There’s no shortage of good craft beers along the West Coast. Charlie’s Brewhouse in Velddrif has been on the scene for quite a while now and the craft-beer nerd herd raves about their Sandveld Lager, Harbour American Pale Ale and the Lighthouse Blonde.
Their take on South Africa’s numero uno beer is the Sandveld Lager. Low to medium bready malt aromas are balanced by the Saaz hop’s slight herbal spice. Light-bodied and refreshing, this humbly hopped beer can be enjoyed with just about any food: grilled seafood, salads, fried chicken or calamari and light pasta dishes with olive oil.
Brimming with five bold American hops, the Harbour American Pale Ale has an intense flavour of tropical and citrus fruits with a slight pepperiness and dry finish. Its complexity and fruitiness are held up well by the bittering and higher alcohol volume. Because of the hoppy bitterness, APAs are great with Thai cuisine, Mexican food, fried food, barbecued steak, rich cheeses and needless to say, cheesy burgers.
It’s a blonde bombshell allright! A must on hot days, the Lighthouse Blonde packs a fruity punch with distinct litchi notes. Subtly sweet, the moderate bitterness doesn’t linger on the palate. Bitterness and carbonation help IPAs to cut through rich foods. So, opt for curries, fried and salty foods, as well as sausages and bold steak cuts such as ribeye. It’s a treat with chocolate truffles too.
Charlie’s Brewhouse, 1 Marina Centre, Port Owen. Hours: Mon – Sun 12h00 – 22h00.
