Master German brews to quench mighty thirsts
THE Munich Oktoberfest draws millions of people into its colourful carnival of beer and Bavarian culture every year.
From far and wide a human tide descends onto the Theresienwiese with a thirst that can only be quenched by over 7.5 million litres of beer: somebody has to brew it.
To get a better sense of this beautiful madness, we sat down with someone who’s seen it from the other side – Wolfgang Koedel, a picture-perfect German Master Brewer who’s made his home (and his internationally acclaimed beer) on our sunny continent for over 18 years, all while sharing his knowledge and passion with a generation of home and craft brewers, and by now even passionate brewery owners.
What does it take to become a Brewmaster, is it in your blood?
“I was put on the path by my father. I would love to say I come from a long generation of Master Brewers, I think I come from long generations of beer drinkers. I was sent to the brewery because every brewer received 14 cases of beer per month for free, he loved beer and I fell in love with beer making. It’s an amazing, rewarding product and that’s the reason I’m a Master Brewer. You start with an apprenticeship, then five years’ practice, then two years at an academy or at university, so in total it takes you 10 years to become a Master Brewer. You start from the bottom, work hard and are not afraid to get your hands dirty, so you can lead by example wherever you brew in the world.”
What brought you all the way to South Africa?
“I obviously started in Germany and I always wanted to go abroad. Actually, as a little kid I read books about the Shark Control Board in Durban and funnily enough after opening breweries all over the world, I reached Cape Town 18 years ago, my dream destination. I fell in love with the country and its people and made it my home, so now you can’t get rid of me.”
How do you make quality beer?
“I always try to teach our staff that learning never ends and that the most important factors for beer brewing are ingredients, passion and discipline: you never take shortcuts, you don’t add anything which isn’t part of the purity law from 1516, which is the oldest food law in the world, and you use only quality raw materials. Do it the right way and only the right way. In our brewing business, team work coupled with trust is the key.”
What’s it like brewing for Oktoberfest?
“I worked many years for the third largest brewery in Bavaria which supplies the actual Oktoberfest Bier in Munich, so I was brewing that Oktoberfest Bier for over 10 years and it is special that we can give SA that special beer. I have very old recipes of Oktoberfest Bier and my brewers always try to top it. This year they might really beat me in my home category of beer (laughs) and they make me so proud. Everyone can look forward to a very pleasant, tasty and easy drinking Oktoberfest Bier. Please join the occasion where all different cultures and nations come together to celebrate friendship and great beer. Cheers or Prost!”
It’s clear that Wolfgang takes as much pride in his crop of young South African Master-brewers-in-the-making as he does in his beers. You can get limited edition bottles of CBC’s Oktoberfest Beer at selected Tops at Spar stores while stocks last. Or you can taste it straight from the tap – get down to Suncoast August 31 and September 1 for the Tops at Spar Bierfest, proudly poured by CBC and in association with Independent on Saturday. – Staff Reporter