Brew Master Ampie Kruger is so proud of his beer that he put his signature beard on the logo,seriously. As a student Ampie, was a big beer lover, he even got himself a home brewing kit but got over it and moved onto other beverages. It wasn't until years later during an afternoon pub crawl in London that he rediscovered his love for real beer and upon his return he was determined to keep the relationship going but found most local beers to be lacking and most imports way too expensive. Luckily an old friend and keen home brewer, Christo Straus, offered him a taste of his own brew and pointed him in the right direction for making his first English Brown Ale. Once the beer bug bit, Ampie continued to experiment, play and craft his way to becoming a formidable beer brewing aficionado. After a few years his good friend and fellow home brewer, Karel Coetzee, suggested they take their craft to the next level by starting their own brewery and that's how Wild Clover Breweries were born in 2010. After some crafting, hard work and finally getting their Brewer’s License, they opened their doors on the 1st of September 2012.
Wild Clover Breweries, situated at the R304 in Stellenbosch, is the home of pure authentic, handcrafted beer made with traditional and natural brewing methods using only quality ingredients. It started in 2008 as a hobby by Ampie Kruger in his garage. In October 2011 they moved into their newly renovated premises on the farm. It’s there where the brand family adopted the likes of pair of owls, an elusive mole, a Fish eagle and a formidable staffie called Zach. With a clear mission, only the right ingredients, time and some imagination they decided to tackle 4 classic international beer recipes and inspired by these four local critters, made it their own.
At Wild Clover Breweries, they make beers with a personality behind it. Their Eagle Weiss is a Wit and has the typical fruity character of a Weiss beer, with a strong banana undertone, Blind Mole is a refreshing Lager (Pils) brewed with the revered Saaz Hop and reveals fresh tropical flavors and a well balanced bitterness that hit all the right notes ,Double Owl is an ale, a fresh citrus character on the nose followed by a classic nuttiness on the palate which will linger for quite some time and Black Dog, named after their Zach, boasts a distinctive smokiness on the nose with a rich dark palate with hints of coffee and chocolate that makes it the perfect winter beer. With its slightly sweet character, this beer is best paired with meat dishes, baked desserts or even quality dark chocolate.
Their vision is simple: to make pure authentic, handcrafted beer using traditional and natural brewing methods and quality ingredients. While the origins of their brewing grew from a place of curiosity, their passion for the craft took form when they found their home – a wild clover farm just outside Stellenbosch. If you're looking for a venue, the bistro & taproom is available for private functions and will will cater to your needs. Visit the bistro from Wednesday to Sunday for a variety of food options, paired with their handcrafted, honest beers and rounded off with live music and beautiful views.
More information on www.wildcloverbreweries.co.za
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Wild Clover Breweries