OnTap Magazine

62 | Summer 2024 | ontapmag.co.za AFRICA BREW 2024 1 3 NOVEMBER 2024 A frica Brew is a vibrant, weekend-long craft brewers' conference that takes place in South Africa every November. This annual event is designed to bring together home and commercial brewers from across the country in a dynamic and enjoyable setting where participants can exchange ideas, learn new techniques, and refine their brewing skills. Each year, a different town hosts the conference, with a local brewery taking center stage as the event’s host. This brewery is entrusted with crafting the signature "Africa Brew” beer to be served over the conference weekend. Starting with a basic IPA recipe, the host brewery adds its own flair, creating a brew that is distinctive and often using ingredients unique to the area or to the brewery itself. Proceeds from the sale of Africa Brew IPA are donated to a charity chosen by the host brewery, ensuring that the event not only celebrates craft beer, but also contributes positively to the local community. AfricaBrewwas conceived in2016byElbieLouwandMeganGemmell, who at the time, recognized the lack of cross-province knowledge sharing in the brewing community. The inaugural event was held at Dog & Fig Brewery in Parys; it attracted over 50 attendees and featured workshops and talks by some of the top minds in the brewing industry. Throughout the weekend, workshops and presentations cater to everyone from beginners to seasoned brewers looking to enhance their craft. Evenings are dedicated to socializing and sharing brews, fostering a sense of community as participants gather around the braai to talk all things beer. The weekend also features a Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) judging session, offering homebrewers the opportunity tocompetewiththeirexperimentalbrewsandreceivevaluablefeedback. Africa Brew: where passion, creativity, and camaraderie converge to celebrate the art of brewing in a supportive and inspiring environment. Bottle share Dean Langkilde, winner of the Homebrewer's Comp Claire Buys and Khensani Mothomogolo Dion van Huyssteen and Trevor Maarschalk