Craft booze gains traction

LUTHO PASIYA

THE craft beer lifestyle in South Africa has seen significant growth and popularity in recent years.

The industry has made it possible for even non-beer drinkers to enjoy a more flavourful drink, with little or none of the bitterness we have become accustomed to with the usual beer, and more fruity notes.

The lower alcohol volume in some craft beers also means you can enjoy more beer, especially as the holidays draw near. Who would have thought that a pumpkin flavoured beer would work?

For a more crisp and refreshing taste – apple, citrus and cherry beers are always a good option and they are perfect for those long, hot days.

While many first dismissed craft beer as a hipster fascination, it has POURING the perfect pint is part science and part art. Components such as foam and the type of glassware used both impact final taste of the beer.

To understand how to pour the perfect beer, we need to understand the role each component plays:

FOAM

Beer is naturally carbonated, which means that there are minuscule bubbles of carbon dioxide that form during the fermentation process. Once the beer is formed, this gas is released and forms bubbles, which in turn help form the foam, or the head of your beer.

If poured correctly, this foam plays a vital role in the taste of your beer. It’s made up of millions of tiny bubbles filled with the scent of your beer, which are delivered straight to your nose the second your lips touch the glass. This makes the beer taste even better. steadily become the beer of choice for many.

Brewers like Shaun Standeaven of the Alverstone, KwaZulu-Natal-based The Standeaven Brewery, have seen more people become fans of craft beer in recent years.

Standeaven started brewing beer eight years ago after returning from abroad. “After working abroad as a chef, I saw how there were so many options for people to drink, including a number of craft beers.”

That was then. More than eight years later there are a number of brewers across the province and there is also a brew route in KwaZulu-Natal, which is expected to become another tourism node for the province.

However, even with the boom and popularity of craft beer, the economy is hitting the industry

GLASSWARE

You might believe there’s no such thing as the perfect beer glass, but according to Anton Erasmus, Trade Brewer at SAB, there is. “A slightly roughened surface at the base of a glass allows for the carbon dioxidefilled hard. Speaking to brewmaster, Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela, she said the craft beer industry is going through some tough times with a few breweries closing down, being sold or merging.

“Some may say the ‘craft bubble’ has burst making it quite difficult for not so well-established brands to survive. I believe it is a self correction stage and those who survive this year or next year will come out stronger and with much better quality beers,” she said.

If you are new to craft beer, you may be overwhelmed by all the different beer choices you will find at any local brewery, but do not worry, we are here to get you started on your craft beer journey.

What are the current trends? What are the dos and don’ts of cooking with beer?

Below is a quick guide.