Staff Day Out – Adventures in Beerland

We have now been open for 3 months and our staff have really been working hard. They have applied themselves to the massive task of operating a busy venue with Africa’s biggest variety of beer under one roof. They have taken to the task  with gusto and are continually learning about the worlds greatest beverage. Last Monday we took them on a Brewery and Cidery tour for more beer and cider education and also to show them our appreciation for all their efforts getting Beerhouse on Long to where it is today.

Team Beerhouse jumped on a bus and headed for Stellenbosch. First stop Stellenbrau Brewery the home of Craven Lager and Alumni Ale. We were greeted with much excitement by Jaco and Francios who have been working really hard supplying us with the beer. A very insightful brewery tour was followed by lunch and then a tasting in there built for purpose tap room. They only have two products at the moment with others in the pipe line. They are steadfast in there mantra to deliver consistent flavoursome beer. The brewery was full of activity when we visited which is not always the case when you visit a brewery as they usually done by midday. He managed to witness them carbonating the beer and then filtering the yeast.

The guys at Stellenbrau provided us with lunch and were fantastic hosts. A better start to our adventure in  Beerland could not be asked for. Back on the bus and over the mountains to Grabouw to the land of apples and pears.

William Everson founder of Everson’s Cider was awaiting our arrival and led our bus to where his five different apples get crushed. It was quite a site seeing all those apples rumbling along the escalator on there way to been crushed into delicious apple juice. The team got to taste the apple juice straight from the press. With out a doubt the best apple juice ever tasted. Majority of the staff were stunned to see that the juice was in fact green and cloudy rather than amber. It seems to be testament to our up brining with apple juice been associated with a amber concentrate rather than fresh cloudy goodness.

William is really passionate about his family business. An accomplished wine maker who is versed in the magic of yeast. He ferments his cider in a cold room in Grabouw right next to where the apples are pressed. He has two great products Apple and Pear ciders. His Pear cider will soon be on our Summer menu on tap. Drinking this stuff on our sunny balcony is going to be a treat.

William has been working on a few limited addition products which he might bring into his core range. We had the privilege of tasting his single varietal cider fermented with champagne yeast. Pink lady cider with the evanescence of a champagne. Our favourite was his brandy casked aged cider. A complex cider like no other on our shores. William was all to happy to load us up with cider for our next journey down the other side of the mountain to Botriver.

Our next stop was eagerly anticipated as their beer very seldom makes its way to Cape Town. Mark and Analize are a husband and wife team that are making some of the best beers in SA. They produce very small batch brews and usually are found of Belgian styles. We were treated to a tasting of four of there beers. The wit, saison, IPA and blonde were all very accomplished and have quickly become favourites of  the team. The brewery is set on a beautiful small holding overlooking the valley. Surely one of the best views to drink beer right next to a brewery. They dont often deliver to Cape Town so we took full advantage of our 38 seater bus and stock up for our return to Cape Town. Well done team! Great day in Beerland many more to come. Stay Thirsty Stay Curious!