Fun times brewing all over the show

The Richmond Hill Brewing Company, which was initially situated near the Beeryard in Cooper Street, Richmond Hill, has recently expanded and relocated to 102 Upper Valley Road in the Baakens Valley. The brewery currently produces the Car Park John, which is an amber ale, at R25. It is in the process of introducing other craft beers too, such as the Two Rand Man, an Irish red ale. Tours of the facility are available by arrangement. The brewery opens at noon and closes late from Tuesdays until Sundays.

Bridge Street Brewery, at 1 Bridge Street, Brickmakers Kloof, is home to the award-winning Celtic Cross Pilsner. It has three other craft beers too: the Boar’s Head best bitter, Black Dragon double chocolate stout and the Valley Light pure brewed lager. There are also two craft ciders on offer: the Bowman Natural cider and the Pink Lady Perry pear cider. Prices range from R22 for all 330ml bottles to R30 for 500ml bottles. Operational hours are from 11am until 1am.

Dockside Brewery, brainchild of third generation brewmaster Karl Schlaphoff and his wife, Jane, offers a wide selection of interesting artisan beers. This small brewery at the Grand Hotel in Belmont Terrace is big on taste. The beers available include the Blood, Sweat and Tears, a Belgian-style ale at R29 for a 440ml bottle. Then there’s an African-style Indian pale ale called African IPA at R25 for a 440ml bottle and Patience, an English and American hybrid session ale, at R23 for a 440ml bottle, to name a few. Operational hours are 9am until 5pm, Mondays to Fridays.

The Rat and Parrot in Grahamstown is a perfect pitstop for craft beer lovers who find themselves in the city. The pub at 59 New Street serves a range of craft beers, with one being locally produced and the rest coming from the Western Cape. The Feather Stone Golden Mole Indian pale ale, brewed by locals Mark and Clare, is a deep golden coloured ale with pronounced hop flavour and aroma, and a significant, but not overwhelming, bitterness. It is popular with the locals and comes at a cost of R34 for a 500ml draught on tap. Other drinks, all in 500ml draughts, include the Jack Black brewers’ lager which costs R31, Dragon Fiery Ginger at R39 and the CBC Amber Weiss at R34. Operational hours are 11am until midnight from Monday to Thursday, 11am to 2am on Friday and Saturday, and 11am until 10pm on Sunday.

Here are a few other places also worth checking out:

The Little Brewery on the River at 20 Wharf Street, Port Alfred, opens from 9am until 5pm Monday to Friday. The brewery on the bank of the Kowie River has three distinctive beers – the Kowie gold pilsner, Coin Ale and Squire’s Porter all at R45 per litre.

The St Francis Bay Brewing Company at 167 St Francis Drive serves craft brews such as the Wildside Indian pale ale, Light House ale, Storm Rider stout, Beach Blonde light and Kromme River witbier. Hours are noon until 11pm Monday to Sunday, closed on Tuesdays.

Enjoy a cold one on the deck at the Beeryard at 1 Cooper Street, Richmond Hill, from noon to midnight, Monday to Saturday. Contact (041) 582-2444. Alternatively pay a visit to its sister pub, the Beershack, at the Dolphin’s Leap Centre. The Beershack is open from 11am to 1am, Monday to Sunday.

Company Social Brasserie at 49 Beach Road, Humewood, offers craft draughts such as the Jack Black lager, Fransen No 3 red ale and Sowetan Gold. Hours are 7.30am to 2am Monday to Sunday.

The Bru Bar at 161 Heugh Road, Walmer, is another good craft beer spot.

Source: The Herald