Pretoria’s own Capital Craft beer festival will be taking place on Saturday, 16 June.
With many people new to the craft beer revolution, this will be a fantastic opportunity to broaden their horizons and learn to appreciate the art of an independent craft beer brewery.
Rekord spoke to Brewdog, a multinational brewery and pub chain based in Ellon, Scotland that will be joining the craft beer festival.
Brewdog started back in 2007 with two friends, Martin and James, who quickly grew tired of industrially brewed lagers and “stuffy ales” that dominated the UK beer market in those days.
“Both only 24 at the time, we leased a building in Fraserburgh, got some scary bank loans, spent all our money on stainless steel and started making some hardcore craft beers,” said the pair.
The lads from Brewdog explained what aromas they used when they started out and how people in their local town received it.
“Punk IPA (our first batch) was the result of our homebrew-fuelled adventures into finding something we wanted to drink in a landscape that was (at the time) dominated by industrial lager brands and stuffy cask ales,” they explain.
“Inspired by the bitter, hop-forward pale ales of the United States we wanted a beer that hit home with citrus, resin and pine flavours with elements of tropical fruit. After experimenting on our homebrew kit that beer became Punk IA. We loved it right from the start.”
Talking about what they feel the most distinct difference was between craft brews and mass-produced beers, they took a personal angle.
“The differences? Everything. Spirit. Passion. Integrity. Honesty. Community. Flavour. There’s no comparison. Just look to what the mass-produced charlatans are doing these days – buying craft breweries left, right and centre or producing their own fake ‘crafty’ beers to catch people out. It’s trickery.”
The pair’s much-loved canine, Bracken, has been part of the journey from the beginning. The company recently launched its Puppy Parental leave policy. So Rekord was curious to know how big of a role their dog actually had in their brewery?
“Our four-legged friends have remained integral to life at BrewDog. All our bars are dog-friendly. Our office-based staff can bring their pups to work and we recently launched that policy so that any member of BrewDog staff who welcomes a new puppy or rescue dog into their lives can have a week’s leave to begin building the best bond a human can have. We love our hounds!”
Asked what Brewdog would be bringing to the table at the craft beer festival, the duo responded with excitement:
“We will be pouring three of our favourite beers.
“Punk IPA, our scene-stealing flagship is an India Pale Ale that has become a byword for craft beer rebellion. Layered with new world hops to create an explosion of tropical fruit and an all-out riot of grapefruit, pineapple and lychee before a spiky bitter finish which gives full on flavour at full throttle. People are sure to be amazed by this one.
“Dead Pony Club, crafted from an insane amount of US hops, delivering massive citrus aromas of lemongrass and lime zest. Dive in and the toasted malt base soon yields to a huge box-fresh hop hit washing tropical fruit, floral garlands and spicy undertones all over your palate.”
“Elvis Juice, an American IPA with a bitter edge that will push your citrus tolerance to the brink and back. Elvis Juice is loaded with tart, pithy grapefruit peel.”
“This IPA has a caramel malt base, supporting a full frontal citrus overload. Grapefruit peel piled on top of intense US aroma hops. Crashing waves of pine, orange and grapefruit round out this citrus-infused IPA. We promise to deliver,” they conclude.
The Capital Craft Beer Festival promises to knock your socks off.
Date: Saturday, 16 June 2018
Venue: Pretoria National Botanical Gardens
Time: 10:00
Tickets: R170 online and R200 at the gate
Buy online here.
Facebook Event here.
The event promises to be a well-executed and unforgettable experience, with brewers from all over the globe, including:
– Alpha Craft
– Amundsen Brewery South Africa
– Anvil Ale Brewery
– Brauhaus
– BrewDog ZA
– Bridge Street Brewery
– Cape Brewing Company
– Clarens Brewery
– Devil’s Peak Brewing Company
– Drayman’s Brewery & Distillery
– Drifter Brewing Company
– Erdinger Weissbier South Africa
– Fierce Beer South Africa
– Fokof Lager
– Friar’s Habit Craft Brewery
– Frontier Beer Company
– Hazeldean Brewing Company
– Jack Black Beer
– Keg House Brewery
– LaTrappe ZA
– Leaky Tap Brewery
– Little Wolf
– Mad Giant
– Mamelodi Lager – Our Home Our Beer
– Mikkeller South Africa
– Mitchell’s Brewery
– Old Potter’s Country Inn & Brewpub
– Paulaner Weiss Beer South Africa
– Rekorderlig Cider
– RIOT Beer
– Soweto Gold
– St Francis Brewing Company
– St-Louis Belgian Beer
– Stimela Brewing Company
– The RedRock Brewing Company
– The Standeaven Brewery
– Two Okes Brewery
– Zwakala Brewery
Lots of entertainment, music and the rugby will also be broadcast. Do not miss your chance.
COMPETITION:
Rekord is giving away two double tickets to attend this fantastic event. To enter the competition, fill out the entry form below and use the word ‘CAPITAL CRAFT’ as the keyword.
Competition closes 14 June 2018.
