A Super Cool Beer Tour in Cape Town

I love beer. This should come as no surprise as I have well documented this passion over the years. From the beer halls in Germany to breweries on North America’s east and west coasts, I have sampled my share.  So when I found out that Cape Town has an up and coming craft beer scene I had to check it out. To help I enlisted Louwrens and Super Cool Beer Tour to sample the best beer Cape Town has to offer.

Big Shoes

Louwrens, our instantly likeable Super Cool Beer Tour guide, collected us from our hotel and we were off. The first stop was the South African Brewery Company (SAB), better known as the biggest brewery giant in the world. Although Super Cool Beer Tours touts themselves as a microbrewery tour, this stop is an important one. It provided an understanding behind, the history of South African’s thirst for beer and how the humble beginnings of the Newlands Brewery came to own the likes of Peroni, Pilsner Urquel, and Miller Brewing Company.

Even though our samples included beers that we could get anywhere in the world, the facility, tasting room, and history was interesting and something to see.

Little Beginnings

After a sampler platter and a pint of our choosing our Super Cool Beer Tour continued on to Woodstock, an up and coming neighbourhood with a rising craft beer scene. Our first stop in Woodstock was Garagista Beer company – a brewery/art gallery. This interesting space was created after the owners separate tastes. The wife, an art fan, desired a space for exhibitions. The husband, a beer lover, wanted to make his own brew. The result is a hip space and a pretty awesome compromise.

On top of being a cool space, Garagista Beer company brews some seriously great beer. Our server and host, the biggest hipster/anti-hipster I have ever met, walked us through a sampling that ranged from good to great. “Hipsters Tears” won me over for its story of giving in to local hipsters demands for more hops (something I will never understand) and the pale ale for its clean taste.

A Perfect Pairing

Next on our Super Cool Beer Tour in Woodstock was a visit to Devils Peak Brewing Company – a cool space with great eats. There I was treated to a craft beer first for me – beer and food pairings. What a great idea and am surprised this was the first time I have come across it. Wine pairings is a common place, beer not so much – but it should be. The food and beer combinations worked wonderfully and was good timing as the alcohol to food ratio was starting to tip.

Our Super Cool Beer Tour concluded with a stop at Woodstock Brewery. There we were given a tour behind the scenes of a mid-sized brewery and given an education on the brewing process. We also sampled some great beer along the way with a helping of biltong, South Africa’s salty, dried meat snack.

Super Cool/Super Fun

With the rise in popularity of craft beer seemingly around the globe comes a trickle effect of supporting businesses. This includes brewery tours. Taking one in a new city has yet to fail me as you get to sample some great beer, make new friends, and get an insider’s look at the city you are visiting. Super Cool Beer Tours in Cape Town is no different…and their high ranking on TripAdvisor can attest to this.

So if you are in Cape Town give Lawrence a shout. He would be more than happy to show you around and share a couple pints.

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Although I was provided a Super Cool Beer Tour in Cape Town
at a reduced press rate, the experience, opinions, and suds enjoyed are my own.