SA Universities Compete For Top Beer Brewing Accolade In 8th Annual SAB Intervarsity Brewing Challenge

Johannesburg.  17 August 2014. Some of South Africa’s top tertiary institutions will compete in the 8th Annual SAB Intervarsity Beer Brewing Challenge, taking place this coming weekend from Friday, 21 August.

Micro-brewing teams from 15 of the country’s top universities will pit their best brews against one another and winners will be announced late on Saturday, 22nd August.

Competing universities are:

Ø  University of Limpopo

Ø  University of Potchefstroom

Ø  University of Stellenbosch

Ø  Cape Peninsula University

Ø  University of KwaZulu Natal

Ø  University of KZN Westville Campus

Ø  University of Cape Town

Ø  Pretoria University

Ø  University of Pietermaritzburg

Ø  University of the Free State

Ø  Rhodes University

Ø  University of Johannesburg

Ø  Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

Ø  Witwatersrand University

Ø  University of South African (UNISA)

Participants are up against defending champions Cape Peninsular University of Technology whose unique South Africa speciality, lager-based beer, Rooibru, claimed the Ben Lamaletie IBD Intervarsity Beer Brewing Challenge floating trophy, the top honour of Castle Best Bru, as well as the Carling Black Label Champion Lager.

In terms of this year’s competition, products brewed will be judged under the following competition sponsored categories, each carrying a prize of between R10 000 and R25 000:

  • Castle Best Bru (overall winner)
  • Carling Black Label Lager Award
  • Redds Best Cider
  • No. 3 Fransen Street Best Speciality Beer
  • Hansa Pilsners Most Refreshing Label
  • Castle Milk Stout Winter Warmer

Further to this, participating university teams have the opportunity to win entry into an academic brewing programme offered by the Institute of Brewing and Distilling (IBD). The IBD is a longstanding partner of SAB Intervarsity Brewing Challenge and presents the overall winners of the competition with the Ben Lamaletie IBD floating trophy.

Participating universities each have their own micro-breweries where students brew, ferment, condition and package their beers prior to the final stages of the competition when they are tasted by independent and accredited craft beer tasters.

Background:

The SAB Intervarsity Beer Brewing Challenge was founded by former SAB Senior Trade Brewer and pioneer Brewing Legend, Ben Lamaletie.  It was through his efforts that SAB sponsored the first university micro-brewery at the University of KwaZulu Natal’s Pietermaritzburg campus in 2003.

SAB Prospecton Brewery in KZN and UKZN challenged teams from 6 other universities with micro-breweries to take part in the first Intervarsity Beer Brewing Challenge. The competition has since spread to many other Universities in South Africa, which took advantage of installing micro-breweries as part of their scientific syllabus.

While the concept of the intervarsity brewing challenge was started in 2003, the first official SAB Intervarsity Beer Brewing Challenge was initiated in 2006 as a means of encouraging responsible beer appreciation amongst students and to introduce prospective SAB employees to the business. In addition to this, SAB uses the initiative to help create a beer culture in South Africa.

SAB has helped fund, along with the South African Stainless Steel Development Association (SASSDA), the construction of micro-breweries at several leading universities across South Africa. These micro-breweries serve as valuable teaching aids for students involved in microbiology, chemical technology and engineering programmes.

Media Enquiries:

Azure Janneker, SAB Media and Communication

+27 11 881 8562

+27 79 505 6966

email: Azure.Janneker@za.sabmiller.com

 

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