M), John Fontini (L), Mark Haselhau (R) Tsholofelo Senwelo and supporters 14 | Summer 2023 | ontapmag.co.za