Shongweni Brewery - Recent Press Releases:
July 2008: Durban’s Local Brewery receives International Recognition
Shongweni Brewery, the brewers of Robson’s Premium Beers, recently received international recognition for the quality of their beers.
The Brewery is included in the ‘Beer Book’ to be published by Dorling Kindersley in Europe, North America and South Africa later this year.
The ‘Beer book’ showcases the best breweries around the world and Shongweni Brewery is South Africa’s entry. It is an extensive directory of over 2000 beers and is the ideal drinking companion.
Brewery Director, Sherene, has just returned from a trip to England where she met with distributors and retailers stocking Robson’s Beers.
She said ‘It was exciting to see our range on the store shelves in the UK side by side with the best beers in the world. At one particular store, Trafalgar Wines in Brighton they stock over 800 different beers and the owner said that our beers are proving to be very popular.'
For South Africans living in the UK London based Cape Wines and Food provide an outlet for home comforts and they too stock the Robson’s beers. ‘The reception of our beer in the UK market has been beyond our expectations and we are looking forward to the next export order later this year’ said Sherene.
Returning to the ‘Beer Book’ Head Brewer Stuart said ‘To be included is to be recognised by the brewing industry as a brewer of great beer and there is no better feeling for a brewer.’
February 2008: Local Beer Goes International
The beer is flowing in celebration at Shongweni Brewery in the Valley of 1000 Hills as their first major consignment of beer leaves Durban Harbour for Europe on 22nd February 2008.
‘We are extremely excited about our premium beers leaving for Europe where they will stand side by side in shops and bars with the great beers from around the world’ said Head Brewer Stuart.
The beers have been purchased by Pierhead Purchasing, a major beverage distribution company based in the UK.
Michael Cook, Director of imported beers at Pierhead said recently that he ‘expects that the unique beers from Robson’s of South Africa, particularly their fruit beers, will make a huge impact in the European market this coming summer.’
‘It is wonderful that a South African company is exporting beer to Europe’ said Director Sherene. ‘Here in South Africa we are consistently fed the mantra that imported beers from the giant global brewers are the gold standard in international beer, and here we are proving that local, independently produced beers deserve their place on the world stage, and of course the local one.’
Later this year Stuart intends travelling overseas on business he says ‘I look forward to being able to sit and discuss the brewing industry with my colleagues in England while sipping a Durban Pale Ale or Mango Fruit Beer.’
November 2007: Local is Lekker!!
Local businesses supporting one another is always great news and when Shongweni Brewery and the Green Man Pub and Restaurant got together on Saturday 17th November you can be sure the day was one to remember.
‘We have been very well supported by the local community since we started brewing here in Shongweni, and a few weeks ago, literally out of the mist, appeared Clinton and Adele from the Green Man in Kloof’ said brewery Director Sherene Robson. ‘We had heard good things about Robson’s beers so we had to talk to the brewery to find out more’ adds Clinton, owner of the Green Man.
It was obvious from their first meeting that Shongweni Brewery and the Green Man had a lot in common. ‘The Green Man is probably the best kept secret in Kloof’ said Robson’s Head Brewer Stuart ‘and it is exactly the kind of place, with excellent food and a real community feel to it that our beers should be available in.’
Though it might seem like an obvious relationship between a pub and a brewery as Adele from the Green Man said ‘We believe that by bringing Robson’s premium beers here we are creating a unique offering in this area and that is something that our customers have come to appreciate, and expect.’
The day included matching Robson’s beers with a variety of food including ploughman’s, meats, sausages and cheeses from Fairview, and live ‘English Pub’ music, including the occasional cameo from the crowd in the pub.
November 2007: Durban’s Local Beers soon for Sale in Europe
Following the success of Robson’s Premium Beers at London’s Great British Beer Festival in August the Shongweni Brewery has secured a significant export order from a large European distributor.
Brewery Director, Sherene, says ‘This export order is great news for the brewery. Our beers are already available in Amsterdam and this order means that they will soon be widely available in outlets across the United Kingdom and Europe.’
The UK based distributor has ordered a variety of beers including Durban Pale Ale, Wheat Beer, and a variety of fruit beers. ‘Our pineapple and mango beers are probably unique in the world of commercial brewing and together with the Durban Pale Ale we believe that these beers will do a lot to promote the image of Durban and KZN overseas’ said Sherene.
The order will also indirectly benefit various local businesses. ‘The brewery philosophy is to source locally where possible and we will be buying the fruit and wheat for this order from small, independent producers, known to the brewery’ said Head Brewer, Stuart Robson. He added ‘To fulfil this order as well as the growing local demand we are going to be in the brewery almost every day between now and Christmas, but I can’t think of a better place to spend my time!’.
Sherene added ‘We believe that this is going to be the first of many regular export orders but it will not interfere with our dedication and support to the local market as we continue to increase the availability of our beers throughout South Africa.’
November 2007: Shongweni Brewery Gets Fruity Again!
Inspired by the brewing traditions of Belgium Shongweni Brewery are about to release Strawberry beer onto the market in time for Christmas.
Head Brewer, Stuart, said ‘Fruit beers have been produced for centuries in the low countries of Europe and following the success of our Pineapple beer earlier this year we have just finished conditioning our strawberry beer in time for Christmas.’
Fruit beers are not Ciders, they are made from malted barley, hops, and water just like regular beer but as Stuart added ‘Our strawberry beer has over 100kg of fruit in the recipe to give us the flavour and aroma we want to achieve.’
Brewery Director, Sherene, says ‘Fruit beers are great for the Summer and we will be producing other seasonal fruit beers over the next few months.’
As a special promotion for the holiday period the brewery is releasing the Strawberry beer, together with their popular regular beers, East Coast Ale, Wheat Beer and Durban Pale Ale in limited edition 550ml bottles.
The beers are also available in a special wire basket as a gift. ‘The baskets have been beautifully made and supplied to us by talented people sourced through a local HIV/Aids charity which also receives a donation from each basket produced. We are pleased that we have been able to support this important local initiative over the festive period’ said Sherene.
July 2007: New Craft Brewery in the 1000 Hills matches fine food and great beer
Durban has a new brewery nestled in the Valley of 1000 Hills.
Shongweni Brewery produces the Robson’s range of bottle-conditioned beers, with four beers currently available and a fifth due for release later this year, to be followed by further seasonal fruit beers.
The Brewery Director, Sherene Robson, who has recently returned to South Africa after over ten years overseas, explained the story behind the brewery. ‘We have set out to achieve two principle goals; bringing exciting new beers to the South African market and introducing the concept of matching excellent foods with quality, hand crafted beers.’
The Brewery, which was designed and manufactured specifically for the production of specialist ales and beers, produces beers based on the great global styles.
Sherene said ‘Our range is inspired by the brewing traditions of Germany for our Wheat Beer, Belgium for our Fruit Beers, England for our Pale Ale, and California for our West Coast Ale. However, we are proud of our locally inspired beer, East Coast Ale, a lively and refreshing golden ale.’ She continued ‘East Coast Ale is definitely the flagship beer and we are already hearing people talk about it as the ‘Beer to Braai for’ which is great news as it links our beer with food, though all of our beers find excellent matches with diverse cuisines.’
She also went on to explain that bottle-conditioned beer is produced in a similar way to champagne, a process that provides wonderful fresh flavours and a pleasant, natural effervescence. ‘Bottle-conditioned beer can also be cellared and overtime the flavours will develop producing beers of amazing complexity and taste.’
In closing we asked Sherene why a brewery and why she established it here in KwaZulu-Natal. She responded ‘Beer has a long history, and in all likelihood was first made accidentally somewhere in Africa. History also tells us that women were the first ‘brewmasters’, so I suppose that I am re-establishing a tradition that is thousands of years old.’
July 2007: Local KZN Beer to be served in the ‘World’s Largest Pub’
Shongweni Brewery is very pleased to announce that Robson’s East Coast Ale, Wheat Beer, Durban Pale Ale and our Mild Pineapple Fruit Beer are all available at the ‘World’s Largest Pub’ the Great British Beer Festival held at Earls Court, London, between 7th to 11th August, 2007.
Brewery Director, Sherene, says ‘This is excellent news for the brewery and the profile of Robson’s bottle-conditioned beers. One of our aims has always been to showcase the quality of our beers alongside the best beers in the world. We understand that this is probably the first time in the 30 year history of the festival that a South African beer has been included and we are proud that it is Robson’s beer.’ She continued ‘We are confident that our beers will be well received at the festival and are hopeful that the exposure will lead to further export orders.’
The Beer festival is organised by the UK based Campaign for Real Ale, a consumer advocacy group, and is expected to attract in excess of 66,000 visitors looking to sample nearly 450 different types of beer.
More details of the festival can be found at http://www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=gbbf or you can find specific details of Robson’s beers on the international beer stand website for the festival at http://www.b-s-f.org.uk/ .
Don’t worry if you can’t make it to London to be part of the festival all of Robson’s beers are available here in KwaZulu-Natal, just contact the brewery for a list of distributors.
