I always enjoy driving over the Nelson Mandela Bridge when entering the inner city of Joburg – it hints at what is to come: beauty, business, industry, a sense of history.
On a recent Friday afternoon, I was reminded of this when driving along the bridge for the first time in ages (you are, of course, more than welcome to enter the city another way – but for me, this is the most welcoming). I was on my way to the SAB World of Beer for a tour with fellow Flow team members, and that sense of beauty, industry and history would sit well with what was to come on the tour.
Regardless of which side of the beer wall you stand on, a visit to the SAB World of Beer in Newtown is a pretty interesting way to spend a few hours. It takes visitors on a tour of the story behind beer, a story that is intertwined with the history of the country. It’s an intriguing ride, and you don’t have to be a beer lover or aficionado to enjoy it (although this may have added benefit).
Impressive audio-visual displays create a narrative while some nifty architecture transports visitors back in time, through Egyptian crypts, a rural African kraal, a Gold Rush saloon and a traditional township shebeen. All this is enhanced by knowledgeable guides who flesh out the tale with some interesting facts and figures.
The Flow team thoroughly enjoyed the trip.
“Although I am not a drinker, the history behind where and how beer was first brewed was great and makes one appreciate the art of brewing,” said Zintle Mtyeku of Flow’s sister company, Collective Cow. “Seeing all the work, processes and effort that go into making what seems to be a simple bottle of beer was insightful. I fully enjoyed the experience and would recommend it to anybody.”
Colin Ford, manager of Flow’s writing studio, had this to say, “Brenda, our tour guide, was lovely; my first taste of umqombothi was memorable and, being a big word nerd, I learned some gems like lautering, wort cooling and hopbacks. I’ll never see beer in the same light again.”
Tara Turkington, Flow’s CEO, was suitably impressed: “I loved the World of Beer – drinking traditional beer from a pot was a highlight. I didn’t have any idea of the complexity of the whole brewing process … I loved how interactive the exhibition was, and how sociable it is to visit with friends.”
The tour lasted about 90 minutes, and afterwards we were invited to enjoy a couple of free drinks in the upstairs Tap Room, which offered great views of Joburg – particularly when sitting back sipping a cold one, while watching peak-hour travellers snake their way home.
I thought the tour was well worth the time. And I’m unlikely to hear the words “sparging the grist” in too many other places.
For more visit http://www.worldofbeer.co.za.