Gruit is one of the old beer styles that use herbs instead of hops for bittering and flavour. Our latest beer to incorporate local fynbos derives its bitterness mostly from African Wormwood. The aroma is malty with a unique herbal fruitiness. The ruby red colour is mostly derived from crystal malts imparting caramel and dried fruit flavours. Ancient One is an exceptionally refreshing beer, changing what you’d expect from a dark red ale, and can be enjoyed year round.
Bonito is a spiced variation on our popular Sweetlips blonde. Buchu, an endemic South African herb used in many traditional remedies, imparts unique mint, black currant and orange aromas that are very obvious on the nose and lingers in the finish. The beer is lightly dry and refreshing and is available as a summer seasonal regular.
Empowered Stout is a complex full bodied English sweet stout. This beer gets its malty complexity and colour from a combination of five different malts and two hop varieties. Coffee, dark chocolate, dried fruit, raisins and liquorice in the aroma with detectable sweetness balanced by the bitterness derived from the hops and roasted malts. This beer is best enjoyed at around 11°C and pairs well with meat dishes or dark chocolate.
Typical English ale but varying between brews as we enjoy the latitude allowed in the style. Englishman always sports caramel malt and floral hop aromas with medium to high bitterness. This easy drinking session beer can be enjoyed ice-cold or up to 14C if you like warmer beers.
Eric van Heerden, pioneer, master brewer, versatile entrepreneur
by Craig Claassen
To any force of momentum, there is a start, whether it be subtle or explosive. In that moment an idea can become neglected and wither away or it can be nurtured, allowed to grow and can become bigger and reaching far beyond the original intention of the humble pioneer. For craft brew guru Eric van Heerden of Triggerfish, there was no Eureka! moment where his views about beer suddenly made sense.
Hammerhead, the first bottled IPA in South Africa, is a well-balanced IPA with a distinct hop character that imparts mild citrus and pine aromas and significant bitterness, balanced with a solid malt backbone. It is continually hopped like Dogfish Head’s IPA’s which establishes a deep seated solid hop character in all aspects of this beer. Toffee and caramel are characteristic of the malts used in Hammerhead. The working name on this beer was Hammer(ed) (Hop)Head and probably describes it well.
Ocean Potion is our flagship beer. It is a classic American Pale Ale that pours pure gold with a solid lasting head that settles beautifully. Its trademark is the huge tropical fruit and citrusy aroma. This hoppy component is underpinned by a solid yet complex malt base. The first surprise is that this beer, after the aroma is all beer. Its light bodied and finishes surprisingly bitter. Ocean Potion pairs well with aromatic dishes like Boboti, Thai and Indian curries.
Picasso is a refreshing light beer with a hint of spicy hop and a lingering bitter finish. Named after the Picasso Triggerfish it’s slightly off the wall as a lager style brewed with our hybridised “Trigger Happy Yeast” this beer ferments out completely and surprises committed pils drinkers.
Roman Red is a beautifully balanced, medium-bodied amber ale. It pours a clear African Sunset red with a dense off-white head. The citrus and pine resin hop aroma typically associated with Pacific North Western hop varieties strikes a balance with caramel, raisins and a hint of smokiness from the darker crystal malts. Residual sweetness from the malt counters the hop bitterness. The beer finishes in a lingering mix of caramel and bitterness.
Sweetlips is a light blonde brewed with two malt varieties. The beer is lightly dry and refreshing with some sweet biscuit malt and subtle fruit flavour. It is very lightly hopped and never bitter. An excellent choice on warm summer days.
