HEALTH & LIFESTYLE
S
outh Africa’s beer culture has undoubtedly evolved in recent years. With the advent of craft brewing and food pairings, the versatility of beer is continually being tested. Stout, with a rich chocolate brownie, a coriander infused lager and winterwarming ales are just some examples of beer breaking boundaries that a few years ago would have been difficult to imagine.
T I H S L I A T K C O C R E E B
A C I R F A H SOUT
Some of the combinations are a little unexpected, but the result is a beer revolution. And best of all is that the ingredients are all widely available, which means that these cocktails are easily recreated at home.”
South African Breweries (SAB) and Liquid Chefs Mobile Bar Services recently joined forces to create a sumptuous selection of light beer cocktails that are low in alcohol content and perfectly suited to a mellow start to any weekend. According to Frieda Dehrmann, SABMiller’s top beer taster, beer cocktails are already being served in many upmarket London restaurants. “We’re excited to have started experimenting with our own versions of beer cocktails back home.” Says Frieda. “In my mind this is the next step in the evolution of beer, following closely on the heels of the craft beer movement that has taken South Africa by storm over the last few years.” SAB’s Master Brewer, Kate Jones worked with Liquid Chefs to develop the cocktails, and she conceded that she was initially sceptical about combining beer with anything but a good meal. “Being a brewer, the idea of mixing beer was almost sacrilegious, but when we sat down with Liquid Chefs and started playing around, it quickly became apparent that the versatility of beer means that it combines well with different flavours, much as it does with different kinds of food.”
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Beers with a straight forward malt character and distinctive bitterness pair well with lighter fruity flavours. You could try mixing Grolsch with Brutal Fruit Apple Ginger, for example.
Here are few tips to experience your own flavour combination:
A stout will work well with any kind of Many new and old beer lovers might now sweet fruit and toffee flavoured syrups. be wondering what is coming next, and Try making a Milk Stout float with toffee beer cocktails, of course, is trending. And ice-cream. we’re not talking about the hangoverinducing concoctions of yesteryear. Instead, beautifully crafted combinations of fresh fruit, herbs, spices, juices and syrups combined with beer to produce flavour sensations, perfectly suited for lazy weekend afternoons.
Craig Shapiro, owner of Liquid Chefs, adds: “We wanted to create something light and low in alcohol content which is why we steered away from spirits and chose instead to focus on ingredients such as fresh fruit, herbs and spices.
Sweeter beers, such as Carling Black Label, are nicely balanced with savoury herbs and spices such as basil, rosemary and thyme.
Castle deLite
Happy stirring, shaking and mixing!
