When I was a student with empty pockets and little experience of the real world I would ridicule people who bought expensive clothes, drove luxury cars or, worst of all,...
First started in 2018, the RHBC Winter Beer Share has become popular amongst beer enthusiasts in the Eastern Cape. Niall Cook, Master Brewer at Richmond Hill Brewing Company (RHBC), says,...
Brewhogs produce their delicious beers in one of the oldest microbreweries in the country. In the days when craft brewers were mere hobbyists who worked from a shed in their...
Nestled in the foothills of the majestic Swartberg near Oudtshoorn, Karusa Vineyard and Craft Brewery awaits, inviting visitors to experience its unparalleled offerings in a picturesque setting. Karusa is renowned...
Dr. Ernst Thompson of Cape Town Meadery has been making mead, the world’s oldest fermented beverage, since 2018. The origins of mead can be traced back to the African bush...
Emerald Vale Brewery and Restaurant, forty-five kilometres from East London on the Wild Coast of South Africa, is situated on a farm between the Chintsa and Cefani Rivers. The brewery...
Capital Craft are celebrating a decade of the Capital Craft Beer Festival on 17 June 2023 from 10.00 to 19.00, at the Pretoria National Botanical Gardens. For the past ten...
Clarens is one of South Africa’s most picturesque towns thanks to its location in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains and to the town’s neat layout and great attractions. One...
Twin Fin in this case refers to a type of surfboard which is part of this pilsner’s branding. Anybody who has been in the surf knows how crisp and refreshing...
Microbreweries or Craft Breweries as they are also known, appeared on the scene in the 1980’s with Mitchell’s Brewery in Knysna being the most successful. Lex Mitchell, the master brewer...
Hops Hollow is situated on the highest point of the Longtom Pass, 22kms from the town of Mashishing (Lydenburg) in Mpumalanga. This family run guest house and microbrewery is owned...
Yeastern Cape Brew Club and Richmond Hill Brewing Company (RHBC) have done some great collaboration in the past but their new Unanimous Hoppy Red Lager is the best by far....
Lagers and pilsners where the beer universe for Generation X South Africans. When I traveled through Europe in the ‘90s I was disgusted by warm English beer, revolted by Irish...
Richmond Hill Brewing Company (RHBC) is well known for their innovative and quality brews, great wine from the Wine Shed and for hosting plenty of fun events. With the opening...
The always creative and innovative Richmond Hill Brewing Company (RHBC) has just released their latest brew; The Up Side Session IPA. Niall Cook, Master Brewer at RHBC says, “Of late...
Noon Gun Brewery and their newly opened Tap Room is located at Capricorn Business Park in Muizenberg, Cape Town and has been producing brews since 2015. Recently they gained international...
One of the reasons that I am a big fan of Richmond Hill Brewing Company (RHBC) is because they are so adventurous. Every couple of weeks there is a new...
A Gqeberha-based craft brewery has won gold at the African Beer Cup, the continent’s biggest beer competition. Richmond Hill Brewing Co. won a gold medal for their Two Rand Man...
Stay Present is a birth child of the Covid era. The brewers of this IPA, Richmond Hill Brewing Company (RHBC) realised that the coronavirus induced lockdown was very tough on...
The heading of this article is actually an understatement as Ink In My Drink is one of my favorite beers of all time. Despite this lager being a rich, dark...
Thirsty Traveler is all about South African gin, vodka, wine, brandy, beer and more.
We love to travel and we love to sample the wares of the craft brewer, distiller and wine maker.
In the mid 1900’s, governments worldwide almost killed off the art of distilling and brewing. The thousands of micro, boutique or craft distilleries and breweries that had been handed down from father to son were banned and destroyed and large corporations obtained the sole rights to distill mediocre, mass produced, but well-marketed spirits.
Craft gin, vodka, wine, brandy, beer and other spirits.
Thankfully laws around the world are being liberalised and craftsmen, with their passion for perfection and their desire to explore are producing amazing gin, vodka, wine, brandy, beer and other spirits.
Winemaking in South Africa had a terrible reputation until the 1980’s when many farmers decided to establish their own brands and produce their own wine. Competition, inspiration and a hard work ensure that today South African wines are some of the best in the world.
For those of you, who enjoy something special and want to pair their spirits, brew or wine with their food, mood and the atmosphere, there are new delightful, well-crafted and very special products appearing on shelves and more importantly, in on-line stores.
At the Thirsty Traveler, we take our food, brews, wine and spirits very seriously and, at times, light-heartedly too. Thus, in the true spirit of investigative journalism, we embarked on some very careful research into South Africa’s wines, brews and spirits.
Tastings
We frequently conduct tastings of gin, vodka, wine, brandy, beer and other well crafted spirits.
Each Heritage Day we invite micro brewers from around the country to send us their wares for a tasting. We and the brewers have had great success with these tastings in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
We also conduct regular tastings of wines, gins and other spirits.
Read on to find out more about what South Africa has to offer those with discerning taste buds.
My mother was a Cordon Bleu chef and insisted that we eat with a near Victorian array of cutlery and crockery every night. As a young adult, I learned to appreciate the dedication and art of good cooking and as I came of age, I realised how a glass of wine and even more so, good conversation, could make a meal complete.
As a teenager our family took a holiday to the Winelands and I was in awe of the beauty, heritage and sophistication of South Africa’s wine industry. Although not yet 18 I started to collect wines.
Lagers and pilsners where the beer universe for Generation X South Africans. When I traveled through Europe in the ‘90s I was disgusted by warm English beer, revolted by Irish stouts and Belgian sours where the worst thing that my delicate palate had ever encountered.
However, like Copernicus my view has expanded. I have discovered that the beer universe does not rotate around a cold lager. In fact I have since discovered that the beer universe is literally limitless. My Dark Age view on beer progressed into a Renaissance of awaking and then hyper-drived to an unbridled voyage of discovery.
As a student in the ‘90s I thought I was rather chic because I drank J&B rather than Bells and even sampled Campari. It was not until I visited the Oban Distillery in Scotland that I learned about Single Malt Scotch and I entered a whole new world of discovery.
When I first visited the New World I discovered Bourbon and that it too has a proud heritage. On a visit to Cuba I learned that Rum was not just a compliment to Coke, and that, after 12 years of aging, is as sublime as a Scotch.
Today I remain in awe of the craftsman who, with passion, skill and experience, produce such nuanced flavours and aromas in wine, beer and spirts. This website is about my journey of discovery and also of return visits to old favorites.
© 2024 THIRSTY TRAVELER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
© 2021 THIRSTY TRAVELER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED