OnTap Magazine

Devil’s Peak has added another South African craft brand to its portfolio. Although details have only recently been released, the Cape-based brewery entered an equity deal with Eastern Cape brand St Francis Brewing Company earlier this year. “It all started at last year’s National Beer Trophy,” explains St Francis’ founder Lance Kabot. “Russell (Boltman, director at Devil’s Peak) noticed that our blonde ale had won and he had always liked the brand, having visited us a few times on holiday. He said they were looking for a coastal brand to add to the portfolio.” St Francis launched in December 2014 but quickly found that they couldn’t keep up with demand, at least during the busy summer season. “We needed thousands and thousands of litres in season and then we’d be quiet for four or five months,” Lance recalls. “During the quiet time, my summer market of holidaymakers and surfers had all gone back to Cape Town, Jo’burg and Pretoria and it made sense to contract brew and distribute to them there.” Lance started contract brewing at Woodstock Brewery in early 2016 but eventually found he wasn’t able to keep up with demand. “We were starting to struggle with distribution, says Lance, adding that this was one of the reasons a partnership with Devil’s Peak was so attractive. But it’s not all about logistics. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Devil’s Peak,” he says. “They’re not just all about business – they love the beer too and it’s nice to be working with people that are so into the product.” St Francis’ core brands – Beach Blonde, Wildside Session IPA, Storm Rider Stout, Kromme River Witbier and Lighthouse ESB – will be brewed to Lance’s recipes at Devil Peak’s Epping plant, with the bulk of the beer shipped to the coastal Eastern Cape town. Lance meanwhile will get to do what brewers love most – experiment on his 200-litre pilot brewery and create small- batch, limited edition beers to serve solely at his popular brewpub. “It’s been quite a crazy journey from where I started,” says Lance. “I would never have dreamed this is where it would all go.” DEVIL’S PEAK INVESTS IN ST FRANCIS BREWING CO. BREW NEWS In March, Woodstock-based Drifter Brewing Company offered their fans the chance to “drink your beer and own it too” when they launched an equity crowdfunding campaign. The goal was to raise R3 million by offering a 12% equity stake in the company. Shares were available at R1000 per share. “Through equity crowdfunding, we’re able to give our loyal customer base an opportunity to truly be a part of the company’s journey by owning the product they love,” said Drifter’s owner- brewer Nick Bush. “There is something really special about having investors that are just as loyal and passionate about the product as we are.” The campaign, which launched on March 26 on Uprise.Africa, South Africa’s equity crowdfunding platform, raised R1 million on its first day. The funds will be used to expand exports into Europe and Asia, to invest in an automated bottling line and eventually to open a chain of Drifter bars across South Africa. At the time On Tap went to press, the brewery had already exceeded its target of R3 million. DRIFTER LAUNCHES EQUITY CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN South Africa’s small and independent breweries have joined forces to form the Craft Brewers Association of South Africa (CBASA).  “This is a very exciting time for our industry,” says CBASA chairman Wolfgang Ködel of Cape Brewing Company. “Having brewers work together to accomplish shared goals is crucial to creating a great future for craft beer in South Africa.  Our objective is to create passionate beer lovers, grow craft beer market share and help small brewers achieve economies of scale.” CBASA has established three functional teams to grow craft beer:  public affairs, to engage government on how the craft beer industry benefits society; promotion, to educate drinkers and spread the word about great beer; and production, to help brewers make the best beer they can make and to optimise processes.  They have also created a working definition of a craft brewery:  • Independent - No partial ownership by a major international brewer with over 5% market share in SA.  • Traditional - At least 80% of production is beer derived from malted cereal grains. “The term ‘craft beer’ can sometimes be thrown around meaninglessly. We aim to help drinkers understand how supporting independent brewers helps build community and gives them better access to great beer,” says CBASA committee member Nick Smith from Soul Barrel Brewing.  Brewers wishing to join or learn more can get in touch at info@cbasa.org . Craft Brewers Association Of South Africa Officially Launches Nick from Drifter 12 | Winter 2018 | ontapmag.co.za