OnTap Magazine

Cheers! Joya GUEST EDITOR From The (Guest) Editor W hen I was 22-years old, my older brother dragged me into a small craft brewery in our university town. He informed me that he was tired of my “beer ignorance” (at the time I thought beer was a monolithic beverage of the Bud Light-variety), and we were going to do a tasting. I immediately fell in love with the darkest beer I sipped–some kind of German co ee stout, from what I can recall–and that was it. A deepened understanding of the sheer range and possibility of beer, and my love for it, was born. Since then I have learned that beyond the product is the community it so often fosters. My rst piece for On Tap described how craft beer had provided that community for myself and my husband after moving to Cape Town, shortly before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Strangers o ered to propagate yeast for my homebrew saison, invited us to gra ti tours in support of the industry, or gave us a urry of brewing tips across the bar. Many of those strangers we now consider “beer family.” is opportunity–to guest edit an issue of OnTap– has meant further engaging with the incredible individuals who bring life to this industry. It has also allowed me to explore a fundamental question I have, which is: how can beer give back? As you will read in the pages of this issue, ancient beer had spiritual associations and purpose–often channeled through women–and can be traced to cultures around the world. Beer belongs to no one, and everyone. How then, I wonder, can beer be used to foster connection? How can the industry both learn from and re ect a multiplicity of stories and experience: a reminder to the world that beer is anything but a monolith. It is an honour and a privilege to contribute to thismagazine that LucyCorne, Andrew omas, and Rachel Du Plessis have visioned, built and grown so beautifully. Working with Craig Claassen, my co-guest editor, has been a delight–our WhatsApp messages infused with support, ideas, and enthusiasm have been many! en again, I wouldn’t expect anything less from a fellow believer in beer, and its potential to bring people together. ontapmag.co.za | Winter 2023 | 1