OnTap Magazine

R ain. Lots of it. A positive deluge. It’s the WortHogs Summer Beer Festival, which was scheduled earlier this year to take advantage of the fine weather in March. Oh well, never mind. I am one of the 39 homebrewers who are serving 71 different beers to over 600 craft beer-loving folk who descend upon the Farm Inn just outside Pretoria. There is something for everyone this year, from Double IPAs to Irish Stouts, fruit beers and cider and, of course, a sprinkling of those mad experimental beers that can only ever be contemplated in 25-litre batches. Basil and buchu anyone? (It was actually very good). The trick at these events is to connect up all your John Guest fittings early and then wander around tasting as many different beers as you can before the gates open and you are required to pour your beer. Some delicious Irish red ales, Righteous Brewing’s IPA on nitro, Hammertime’s coffee porter, WALDT’s smoked IPA and Chopper One Brewing’s Schwarzbier stood out for me in early tasting. Back to pouring beer. I’ve brought a German pilsner and a Rye IPA this year, both of which seem to be well-received. There’s a slight suspicion that the pilsner is proving most popular amongst the new initiates to the craft beer world who are taking their first tentative steps beyond Castle Lite – no matter, it’s appreciated just the same. I’ve also been part of a three-man collaborative brew of a once-popular historic beer, Kentucky Common, which never re-emerged after prohibition in the United States. Unable to find decent flaked maize or grits for an authentic recipe, we used half a kilo of popcorn in the mash which surprisingly contributed to a half-decent beer. The rain sweeps in again and the tent is packed in scenes reminiscent of penguins standing huddled together in Antarctica, but nothing can dampen the collective spirit of bonhomie. Brewcraft, our most generous sponsor, have gone all out with the St Patrick’s Day theme and are resplendent in green wigs dispensing dubiously coloured beers and shooters from their stand. I’m off tasting again, and Marsden’s Aztec Hot Chocolate is superb. Our BJCP judges have been busy again this year – and so to the prizes. Mike Heydenrych takes first place for his excellent NEIPA (check out his recipe on page 63) with Micholl Thom winning the People’s Choice award with an outstanding gose. As festivities draw to a close and kegs finally run dry, it’s been another great year for this event which grows ever more popular and showcases some of the best home brewed beers in South Africa. And the sun has come out. For more on the WortHogs, check out worthogbrewers.co.za . WORTHOGS SUMMER BEER FESTIVAL There is something for everyone including mad experimental beers that can only ever be contemplated in 25-litre batches. EVENT RECAP Nick Grenfell Stop laughing and help me with these beers He’s rocking out while she quietly sips her beer 24 | Winter 2018 | ontapmag.co.za