On Tap is South Africa's and Africa's first and only beer publication - a quarterly magazine aimed at brewers, craft brewers, homebrewers, beer fanatics and those just beginning to dip their proverbial toe into the mash tan.
To be involved in the South African beer industry is a privilege, to say the very least. With that in mind, the front cover is devoted to some of the good guys in the industry, who help grow not only for themselves, but the appreciation of craft beer and the artisanal nature of the process. The beer industry should be called the comeback kids of the South African economy. This is in large part thanks to the general public's support and the craft breweries themselves who pushed forward during and after a few very tough years. (So please keep supporting your local breweries.) It is also with the tireless work being done behind the scenes by organisations like the Craft Brewers Association of South Africa (CBASA), the Beer Association of…
Anél Du Preez After working in Lifestyle Television for years it was the show DIS! that convinced Anél to become qualified in culinary arts. An award-winning baker, she also has a deep knowledge of craft beer and is the regional manager for Cactus Craft in the Western Cape. Chris Roth A BJCP National judge and the BJCP African representative, Chris has been involved with the Intervarsity brewing competition since its inception and has organised the judging since 2009. He is also a past chairman of the Wort Hogs Brewing Club. Kelly Meyer Kelly “KfM” Meyer is an author and host of the How Not to Start a Damn Brewery podcast. He describes himself as, “an American craft beer fan that owned a brewery for a decade, but doesn't anymore.” As…
Spring is the season of freshness and newness. We celebrate this time of year with a toast to innovative and young brewers in the industry. In this regard, the Beer Association of South Africa (BASA), would like to place emphasis on emerging trends in beer culture. In this edition of On Tap you can read about the new frontier that no and low alcohol beers represent to the industry. Staying relevant and being part of the changes in tastes among beer drinkers is critical to the sustainability of the sector. Non-or low-alcohol beers offer a way to broaden brewing culture and to appeal to a new generation of drinkers for who focussed wellness and moderation is very important. Another domain in which the beer industry is showing its youthfulness is…
Tourism is a key part of the South African economy. Our top-notch hospitality, favourable weather, vibrant cities, beautiful landscapes, and unique wildlife are just a few examples of what makes South Africa an attractive destination. The Department of Tourism believes there is still so much untapped potential for tourism in our country. We can, collectively, take the sector's performance to greater heights, creating meaningful economic growth and more jobs for our people. We have come a long way in bouncing back from the Covid-19 pandemic. Recent figures are truly encouraging. StatsSA's data reveals that our tourism sector is on a rapid path to recovery and although we are not yet at pre-COVID travel numbers, we are edging closer, but that requires work. Between January and December 2022, we saw nearly…
One characteristic of beer culture that is always worth celebrating is its dynamism. There is always something happening, always something new to add to the variety of brews on offer. A continuing trend in beer consumption that has been clearly identified, is the appreciation of low- or no-alcohol beers. This positive trend is growing fast and it offers opportunities for the South African beer industry, which has prioritised positioning beer as a drink of moderation in communities across the country. In general, drinks with an alcohol-by-volume (ABV) between 0.05% and 1.12% are typically called “low-alcohol” beverages. Your usual beer usually has an ABV of between 5% and 7%. If we look at the European beer industry, it offers a very clear indication that low ABV is becoming much more common…
An event that has become a staple in the South African beer industry's diary is the annual Intervarsitybrew: Brewing and Tasting Challenge where university students enter their beers hoping to be crowned the best in the competition. This year will be the 16th edition of this fun and challenging competition which will take place 20 to 22nd October in Bloemfontein. This event will be co-hosted by BASA and the Central University of Technology (CUT) and will see 17 universities compete against each other over the 2 days across 6 beer categories, as well as being judged on a beer label they have designed. The event will also include presentations from student brew teams, tasting training and technical presentations by influencers and experts in the craft and commercial brewing space. BASA…
