DARLING BREW ‘THE WANDERER’ NAMED BEER OF THE YEAR 2022 IN SOUTH AFRICA
DARLING BREW RECEIVED TOP HONOURS AT THE 2022 SA NATIONAL BEER TROPHY AWARDS WITH 'THE WANDERER' WINNING BEER OF THE YEAR & ARROWHEAD TAKING A TROPHY FOR BEST IN CATEGORY
We are exceptionally proud to announce that Darling Brew received eight awards at the 2022 South African National Beer Trophy Awards, including Best in Category (and Gold!) for Arrow Head, and Beer of the Year (and Gold!) for The Wanderer - our latest craft beer, a pilsener, the name of which was inspired by the endangered Wandering Albatross.
A full line-up of 190+ beers was tasted by the SA National Beer Trophy Awards jury and only a very limited number of them were medalled, so we are incredibly proud of our achievements at this independent South African competition that follows international BJCP standards.
“Medals are awarded solely according to score criteria, designed to single out the top 25 - 30% (more or less) of all beers entered. As such, multiple gold and silver medals can be awarded in any given category. A silver award equals 39 points out of 50, while a gold award equals 42 points or more out of 50,” explains Johan van Schalkwyk, Brewmaster of Darling Brew.
HERE ARE THE DARLING BREW BEERS THAT WERE AWARDED:
DARLING BREW THE WANDERER
GOLD MEDAL - BEER OF THE YEAR TROPHY
Inspired by the Wandering Albatross, this bold and distinctive German-style Pilsner features a tantalising flavour profile filled with captivating notes of pine, citrus, and florals, along with a light grassy undertone. Crisp, dry, and easy to drink.
DARLING BREW ARROWHEAD
GOLD MEDAL - BEST IN CATEGORY TROPHY
Inspired by the Namaqua Arrowhead, a rare butterfly native to regions in South Africa & Namibia, this Russian Imperial Stout comes to the table with notes of Madagascar bourbon vanilla, smooth coffees, and hints of dark chocolate underpinned by a delightful hoppy bitterness.
DARLING BREW GYPSY MASK
SILVER MEDAL
Inspired by the playful, yet shy Roan antelope, Gypsy Mask is a rambunctious red ale with a striking rusty colour, featuring spicy hops balanced with malty sweetness and a fruity aroma. Low bitterness makes this a refreshing, all-season ale.
DARLING BREW SLOW BEER
SILVER MEDAL
The beer that started it all, Slow Beer was inspired by the slow and steady Geometric Tortoise. This iconic rich golden later is a great thirst-quenching beer that refreshes with a real hops flavour, rounded off with a delectable touch of mild bitterness,
JUST BEER
SILVER MEDAL
As one of South Africa's strongest lagers at 5.7% ABV, JUST BEER is brewed using superior ingredients without the addition of any additives to deliver an incredible crisp flavour. It’s just malt, hops and water. It’s JUST Beer.
DARLING BREW 4X4 BRAAI PA
SILVER MEDAL
This brew is an ode to a passion for beer, braai and the open road, in collaboration with Beer Country. A refreshing pale ale with fruity esters and a gentle hoppy aroma makes this the perfect easy-drinking beer for hot summer days around the braai.
These award-winning beers are available in most bottle stores, and can be purchased from our online store all year round (aside from speciality/seasonal brews that are launched for a certain time frame each year). It can also be sampled in person at our Darling Brew Tasterooms in Woodstock, Darling, and Bethlehem.
Although we may take a bit of time to savour these awards with an appropriately selected personal favourite or two, our brewing team will still be hard at work maintaining the high standards that we are so proud of at Darling Brew.
In the meantime, we invite you to find your favourites and share your personal reviews in person or online - we always love getting feedback from our loyal supporters.
