Brewery Name: Just Brewing
WEBSITE: VISIT
Location: Gauteng
What is your current position at your brewery, and how did you get started in the craft brewing industry?
Operations Manager. Started as a home brewer, got into the commercial side when my son decided to study brewing when he left school.
Has Covid-19 and the lockdown had an impact on your brewery? If so, what impact and how have you responded?
Yes of course it has been equally devastating to the whole sector. We had a brewpub so the restaurant was the first thing we had to closed when the outbreak started. The first thing we did was up-skill our restaurant staff so that they could do jobs in the brewery and especially on the canning line. While we have had to continue with packaging during the second ‘ban’ it is been very difficult to continue to meet our expenses with no cash flow from sales.
What’s new at your brewery?
For now, we’re planning to survive and keep the business afloat! We have started selling ingredient packs to home brewers to try keep some money coming in but will not brew any new brews until we are guaranteed that we will be able sell what we make.
What’s the best part of being a part of the South African craft brewing community?
That it’s mostly made up of great people, so a day at work often feels more like an awesome day with fun with friends.
Name your favourite food and beer pairing.
Fresh mango and Babtist OR IPA and a chocolate sundae OR Cray, Cray IPA and chilli bites.
What’s your biggest accomplishment unrelated to your job?
Raising two awesome kids.
What’s your favourite beer from another brewery?
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.
What do you like to do in your time away from the brewery?
Read, bake and watch movies.
What’s the most memorable travel destination at which you’ve had a chance to sample the local beer?
Bamberg in Germany and along the Bermondsey Beer Mile in London.