OnTap Magazine

BREW REVIEWS REVIEWERS: Lucy Corne (LC), Megan Gemmell & Dion van Huyssteen (MG & DvH), Thandi Guilherme (TG), Jaco Hamilton-Attwell (JHA), Matthew Hurst (MH) The beer is slightly hazy, which is a problem for a pale lager, but you are quickly pulled away from small flaws when you stick your nose into the glass. The aroma smacks of bread and spice with floral notes and a touch of bergamot. On the palate, the aromas are echoed, filling the palate and leaving you with a light but firm grip of bitterness. This is not a big beer; this is the beer that slakes your immediate end-of-workday thirst, but it definitely has a few moves that standard pale lagers have yet to learn. Bullish Pilsner has a finish that immediately makes you want more, leaving you with light floral notes to remind you of the beer you just sipped. 3.8/5 JHA – tasted from the bottle. Operating since 2009 but now under new management, 1000 Hills Brewing Co. has had a total rebrand and with the new labels comes a range of completely new beers. Some show hints of the original Quills, yet with new owner Trevor Maarschalk’s own twist; others are completely new. The FES , or Foreign Exchange Student (each of the beers is named for a character you’ll find in school), is a 9% Belgian dark strong ale and the biggest beer in the range. As you pour, you’re immediately hit with sweet alcohol and dark fruit aromas, reminiscent of dark Christmas cake. The foam dissipates rapidly, and swirling the glass produces legs that warn you of its strength. Caramel dominates the first sip, with more subtle dark fruits and alcohol warmth coming through. The complex flavours make this a delicious sipping beer, perfect for a cold winter evening. The bitterness is not pronounced, but is strong enough to prevent the beer becoming too cloying. Our only real complaint about this beer is that the carbonation is a touch low, leaving it feeling very full-bodied. But it’s still the perfect beer for those who enjoy a strong and complex ale. 3.6/5. MG & DvH – tasted from the bottle. The latest in CBC’s Brewer’s Reserve range was hotly awaited in our household, for I am definitely westward-leaning when it comes to IPAs. The gorgeous label harbours an equally gorgeous beer, which pours a perfectly glimmering hue of burnished gold. Each time you sniff, it seems you pick up something different. Look for freshly peeled oranges, slightly underripe mangoes, hints of grapefruit and a subtle whiff of toffee. Flavour-wise, there’s marmalade and a touch of toffee, giving way to a clean, crisp bitterness that splashes across the palate and sticks around a while. You won’t find masses of hop flavour – but then I could always do with more – but the bitterness is spot on and leaves you ready for more after each sip. 3.5/5 LC – tasted from the bottle. Impi’s pilsner pours vibrant gold and crystal clear. The nose is fairly neutral, with slight bready notes. The upfront flavour is clean with a good malt backbone, ending off with very pleasant balanced bitterness. This beer is sessionable, but still flavourful and could easily become a staple in my fridge. 3.7/5 TG – tasted on tap at the brewery. Bullish Craft Beer Contract brewed by The Italian Job BULLISH PILSNER (4.5%) 1000 Hills Brewing Co. The FES (9%) Cape Brewing Co. CBC WEST COAST IPA (6.5%) Impi Brewing Co. WARRIOR PILSNER (4.2%) BREW NEWS 66 | Winter 2018 | ontapmag.co.za