The taste of victory

The University of Cape Town (UCT) has raised the bar yet again, taking home the “Best Beer on Show” title for the fourth consecutive year at the South African Intervarsity Brewing Challenge.  

Students from the Department of Chemical Engineering, who participated in the event in October, won the aged category, and secured second place in the India Pale Ale (IPA) category. Their 500-day aged Imperial Stout clinched the top award, bringing UCT’s tally to eight championships overall. The team also walked away with a R23 000 prize.

Team captain, Kevin Netshivhongweni, said the group began the year on the backfoot, rebuilding a team after last year’s cohort graduated, and racing against the clock to produce not only a drinkable beer, but a potential victor. He credited former brew leader Jac Sussens, who helped develop the winning Imperial Stout, and their mentor, Juarez Amaral Filho, whose support kept the team motivated.

Judges evaluated each entry on flavour, aroma, appearance and technical execution.

Cutthroat competition

Netshivhongweni said the most satisfying moment was when he received the judges’ scoresheets: “There were no comments about an off taste in any of our beers, which usually indicates contamination. The only consistent note was that some were a bit fresh, because we only started brewing in September.”

Fellow team member Boka Mahlong described the competition as “cutthroat”, offering both pressure and opportunity. “You’re competing with other universities, but also entering a wider brewing network. Once you’re there, you see how big the industry is –  that’s why so many people attend,” he said.

Because the team all come from the same undergraduate class, Mahlong said the familiarity helped. “Our eagerness to learn more, as well as our communication, is what carried us.”

Team member Awais Shah joined Brewing UCT to understand the science behind a drink he enjoys. “It’s about learning the production process and technical craft, and that’s what brings us together.”

Science of brewing

For teammate Mohau Chokoe, curiosity was the hook. “I love the idea of beer, even though I don’t drink. The scientific process showed me that beer doesn’t have to have a negative connotation. There’s a social element that brings people together.”

Looking ahead, Brewing UCT has been invited and sponsored to represent the university at the Fools & Fans National Homebrew Competition in April next year.

A fifth member of the team, Kgaugelo Lebese, was unavailable for interview.