SA universities in beer brewing contest

Fifteen teams from universities across the country will pit their best brews against one another to be crowned champions of this year's SAB Intervarsity Beer Brewing Challenge. 

Now in its ninth year, the beer brewing culture amongst students began in UKZN's Pietermaritburg campus where a micro-brewery was built. 

Last year, the the Cape Peninsular Uiversity of Technoloy won three titles for their lager-based beer, Rooibru.

SAB's Anton Erasmus says the two-day event, held in their training centre in Johannesburg, will be a learning experience for students.

"We wanted to create an opportunity where students not only learn how to make beer but how to taste it as well. The students will be housed on the premises where we train a lot of our internal students and staff to better themselves technically. So it's well-suited," he said.

The trade brewer says they are looking for an innovative product. 

"We use an overseas criterion which is called the Beer Judge Certification Program. We're teaching our tasting panel and students the different beer styles and methods. We deliberately stretch the envelope and tease the brain of the students," he said.

The participating teams will receive a chance to enter an academic programme offered by the Institute of Brewing and Distilling. 

(File photo: Getty Images)