Plenty brewing for beer lovers
THE city is getting crafty. Port Elizabeth has never been quite up to the trend standard that some of its inhabitants might like, but beer lovers certainly have something to be wiping their mouths about these days.
It's refreshing, to say the very least, to have a range of completely new lagers, ales, stouts and pale ales to sample – all with their unique signature aromas, flavours and shades.
Not only has the Bridge Street Brewery in Baakens Valley just won a top national accolade for its Celtic Cross Premium Pilsener, but we've seen the establishment of craft beer stations like the BeerYard in Richmond Hill and now the BeerShack in Humewood.
The City Slukker likes nothing more than to enter a brand new sluk-den for the first time, but there have been few occasions on his home turf when he has walked into a pozzie where it seems everyone got the e-mail or WhatsApp long before he did.
Never mind the storm brewing outside, the BeerShack in Dolphins Leap was pumping on Wednesday night – much like its splendid array of artisan beer kegs lined up against the wall – and its down-to-earth, "shacky" wooden plank and aluminium decor was a welcome sight given the climes out in the street.
The first thing that strikes you though is the graffiti. It's everywhere. CS is not sure how long the spot has been open, but the wall scribblers must have surely been drinking a lot of beer to get that much wordwork done. (CS actually suspects that they might have had a graffiti party and done it all in one flitting sitting.)
But to the craft stuff itself. There's plenty to choose from and the names are intriguing. Take for example Naked Mexican (R26 for 500ml), Skeleton Coast (R38/500ml) or Pumpkin Ale (R32/500ml). They sound like a hectic Halloween party all by themselves.
CS settled for Boston Lager (R26/500ml) by the Cape Town brewery of the same name (also responsible for the Pumpkin and Mexican). They are on the pricier side – but you pay for the privilege of quaffing an original.
The Boston was a terrific full-bodied and slightly fruity – but not sweet brew. Really smooth on the throat.
With its warm ambience and really different style, this is a must-do pozzie for those in search of a party. Jack Nicholson has the last word in the ablutions: "Beer, it's the best damn drink in the world."
- City Slukker, with Brett Adkins
