Beer: Mountain Weiss
Brewed by: Newland Spring
Type: Wheat Beer
After 2 weeks of lager lager lager in Tanzania and Kenya, the wider selection of beers offered in South Africa was much appreciated. But what beer to select first? It was tough choice, but when we sat at the Quay Four bar in the Cape Town V&A waterfront, the Weiss beer jumped off the page at me. It was a good choice. The unfiltered taste was obvious and you even taste a little banana in the after taste.
Summary: A taste of Europe at the tip of Africa
Beer: Striped Horse Craft Lager
Brewed by: Striped Horse
Type: Lager
Despite the overdose of lagers in Kenya and Tanzania, I had to try Striped Horse because it came recommended by a good friend in Cape Town. It was a clean golden lager with a very holly taste. As the first beer of the evening it went down very easily.
Summary: Good recommendation from Mr Dutton
Beer: Striped Horse Pale Ale
Brewed by: Striped Horse
Type: Pale Ale
After trying it’s sibling, the craft lager, it was only right that I next tried Striped Horse’s Pale Ale. Again it was a fairly hoppy beer, which was cloudy in the glass. Surprisingly the aftertaste brought strong hints of citrus. As a fan of Pale Ales this was my favourite from Striped Horse.
Summary: Winner of the Striped Horse family crown
Beer: Part Wolf Lager
Brewed by: Tiger’s Milk
Type: Lager
Yes it is another lager, but when you visit the bar owned by the brewer (Tiger’s Milk) it would be rude not to try one of their own creations. It was a refreshing lager and was served ice cold. But the aftertaste was a mystery, I simply could not put my finger on it despite trying to work it out with every sip.
Summary: What was that aftertaste?
Beer: Tiger’s Milk
Brewed by: Tiger’s Milk
Type: Lager
After trying the Part Wolf, the bar tender recommended trying beer which carried the name of Tiger’s Milk. My first reaction was “Oh wow, you can actually taste the milkiness in lager”. Turns out that although I was a fan, Melissa was not. Although you could not do a whole night on Tiger’s Milk it is certzinly one to try.
Summary: The after taste actually tastes like milk bottle sweets… How do they do that?
Beer: Devils Peak First Light Golden Ale
Brewed by: Devil’s Peak Brewing Company
Type: Golden Ale
It was so nice to have a golden ale again. It was amazing how close this tasted to Old Golden Hen. Great end to the evening and very nice cold.
Summary: Old Golden Hen’s South African cousin
Beer: Jack Black Cape Pale Ale
Brewed by: Jack Black
Type: Pale Ale
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the experience makes the beer. After climbing up the Platterklip Gorge to the tip of Cable Mountain, I was rewarded it a great view and a cold beer. JBs is a good clean, golden ale and similar to Kilimanjaro it was exactly what I needed after climbing the “mountain” in 35 degree heat.
Summary: As rewarding as the view from the top of Table Mountian
Beer: Jonkers Wheat Beer
Brewed by: Stellenbrau
Type: Wheat Beer
As soon as you bring the glass to your nose this beer hits you with the aroma of banana. This aroma is followed up by a banana tinge in the sip and after taste. Certainly not a traditional wheat beer but tasty none the less.
Summary: I hope you like banana
Beer: Castle Milk Stout
Brewed by: SAB Miller
Type: Stout
I saw this beer twice on the menu in Kenya but both times they had no stock, but here in South Africa I finally got a taste. And it was disappointing. It is not that it is a bad tasting stout, it’s just very bland with no stand out flavour.
Summary: Not worth the chase
Beer: Castle Tank Lager
Brewed by: SAB Miller
Type: Lager
Yet again, the African continent produces a good refreshing lager. And again another one that’s quite similar to Kilimanjaro beer. But then, to me, all lagers taste pretty similar. Certainly one to enjoy in future.
Summary: Another good African lager
Beer: Hazy Daze
Brewed by: Woodstock Brewery
Type: Wheat Beer
A dark amber wheat beer with a slightly soured taste. It was a strange taste with no defining features but still taste… I think. It’s a difficult to define beer, and more are required to really understand it.
Summary: Good, I think
Beer: Wildehog
Brewed by: Hog House Brewing Company
Type: Wheat Beer
Although Stellenbosch is known for it’s wine, when we visited the Spier vineyard were surprised to see a smokehouse and brewery onsite. Wildehog was a very light wheat beer, easy to drink, perfect for a hot day in Stellenbosch.
Summary: Hog House allows you to organise a piss up, in a brewery, in a vineyard. Result.
Beer: Hogtale
Brewed by: Hog House Brewing Company
Type: Pale Ale
Blah blah blah, here is yet another African Pale Ale… oh wait this Hogtale is a little different. Rather just another light (but refreshing) pale ale, this beer hits you with a citrus taste which makes it stand apart from the crowd.
Summary: Not just another African Pale Ale
Beer: Warthog IPA
Brewed by: Hog House Brewing Company
Type: IPA
Nice flavourful taste with the classic IPA after taste. Whilst I’m not a huge fan of IPAs in general this is a pretty good one.
Summary: Good as IPA’s go
Beer: Haybale
Brewed by: Hog House Brewing Company
Type: Saison
Classic sour flavour of a Saison, with an aftertaste of banana. Apparently there was lemon flavours in there too but I didn’t notice.
Summary: Something different, but something good
Beer: Roadhog Porter
Brewed by: Hog House Brewing Company
Type: Porter
Finally after 4 weeks in Africa I have finally found a Porter, and unlike the Castle Milk Stout, it did not disappoint. Classic coffee flavours mixed with a smokey tasting finish.
Summary: Worth the wait
Beer: Mitchell’s Milk and Honey Ale
Brewed by: Mitchell’s Knysna Brewery
Type: Amber Ale
This is a slightly darker ale which was served with oysters in Knysna. The milk gives a smooth taste and although I could not taste the honey on the first sip. The honey after taste became stronger and stronger with each mouthful which is a impressive surprise.
Summary: Gets better with ever sip
Beer: The Other Bird
Brewed by: Poison City Brewing
Type: (Dark) Lager
Wow, this beer is all about the after taste. The initial taste is very typical of a cold lager but as you swallow you are hit by a smoky charcoal flavour which stays with you.
Summary: This beer is all about the after taste
So good to hear from you Rich your summary of the Beer Tasting was quite eliquint had a little glow on myself after reading each Beer. What I fancied was the one that had a taste of Banana Love You Nana xoxo
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