Much has been said about the crowds at the third We Love Real Beer Festival, so I won’t dwell on it. My biggest concern for the brewers in attendance was that when toilet queues take on epic proportions, people opt for the only way to guarantee not spending half the night waiting to wee – not drinking. And while I of course advocate moderation, it would have been a great pity to leave without having tried some of the new beers on the Cape Town block. Ale obsessives might well have tasted some of the recent additions before, but here are a few new reasons why we love local beer:
1. Van Hunks Pumpkin Ale
One of the greatest hits of the evening was Boston Breweries‘ fabulous, and to many, surprising, Van Hunks Pumpkin Ale. I’m losing count of the number of people who scoff at a pumpkin pie flavoured beer who later have to eat their words between sips of this awesome ale. If you haven’t tried it yet, try it. Beer lovers adore that there’s something out of the ordinary on the Cape Town scene, beer novices love its sweetness, foodies are baking with it and even the weak of bladder at local beer fests are sipping it as they wait in line for the loo.
2. Everson’s Cider
From pumpkin to pears, Everson’s was offering a beverage that, as far as I am aware, is totally unique in South Africa. Their pear cider is packed with fruity punch and while I’ve never been a pear cider person, I now have a couple of bottles in the fridge ready for when my post beer fest detox ends, even preferring it to the apple version.
3. Jack Black
If you’re not a fan of fruit in your booze, there were a duo of new offerings from Jack Black – a crisp and refreshing European Pilsner (I won’t mention the citrus notes, as we’re steering clear of fruit) and a pale ale that is dangerously easy to drink.
4. Southyeasters brewing demo
A great addition to the fest was the Homebrew Corner, where three Southyeasters spent the evening filling the Biscuit Mill with the aroma of bubbling wort as they brewed a “˜festivale’. I am, of course, utterly biased in this as I was helping to man the stand on a between-beers basis (read: using it to retreat from the throngs who kept spilling beer on me). Still, the number of people who were intrigued to know how the brew in their glass was made and how they might recreate it at home was overwhelming.
At the next WLRB – hopefully an equally popular, but less crowded event – I”˜d love to see Darling’s excellent Bone Crusher on tap, a few beers tailored to the gradually growing group of hopheads and Camelthorn’s stand right next to the Southyeasters’ brewing demo, so we can all cool down from the boil with a pint or three of Red American Ale.
We know what you disliked about WLRB, but what were the high points of the fest for you? Please let us know in the comments below.
