OnTap Magazine

ontapmag.co.za | Summer 2024 | 39 B rad Bergh is a familiar face on the South African beer scene. Formerly a rep with Devil’s Peak, he’s a staunch supporter of the industry and a permanent fixture at beer launches and festivals. So it was no great surprise when he started his own beer brand in 2022. But this isn’t just any brand, and it isn’t just about the beer. The Candy Cane Project is a charity beer initiative that helps a cause very close to Brad’s heart. “The beer is named for my sister, Candice, who sadly passed away from leukaemia,” says Brad. “I wanted to do something to remember her; something that we both loved. We loved going to breweries together and creating events for people to enjoy, and so The Candy Cane Project was born.” CELEBRATING STRENGTH Brad launched the project in 2022 with a double IPA brewed at Shackleton Brewing Company in Cape Town. “I wanted a beer to represent her battle,” says Brad. “The DIPA is meant to represent her strength during her fight. And for fun, we used candi sugar [a sugar product often used in traditional Belgian beer styles] to try and represent the candy cane, which was her nickname. Sure, it’s a bit of a gimmick, but it’s symbolic.” The beer was launched at an evening event at Shackleton that August, with all proceeds going towards those battling cancer. “That first batch sold out in three hours and that was when I thought we might be on to something,” says Brad. He decided to make the beer an annual release, with a follow-up batch of the Candy Cane DIPA launching in November 2023. Since the initial launch, The Candy Cane Project has grown to include a range of merch, and the audience has grown beyond the core craft beer industry drinkers. “By the start of this year I realised that if we were going to grow this thing, we needed a beer with wider appeal,” says Brad. And that’s how a collaboration with Devil’s Peak was born. The Devil’s Peak collab brought more than new supporters – it also brought a new idea. When the beer launched in Pretoria, Devil’s Peak worked with local running group Die Vuilhonde to organise a community run in support of the brand. “There were 145 participants,” says Brad. “It was amazing and this is something I really want to pursue. My sister and I often did runs together, so it makes a lot of sense. My goal now is to create a large- scale running event once a year. I think this is a way we can really raise a lot of funds.” GROWING THE PROJECT Those funds will be allocated not to a major organisation, but to individuals battling cancer, specifically those who are struggling financially. “The government covers a largeportionof cancer treatment, but there are a lot of people that still can’t afford to cover the rest, so we want to try and help those individuals,” says Brad. “The financial strain just adds extra stress so if we can try to alleviate that, I feel like we’ve done something important. We are just getting started and so far we’ve helped one person. She is now in full recovery.” But there are big plans to grow the project and to continue helping many more people. Brad is currently busy registering The Candy Cane Project as a non-profit organization. He is expanding the Candy Cane merchandise range and is mapping out collaboration brews with breweries around South Africa for 2025, including another Devil’s Peak Candy Cane beer for Valentine’s Day. There’s even an international collaboration on the cards. Closer to home, the annual Fools & Fans run will be a Candy Cane fundraiser next year and hopefully by the end of 2025, Brad will have set up a full- scale running event designed to benefit those battling cancer. BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER The 2024 annual release launched late November, as usual at Shackleton Brewing Company, and if you’re lucky, this time it will have lasted more than three hours. “We’ve actually brewed two beers for this year’s release,” says Brad. “An old school West Coast IPA, and a hoppy lager, and there are plans to keep the hoppy lager as a permanent fixture so that people can keep supporting year- round.” It is testament to the local craft beer industry – and to Brad’s popularity within it – that the Candy Cane beers and merch continue to sell out at record speeds and Brad is happy that the project has united those who enjoy a good beer. “A big part of me and my sister’s relationship was bringing people together,” says Brad. “We enjoyed every moment, big or small, and many of those moments involved a beer. This was the best way to honour her, while doing a bit of good.” THE CANDY CANE PROJECT HOWTO HELP Buy beers and merch online at candycaneproject.co.za . Make online donations on the Candy Cane website. Attend Candy Cane launches and bring your friends. Follow, like and share: @candy_cane_project Brad and his sister Candice Brad Bergh gets ready for brew day at Devil's Peak