AFRICA
Cape Brewing Co., Paarl, SA
Cape Brewing Co. shares a space—and more importantly a view—with the Spice Route Winery, a half-hour drive from Cape Town. This is one of South Africa’s largest and most impressive microbreweries, and brewmaster Wolfgang Koedel is renowned for his German-inspired beers. Take a glass of the award-winning Amber Weisse onto the lawns and soak up vistas of the vineyards and Simonsberg Mountains beyond. The Weisse leans a little more toward banana than clove, but steers clear of excessive sweetness. It’s probably South Africa’s finest example of the style.
There’s never a bad time to visit this region—some love the greenery that the winter months (June-August) bring, others adore harvest season (February-March), when the scorching heat makes for perfect beer-drinking weather.
Whenever you visit, once you’ve worked your way through the brewery’s core range (lager, pilsner, krystal weiss and amber weiss) be sure to taste the American-inspired brews from Jack Black Beer, contract brewed on site. Then grab your preferred pint with a bagful of biltong, South Africa’s favorite accompaniment to beer. The jerkylike snack comes in beef, ostrich and antelope varieties and packs a spicier punch than the American version—a perfect partner for Cape Brewing’s crisp, German-style pilsner.
—Lucy Corne
More in Africa
Den Anker, Cape Town, SA; East Head Cafe, Knysna, SA; Misty Meadows, George, SA; Brauhaus am Damm, Rustenburg, SA; L’Abri Fountain Brewery, Bela Bela, SA
This story appears in the July issue of All About Beer Magazine. Click here for a free trial.