Local craft beer tasting even beer-ginners will enjoy

Nine craft beers, small-batch Thursdays + a guide for beginners

Last updated: Tuesday, 11 April 2023

Woodstock Brewery is known for its cheeky beer names and live music scene, you should also know that you can go on a beer tasting journey that even non-beer drinkers will delight in. Taste up to nine craft beers (named after sex, drugs ‘n rock 'n roll), or try something different and go for the Small-Batch Thursdays. Plus, learn more about the craft with a brewery tour.

Every second Thursday you can try one of Woodstock Brewery’s small batch brews. Image: Woodstock Brewery

DO A CRAFT BEER TASTING

Whether you’re a newbie or have been drinking it for years, the tasting mat is a great way to explore different brews and find your favourite. There are nine craft beers to choose from, including the classic Born Slippy lager and Woodstock Brewery’s flagship Californicator IPA – India Pale Ale (find out more in the table below). You can customise your own mat according to how many and which ones you want to taste. Each glass is 100ml and costs R10.

The beer tasting is available daily. Image: Lara van Zyl

Go a step further on your beer journey and book a tour of the brewery. Learn about the old paint factory turned brewery and gain great insight into the beer-making process, like how different types of beers are brewed and the difference between canned and bottled beer. 

The brewery is filled with giant fermenting tanks and smells of sweet malt. Image: Woodstock Brewery

TRY A SMALL-BATCH BEER

Woodstock Brewery is playful and creative. As you can tell by the names of some of the beers, they are  continuously coming up with new and unique brews. Every second Thursday from 3pm, customers can try an experimental small-batch brew on tap or in a can, only available at the brewery. 

Past small-batch brews include The Devil’s Lettuce and Death by Sexy. Each can shows its brewer’s name, the recipe and alcohol percentage. In keeping with the playfulness, the brewers also make a short video advertising the small-batch brew of the week, which makes for a good laugh. 

STAY FOR THE FOOD SPECIALS

Woodstock Brewery’s Beerhall has some serious comfort food that pairs perfectly with any beer. Like the belly-busting burgers, from beef, bacon and guac to fried chicken, topped with onion rings. 

For sides, you can choose anything from classic slap chips to roasted potatoes and even a whole pretzel. Plus, check out the daily food specials, like 2-for-1 burgers on Mondays or the Friday curry special.

There’s also a kiddies menu for the little ones. Image: Woodstock Brewery

FIND A BEER YOU’LL LOVE

If you’re new to the world of beer, words like IPA, Weiss and lager might not mean much. Here’s a quick guide to ordering the perfect Woodstock Brewery beer for you. 

There are two types of beer: Lager and ale. Each has a number of styles, like pilsner (a lager) and IPA (an ale). Lager is easy drinking, crisp and light, while ales are typically more bitter and fruity. If you’re a non-craft beer drinker, start with a lager (like Born Slippy) and work your way up to a pilsner (like Happy Pills), and then go for the ales (Californicator or Pot Belge).

The tasting tray explains what each brew is and the percentage of alcohol. Image: Woodstock Brewery

MORE ABOUT WOODSTOCK BREWERY 

Beer tastings are available: Daily, 12pm - 10pm
Woodstock Brewery is open: Daily, 12pm - 10pm
Find it: 252 Albert Road, Woodstock, Cape Town
Contact on: 021 203 3045, @woodstockbrewery

By Lara van Zyl

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