OnTap Magazine

CEDERBERG BREWERY JACK BLACK BREWRING COMPANY CEDERBERG ORIGINAL LAGER | 4.5% ABV JACK BLACK FRESH HOP IPA | 5.1% ABV 4.0 4.0 This delicious lager earned a gold medal at the 2023 South African National Beer Trophy and from the first pour you can see why. There are gentle aromas of grains and the slightest hint of hops. The balance leans towards malty sweetness, but without overwhelming the crispness of the bittering hops. An easy drinking, thirst-quenching beer for a hot day. The Fresh Hop IPA simply bursts with tropical fruit aromas. A fresh hop aroma has many descriptions from dank to fresh-cut grass, however you perceive it, what it does in this beer is reign in the aromas into a very pleasant drinking experience. There is a solid backbone of malt sweetness, which helps add a velvety, yet crisp mouthfeel, but not overpowering the hops. Instead, the malts seem to elevate the fresh Southern Passion hop to be the star of the show. This beer evolves yearly, but seldom disappoints. 3.8 400 BREWING COMPANY HARAMBE BLACK IPA | 8% ABV 4 3 I am bewildered by the fact that I still to this day have not come across a bad variant of Harambe. As a result, I am always excited when another is coming out and I strive to ensure I get my hands on one (or five). The latest variant named "Reanimation" is possibly the best one I've had to date, but that is up for debate as I truly have enjoyed them all. There is a light ash aroma with melon that comes though initially, which is followed by plum and papaya and some molasses sweetness. For the flavour, resinous hop notes with a molasses type of sweetness gives this beer a slightly sweet finish, but before that, plum and melon come through again with a light dark coffee that assists with the bitterness. A smooth and mildly creamy drink that goes down like a treat that any craft beer lover will enjoy. ontapmag.co.za | Winter 2024 | 59