OnTap Magazine

T he question I get asked the most is, "How was your trip to the United States?" and my standard response, with a reminiscent smile on my face, is: "It was amazing." I really dowish I could elaborate further, but there is simply no way to describe the heightened emotions and the aura that come with attending the Great American Beer Festival (GABF). Similar to most things American, it's bigger and louder than other beer festivals around the world. It has most of the well known American craft beer brands and a range of their beers to choose from. I could go on and on, highlighting some impressive stats, but I'd rather leave you with my own synopsis that there are too many amazing beers to drink in such a short amount of time. It's every beer nerd's dream to attend, and I got to realise this dream in September of this year. I was the first South African to be invited to judge at the GABF in the event’s 40-year history. (The process of being invited requires some patience and a good list of references; I had made friends with a Brewers Association representative a few years ago and he helped me with introductions and a referral.) I got to sit alongside some of my beer heroes and the legends whose books I consumed when I first started homebrewing: Stan Hieronomys, Randy Mosher, Gordon Strong – and Sam Callagione was there too! Recognise those names? You really should if you want a beer nerd score of 8 Lupulons. I also got to meet a few incredible brewers and founders from some iconic craft breweries: Russian River, Firestone Walker, 21st Amendment, Weldwerks, Left Hand, Sierra Nevada, Dogfish Head, Three Floyds, Great Divide, and Odell to name just a few. My last – and perhaps most meaningful – realisation from attending the GABF is that it might be the biggest beer festival serving the best craft beer in the world, but it really pales in comparison to attending a small dorpie beer festival with some of your best mates. Yes I said it. I missed you guys and gals. And to me, the most important thing about craft beer and beer festivals is drinking with your buddies. Because if you drink a beer at a festival but no one is around to see it, did you even drink the beer? OT: Can you tell us about the European Beer Star in a few sentences? AN: The European Beer Star is one of the most renowned beer competitions in the beer industry which aims to celebrate beer styles, mainly of European origin, brewed anywhere in the world. The second edition of the competition was held on the 14th and 15th of September at the Nuremberg Trade Fair in Germany. Over 140 beer experts from all over the world gathered to evaluate the 2356 registered beers. The awards ceremony and Winners’ Night are to take place on November 29, 2023, during BrauBeviale. OT: Was this your first time attending? AN: This was my second time being invited to judge; last year I couldn’t attend due to visa issues. I ended up attending Drinktec in Munich for the awards night. So this year was my first time getting to judge the beers and really experience the European Beer Star competition – and I was really impressed. A SOUTH AFRICANWALKS INTOTHE GREAT AMERICAN BEER FESTIVAL… THE EUROPEAN BEER STAR AND FLYINGTHE SOUTH AFRICAN FLAG TROYE MAY Q&A WITH APIWE NXUSANI-MAWELA David Castro, Lottle Peplow and Troye May at the GABF European Beer Star - Judging in action ontapmag.co.za | Summer 2023 | 29