Mountain Brewing Company: It’s Time to Get Your Beer On
Mountain Brewing Company is a multiple award winning and family owned craft beer brewery. It is an oasis off the beaten track and utterly tucked away amongst rocky mountains, fynbos and unending views! And YES, Mountain Brewing Company is seriously off the beaten track. I mean driving to the brew house, is rather questionable. The whole time driving up I’m wondering if I’ll make it up the mountain in my little I20. Needless to say she arrived safe and sound! If I can do it… then you can certainly do!
And yes, once you reach the brew house it is totally worth it. Them views, the hospitality, the passion, the craftsmanship and ultimately most importantly AWESOME BEER!
When you climb out of your vehicle, you are greeted with nothing but silence, only the sweet sounds of local residents. The natural beauty of the reserves wraps you with endless views of the valley below, framed by distant mountains, and the glass-like Brandvlei dam.
It is the epitome of tranquility.
A warm welcome awaits you! A hallmark of Worcester’s hospitality is making guests feel like long-lost friends and family. It is for this reason that Worcester has gained the reputation of being the Valley of Friends.
As you relax on the panoramic stoep, PG (Brew Master) shares his passion for beer and stories with you. He may even share some of his secret stash with you if you are an avid beer drinker and a gamer😉. (But no promises😜)
How it all Be(er)gan!
Often, you travel a path without knowing which door will open leading you to your passion. This was the case with PG Groenewald, Mountain Brewing Company’s Brew Master. In all honesty, he absolutely disliked beer. Like many of us, PG thought beer is a quick thirst quencher, served ice cold on a scorching hot day before moving over to drinking something else.
It wasn’t until he traveled to Japan (of all places) that he discovered what REAL beer tastes like. That my darling booze loving friends… led to a journey full of discoveries and excitement.
As he traveled throughout most of Europe, exploring the different styles, and getting to know the ancient secrets of beer making, the inspiration and burning desire to get more people to taste and enjoy the wonderful world of craft beer. And that my friends was back in 2015 when PG opened his then microbrewery!
“It interested me how beer has such an interesting history, however, what really intrigued me was the world of flavours and aromas beer has to offer.”
PG Groenewald ~ Mountain Brewing’s Master Brewer
Mountain Brewing Company: From Humble Beginnings to a World Class Beer Producer!
In the very beginning, MBCo was a very small and humble brewery. What started out as making a brew from his garage (with a 50L professional system) enough to supply the pub the MBCo.
The team worked super hard and as the awards and international recognition started to roll in, the demand for this one of a kind craft beer was growing and fast.
In no time the brewery sustainably grew to a 600L system.
Having said that, the brewery has made a conscious decision that QUALITY would come first OVER QUANTITY, and only produce a certain amount of liters and that’s that.
Finish and klaar! No more!
With so much natural beauty surrounding the brewery, it is obvious one would want to leave as little of an environmental footprint as possible.
As the brewery is situated in a Nature Conservation; sustainability is one of Mountain Brewing’s core values:
Not a single drop of water goes to waste. It goes for recycling and reused.
Mountain Brewery also has chosen a sustainable recycling model for South Africa by not using once off packaging for their products.
Everything goes to recycling: from the wooden crates to glass bottles.
Craftmanship At Its Best!
MBCo. beer is far from commercialised / mass produced tin can bat piss! It is quality one can certainly taste and experience!
Honestly, I have been a massive fan of Mountain Brewery every since I sipped my first MBCo. beer the Cherry Stumpie.. Mind blown! I am still waiting… patiently… eagerly for them to bring it back. Only time will tell! Sigh!!!
And you know when you go to a certain brew house, they have like 20 different beers available for tasting and the first beer and the last beer taste exactly the same except for it being “stronger and more bitter”? Well this is NOT the case with Mountain Brewing!! Each and every single one of their beers is unique and diverse! Not a single one of their beers taste like the other. That my friends is pure craftsmanship!
High Quality Ingredients Found Right on the Door Step
If you have extremely high quality products to work with – you really can’t go wrong with making exceptionally good beer. You have to totally suck as a master brewer to get it wrong. This is where PG pours his heart and soul in creating perfection!
Mountain Brewing Company only uses the very best ingredients in for their beer. There are no skipping corners, as one would only expect from a perfectionist.
Only The Best Grains, Hops and Yeast is Used!
MBCo. The company sources only the very best ingredients from all over the world to ensure the highest quality possible. The truth is, it’s easy to claim you have a superior brand, but it’s much more challenging to maintain it.
You can clearly taste the quality. You know the saying proof is in the pudding, I mean beer.
For example: the Loadshed Larger is is primed with natural unfiltered fynbos honey. Where do they get the honey from? The farm next door. This particular honey used in this beer is so rich in floral pollen that it gives the beer distinctive aroma and flavour.
I also enjoy Mountain Brewing Company’s Fynbos Ale (which we will read about a little later). A beer that only harvests enough fynbos to avoid negatively impacting conservation areas. What they take out for use, they replant. That’s why it’s a seasonal beer.
A Bazillion things can go wrong!
Mountain Brewing Company only uses live cultures (yeast) for their beer making process. Using these tiny little organisms so much can go wrong so quickly. Keeping a constant eye and paying the utmost attention is KEY to making a successful brew!
So in other words it is not only beer that you are sipping. MBCo. actually has some excellent health benefits. It is a very good source of natural probotics. Feeling a little “tight’ in the bowels, well sip on a Mountain Brew and it will definitely aid to loosen things up a little.
Committed in giving back to the community!
The spent grains left by the brewing process, feed to sheep on farms nearby. This helps to create a symbiotic relationship and helps to build a sense of community within the area.
Lastly – the most important key ingredient to any beer making:
WATER – A life source!
The table mountain sandstone water that is at the brewery has a 400-year cycle. This means that if it rains today, then over 400 years later that water will come out of the earth again.
Due to this, the water is so fresh, pure and untouched. There is no need for any reverse osmosis. This is what adds to the beer’s uniqueness and complexity.
Come on get your beer on and the magic!
Discover the magic of Mountain Brewing Company
Whether it’s a break, an escape, or a beer, we Saffers love to travel for a variety of reasons. The most prestigious brewery in South Africa is located just over an hour and a half from Cape Town. Take the scenic route and come via Villiersdorp.
The Mountain Brewing Co. is a hidden bag full of treasures, waiting for you to explore and discover.
In addition to craft beer, Mountain Brewing Company also has a scrumptious restaurant where quality ingredients are used in the same way as in the beer. Get a taste of beer and enjoy a delicious lunch while you’re at it. You won’t be disappointed! Authentic inspired German pub grub! A small but mouthwatering menu ranging from German sausage, mash and sauerkraut to juicy burgers to a snack platter for the peckish!
Heck you know I am all about responsible drinking so it is best you just stay over!
The Klipbokkop nature reserve offers 17 comfortable rooms with en-suite bathrooms and free Wi-Fi and most importantly spectacular views over the Brandvlei Dam and surrounding mountain ranges. They also provide self-catering facilities for groups that include a shared kitchen and undercover braai area. Lets not forget a beautiful rock pool to cool down on a hot summer Worcester afternoon!
An extra bonus the venue is known for its premier 4X4 training experience and the media often use it for filming new vehicles because of its picturesque setting. If this doesn’t convinces you to make your way to the Mountain Brewing Company, then I am afraid nothing will!
Oh and last thought – you can drop non beer drinkers off at Stettyn Family Vineyards for some awesome wine, amazing cheese platters and views!
Would you like to purchase and can’t visit them? No problem! You can purchase their beers at Mother City Liquor Store!