There is nothing like a good beer. To a beer drinker, the prospect of a good beer at the end of the day is something special, akin to poetry to the lover, the smell of paint to the artist, or the idea of a thick novel with twists and turns for the avid reader.
For me, the idea of a good IPA, or a pale ale full of body and character brings me so much joy.
If I can share these beers with people who appreciate them with me, fills me with even more joy. I always share a pint or two with friends and family, especially my dad who enjoys them with me.
Recently, the craze for NEIPA has his South African even though it is still a bit sluggish. Few craft breweries are attempting to make hazy beers, fewer still are attempting different and odd flavours. Now and then, you find a good beer that adds some complexity, some alternative flavours, and with some experimentation.
This week, I tried three such beers, all bringing me a great sense of joy and pleasure. Three very different beers, yet in some sense united by their flavour profiles, I could not ask for something better. One of these beers almost became poetry to me, and sadly, I do not have any left!
So, join me on this tasting trip or journey as I sip on some great beers, showing again just how varied and wonderful the South African Craft Beer scene has become.
Saggy Stone: Citra Nova Brut IPA
Last week, I drank another Brut IPA from Saggy Stone. And in all honesty, even after having drank so many beers, I cannot really say how they are that much different. Both are incredible beers.
The beer was incredibly hoppy from the start. It had that classic citrussy pine (forest) notes. It was almost pure pine forest.
The initial taste was not that bitter (due to the low IBUs); it was incredibly fresh, and had a very clean taste.
As I drank the beer, there was a slight hoppy bitterness in the aftertaste, but fruity, zesty, with that classic IPA taste, but very mild actually.
This was by no means a bold or big beer, but rather fresh and easy to drink compared to some other IPAs. Obviously, this style of beer leans itself so it is fresh and “easy” drinking and not full bodied and a punch in the face IPA.
I really enjoyed this beer, and in general, all the beers that Saggy Stone has to offer.
Charlie's Brewhouse: Harbour American Pale Ale
This was an incredible beer, and it almost had me writing poetry about it.
It was definitely one of the best IPAs I had in quite a while. I am so sad that I only bought four beers.
It had complex caramel notes on the nose, but at the same time I could smell the hops.
The first taste was incredibly full-bodied; but everything was so well balanced.
There were some ester notes when smelling the second time. I really enjoyed the complexity on my nose.
As I continued to drink, there was a delicate sweet hoppy taste, almost like caramel-burnt sugar. But like the other Charlie's beer's I had thus far, it was very flat in terms of carbonation - which I liked.
After the beer warmed up a bit, there was a more pronounced alcoholic smell, but in combination (dare I say in a complex dance) with deep caramel and tasted notes. It was a deep, complex, full-bodied beer.
Clarens Brewery: Citrus Haze
I visited the Clarens Brewery a year or so ago, tasting all that they had to offer. They have an impressive line up of beers, some okay, some spectacular.
We recently visited the brewery again, and to my surprise, they had attempted to brew a hazy APA! I have been craving these hazy beers, even if only for their appearance and I was happy to buy a couple.
Some of their beers which I reviewed earlier, were rebranded to contain the indigenous language of the area! As you can read above (right photograph) Amohela is a way to greet or welcome someone. Some commercial beers in South Africa take the same approach of using indigenous languages and names on the branding, which I totally support and which I will urge other breweries to look into!
In any case, this beer had an incredible nose as I poured it. It was complex, fruity, citrusy, and with a hint of pine.
The first taste was a hops bomb but with subtle bitterness due to the low IBUs. It was not full-bodied probably because of low ABV. But it was incredibly refreshing, especially on the hot days we have been getting.
The beer had some good lacing and nice head retention.
(When I asked my fiance what she smelled she said banana with white wood shavings - I think I need to hire her for her unapologetic nose!)
As the beer warmed up a bit, I got more and more grapefruit peel on the nose and in the taste.
But sadly, the taste quickly dissipates and does not linger in the mouth as other heavier beers do. Still, it was a solid beer!
Postscriptum, or As Charlie Says, "For the love of beer"
The year is coming to a close, and I cannot believe that in the last year, I tasted so many different beers from so many different breweries. Amazing beers, lousy beers, average beers, but in the end, it was all BEERS! Lovely liquid in a bottle or can or on tap.
Three was the charm here, and I really enjoyed all three of them, and sadly, I can only buy on of them (as the brewery is close to me).
For now, happy drinking, and keep well!
All of the musings and writings are my own, and the drunken opinions are my own as well - I was not paid (unfortunately) to say anything. The photographs are also my own, taken with my Nikon D300.
Inside the Philosopher's Beer Fridge
| Boet Beer Brewing Co | Brews: |
|---|---|
| 🍺 Boet Beer Lager | |
| 🍺 Boet Beer Easy Blonde | |
| 🍺 Boet Beer Pale Ale |
| Cape Brewing Company (CBC) | Brews: |
|---|---|
| 🍺 Amber Weiss |
| Cape Collective | Brews: |
|---|---|
| 🍺 Session IPA |
| Cederberg Brewery | Brews: |
|---|---|
| 🍺 Voertsek IPA |
| Charlie's Brewery | Brews: |
|---|---|
| 🍺 Cormorant Bourbon Stout |
| Clarens Brewery | Brews (All Brews Reviewed in this post): |
|---|---|
| 🍺 IPA | |
| 🍺 Hazelnut Brown Ale: Clarens Goes Nuts | |
| 🍺 Stout | |
| 🍺 Tondon Pilsner | |
| 🍺 Village Lager | |
| 🍺 Weiss | |
| 🍺 English Ale | |
| 🍺 Blonde | |
| 🍺 Mulled Apple Cider | |
| 🍺 Red Ale |
| Darling Brew | Brews: |
|---|---|
| 🍺 Warlord Imperial IPA | |
| 🍺 Arrow Head Russian Imperial Stout | |
| 🍺 Long Claw Modern Saison | |
| 🍺 God Father IPA |
| Devil's Peak Beer Company | Brews: |
|---|---|
| 🍺 Jucy Lucy Hazy IPA | |
| 🍺 King's Blockhouse IPA | |
| 🍺 Lucy loves Candy NEIPA |
| Drakensberg Brewery | Brews (All Brews Reviewed in this post): |
|---|---|
| 🍺 Cathedral Peak Pilsner | |
| 🍺 Champagne Castle Blonde Ale | |
| 🍺 Giant's Castle Stout | |
| 🍺 Amphitheater Red Ale |
| Folk & Goode | Brews: |
|---|---|
| 🍺 Stout |
| Hey Joe Brewing Co | Brews: |
|---|---|
| 🍺 Session IPA |
| Jack Black Brewing Co | Brews: |
|---|---|
| 🍺 Skeleton Coast IPA | |
| 🍺 Butcher's Block Pale Ale |
| Route 96 Brewery | Brews (All Brews Reviewed in this post): |
|---|---|
| 🍺 Zamalek Lager | |
| 🍺 Summer Blond | |
| 🍺 Africa Pilsner | |
| 🍺 Stout |
| Sabie Brewing Co/Hops Hollow Sabie Brewery | Brews: |
|---|---|
| 🍺 Dravidian Draught IPA | |
| 🍺 Glynn's Gold Golden Ale | |
| 🍺 Safari Gold Marula Infused Blonde Ale | |
| 🍺 Cockney Liz English Bitter | |
| 🍺 Shangaan Stout |
| Saggy Stone Brewing Co. | Brews: |
|---|---|
| 🍺 Bear Jam - Session IPA | |
| 🍺 Pale Weizenbock | |
| 🍺 Rocky River Pale Ale | |
| 🍺 Bomb Squad Lager | |
| 🍺 Silver Back Dry Irish Stout | |
| 🍺 Dark Horse Lager | |
| 🍺 Sabro Brut IPA |
| Striped Horse | Brews: |
|---|---|
| 🍺 Milk Stout |
| Swellenbrew | Brews: |
|---|---|
| 🍺 IPA |
| That Brewing Co. | Brews (All Brews Reviewed in this post): |
|---|---|
| 🍺 That Blond Ale | |
| 🍺 That Subtropical Ale (Delicious Monster) | |
| 🍺 That American Pale Ale (APA) | |
| 🍺 'el Juicy IPA | |
| 🍺 VESS KISS IPA |
| Yeti Underground Movement | Brews: |
|---|---|
| 🍺 Black H-Ops Black IPA |
| Imported (Non-South African) Beers | Brews: |
|---|---|
| 🍺 Super Wit | |
| 🍺 Duvel Tripel Hop Citra IPA | |
| 🍺 Maredsous Bruin | |
| 🍺 Trappistes Rochefort 8 |
All looks good and ready to taste :)
!INDEED
They were indeed amazing! Thank you so much.
(3/10)
@fermentedphil! @seckorama Totally agrees with your content! so I just sent 1 IDD to your account on behalf of @seckorama.
I love a good Hazy pale ale and love the paradox of a brut IPA. Love that these are making their way into the South African scene in a bigger way. I would love to have you sample the NEIPA we make up here but it would never travel well enough across the world.
Tasty looking samples!
So, the answer is to travel up there myself to taste it! Maybe one day in the future. I am also glad that we are having these beers enter our market, and it makes me sad that I stopped brewing my own beer just before the explosion of different breweries opening up everywhere!
Three a charm is right man. These all look very tasty. Your photography skills help a lot as you know how to capture them 👍
Thank you so much, my friend! These beers deserve to be photographed and drunk in these ways haha
Wow you have covered a lot of different places beer tasting. Learn more about taste at sunset, somehow the golden liquid tastes the best (in Summer)!
!BEER
For sure, drinking a beer when the sun sets on the horizon or over the harbour just hits differently, especially in the summer. Thank you so much, I am very lucky to be able to travel. Some of my work is online, so I can luckily travel a lot.
Travel on hold for awhile here, wait to see what happens next in life.
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BEER.i want your glass with form of can i love it, in my opinion the best of this post is the hazy ipa :D