Darling, beer? Darling beer?

When Mrs ⁽¹⁾ Earnshaw started teaching me proper English in 19$#@#$% she stressed the importance of punctuation.  Whether she succeeded is a) A matter of opinion   b) A matter of me remembering what she taught me.  Punctuation, she said, is important.  So back to the title.  Quite a difference in meanings.  Which bit do you think is more likely to be heard in my house?  And is it the same bit I would most like to hear? ⁽²⁾

Darling Brewery is the reason I don’t have to brew my own anymore.  On the website you can read Kevin Wood’s account of why he started brewing.  The most important part is that he did.  And the second most important part is that he brewed a Wit.  My favourite style.  The third important part of the story is his decision to distribute to my local bottle store, so very close to perfect in my view. ⁽³⁾

I’ve been a fan of the Wit, the Lager and the Ale since they came out.  On a recent trip I stopped at the tasting room in the town of Darling, hence the name.  The tasting room is easy to find.  Turn right at the Butcher.  Park.  Obviously if you don’t come from the Cape/Yzerfontein side you will be stuffed if you follw these directions.  Rather use these fronm the website then:

   

Open Monday to Saturday 10:00 – 18:00 and on Fridays from 10:00 – 20:00 (except Christmas day) and 7 days a week during school holidays.
5 Main Road, Darling

022-4923798

Or tell your favourite navigator, electronic if you must, the address.  I am sure you can also phone the numbers below and ask nicely for directions.

For groups larger than 8 please book to avoid disappointment.

PHILIPPA WOOD
071 901 2532
philippa@darlingbrew.co.za
KEVIN WOOD
074 141 9862
wood@darlingbrew.co.za

At the tasting room sheer will power prevented me from buying food or chocolates.  I did get to try two new, wel to me, beers.  The SouthYeasters had a preview of the Christmas beer a while back.  I think it evovlved a little from the original concept.  European Christmas beers are normally strong, full flavour beers spiced with nutmeg and or cinnamon.  Christmas cake type flavours.  Good drinking in colder weather.  Cold is not something we associate with Christmas in this part of the world.  So drinking a rich, flavourful, high alcohol beer in 30°C is not that appealing.  So a modest 4% lager, spiced with nutmeg and a lighter body than the “traditional” Christmas beer works well for me.  Similar, but "fuller", to the Van Hunks Ppumpkin ale from Boston.

The Silverback is more difficult for me to assess.  This is how it is described on their website

”An intelligently smooth “Black Wit” a new black wheat styled beer. Silky and soft in the mouth and incredibly easy to savour at all times. (4% alcohol)” 

So a wheat beer, perhaps Wit rather, with dark colouring, possibly molasses.  Not sure about this one. I  tried one a few weeks later and the ambiguoity remains.  It is a well made beer, as they all are, but I am flummoxed by this one.  it is not quite one thing or another.  extra points for trying it, but I will not try this one again.  The rest, and any new ones, for sure.  The beauty of smaller brewers are they will take you to unexpected places and maybe beervana. 

(1)    In those days we still used Mrs.

(2)    If you are a sexy, single, only daughter whose elderly father owns a brewery, the answer is the first bit.  And the job is open.  If not, well the answer depends a lot on my mood.

(3)    Perfect is when it is given away for free.