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The Brewmasters
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The Zululand Brewery is situated at The George Hotel in Eshowe, with beers available on tap at The Happy George Bar. The brewery is the smallest on the KZN Brew Route. We only use natural ingredients, mostly from South Africa - a perfect recipe of barley, wheat and hops creating the right taste and aroma for our hand crafted beers. Our brewery is capable of producing a maximum of 3000 litres a month in batches of 300 litres. Because our brew house is so small we brew up to four times in a day just to fill two 150 litre fermentation tanks!
If tourists would like to stay overnight they will find suitable accommodation at The George Hotel or at The Zululand Backpackers.
Our Beers
Zulu Blonde launched internationally in April 2010 where brewmaster Richards Chennells brewed Zulu Blonde Export Ale at Marstons Brewery in Burton-upon-Trent in the UK to supply 800 pubs for the JDWetherspoons International REAL ALE FESTIVAL. Out of 50 different ales Zulu Blonde was voted number 1 and sold out in the first week of the three week festival. Because of its success, Richard was invited back to the UK to brew another 120 000 pints at Everards Brewery in Leicester, and Zulu Blonde went back into Wetherspoons' 800 pubs in time for the Fifa 2010 World Cup Kick off.
Zulu Blonde now has contract brewing operations in South Africa (Nottingham Road Brewery) and the UK (Everards) and will shortly have operations in the Czech Republic and Belgium.
Chelmsford Porter
Born in 1827, Frederic Augustus Thesinger embarked on a military career at 17 and, steadily rising up the ranks, was raised to the peerage as the first Baron Chelmsford, and reached major general in 1877. He was a man known for his reliability; a capable officer with respect for his men. However, his ability to exercise diplomacy and tact was the only area in which he was regarded as above average. When called upon to quell an annoying native war on a remote African frontier, General Chelmsford undertook the enviable task in his usual unquestioning manner.
Heading an army 18 000 strong, he marched into Zululand – where he promptly lost the battle of Isandhlawana. However, his army took heart from the successful defence of Rork's Drift and recovered to storm the royal kraal at Ulundi and crush the Zulu Empire.
Jantoni Pale Ale
Jantoni was the name given by the Zulus to the legendary John Dunn. Born to successful Scottish immigrants, he grew up in comfort until his father was killed by an elephant. The family was forced to sell their holdings and John started making a living as a hunter, quickly earning a reputation as an expert marksman. His flawless command of the Zulu language and appreciation of the culture won him favour with Prince Cetshwayo, who gave him land, cattle and wives when he eventually became king. The British also recognised his talents, making a border official between Zululand and the colony. Dunn was there when the colony declared war and, after the invasion, he received a large piece of the spoils of war, becoming known as the Great White Chief of Zululand. A hunter, trader, explorer, soldier, statesman and father of over 150 children, this was truly a busy man.
Ultimatum Pilsner
On the 11th December 1878, under the shade of the Ultimatum Tree, Sir Bartle Frere delivered an insult the Zulu nation could not ignore. Within 30 days the Zulu king was to comply with excessive demands. Failure to do so would be met with invasion. The king probably heard little more than a garbled version of the events from his messengers. Not that it mattered, Frere knew that his demands were unacceptable. His war mongering was about to bear fruit. On the 6th January 1879, British forces moved into Zululand – four days before the stipulated period of grace expired! Armed with breech-loading rifles, cannons and even a Gatling gun, 18 000 soldiers marched on Ulundi. They were cornering a lion in it's own den and this, on 22nd January at Isandhlawana, proved a mistake.
The Wandering Keg
If you're around in the afternoon, you might be lucky enough to jump aboard The Wandering Keg - a 1970's Land Rover with a beer tap sticking out between the tail lights. When the weather's good we head off up signal hill with a loaded keg for sundowners over one of the most spectacular views in rural Zululand.
In 2007 we filmed an episode of the TV show, "The Wandering Keg". It is a journey of beer through Southern Africa, visiting microbreweries all along the way and learning a bit about beer, cooking, travel, and having fun. Click this link: The Wandering Keg to watch the show.
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Graham in Brewery
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Offers to visitors on the beer route:
A tour of Zululand Brewing Company can be followed by various cultural, historical and battlefield tours. Visits to upliftment projects like the Zulu Schools classroom project (2000 classrooms), The Jinjindonyama Skills centre, Sikanye Craft Beadmaking Project, or Siyathuthuka Papermaking (out of sugarcane leaves), The Mbongolwane Wetlands Agricultural and Crafts project and Ngezandlethu Handwork Project for unemployed women are possible.
Rural village and township tours which include a shebbeen visit. Should the visit fall on a Saturday, Graham almost can guarantee you the experience of a Zulu wedding or coming of age ceremony.
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Eshowe from the Air
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Eshowe is a convenient stopover on the way to Rorke’s Drift/Isandlwana battle sites, The Valley of the Zulu Kings, Hluhluwe/Umfolosi game parks, St Lucia Heritage site and Shakaland. You can also make your way to other Breweries on The KZN Brew Route.Farmers Brewery in Hattingspruit on the Battlefield Route, and Nottingham Road Brewery on the Midlands Meander. Not to mention other microbreweries such as The Firkin in Durban and Wartburgherhof Brewery in Wartburg.
Thothotho Brewery
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Master Brewer
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Started by Mr Bhekumusa Khumalo near Nyembe School who with his family and two sons, Mhloli “Goodman” and Thiza “Emmanuel” are also retailing their Zulu beer in Eshowe.Genuine sorghum beer is brewed regularly at their rural home 20 kms from town where they also have a shebeen which is frequented by the local zulu’s. The recipe dates back thousands of years.The alcohol level is very low (1%).
Mr Khumalo become famous in his earlier days by becoming a proffessional snuff maker.He was known the breadth of Zululand for the fine product he produced. Snuff is a dark yellowish brown substance made from aloe leaves and tobacco.Snuff is powdered tobacco or medicine taken by sniffing it up one’s nostrils.
Thothotho means “the dizzy spell you get when you sniff the snuff”
How to visit Thothotho Brewery.
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Rural Brewpub
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Victor Mdluli who you can locate at Zululand Brewing Co can be your guide to take you on a 20 km journey through the rolling hills of true Zulu country. Stop en route to enjoy some fabulous scenery and meet locals.Visit Nyembe school and the Nyembe Lutheran Church which was started by Norwegian missionaries many years ago..
When you get there you can wittnes brewing of Zulu beer by the women of the family.Vist the homestead nearby and taste some Zulu Beer in the cool of Zulu hut.
With prior arrangements you can stay overnight with the family in their B&B.
Chris O'Brien " Checking the Zulu Brew Route in Africa"
Fermenting Revolution
How to brew Zulu Beer
Brewing: River River or Mfula Mfula, a type of Zulu Beer
Mfula Mfula, also called riva riva in English, and nicknamed ‘cream of tart’, is a Zulu fermentation of bread, oats, sugar and pineapple. The bread and oats base makes this technically a beer, fortified with processed cane sugar and the natural sugar in pineapple.
Ingredients To Make 20 Litres
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20 Litres warm water
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1 Pineapple
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3 loaves of bread
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About 20-25 stale rolls
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½ kg Oats
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1 kg brown sugar
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20 mg powdered bread yeast
Instructions
Chop pineapple and crumble bread. Mix all ingredients well by hand until bread crumbs are very fine. Close lid loosely and leave over night to ferment. In the morning, strain the coarse chunks of pineapple and bread with a large strainer. We used a plastic net sack, the kind you get with a bag of oranges. Strain a second time with a fine sieve. Add a small does more of sugar upon serving in order to sweeten the taste and cut down on the strong, warm alcohol overtones. The whole batch should be consumed within one day.
Some Beer Quotes
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"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." ~ Benjamin Franklin
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"The problem with the world is that everyone is a few drinks behind." ~ H. Bogart
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"Business is good but the beer is better"
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"He was a wise man who invented beer." ~ Plato
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"When I read about the evils of drinking I gave up reading."
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"Draft beer, not people"
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"Your thirst fought every day" ~ Pilgrim Brewery
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"Why diet if you can have a beer?"
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"Praise the mother who gives birth to a brewer." ~ Shakespeare
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"Beer is the curse of the working class." ~ Oscar Wilde
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"24 hours in a day 24 beers in a case, coincidence?"
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"Beauty lies in the eyes of the beerholder."
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"Give me a woman who loves beer and I will conquer the world." ~ Willem Kaiser
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"Reality is an illusion that happens with the lack of alcohol"
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"A good beer is hard to find you just have to know where to find it."
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"Beer: So much more than a breakfast drink."
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"Prohibition makes you want to cry into your beer and denies you the beer to cry into."
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"A bar is better than a newspaper for public discussion."
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"You’ve got to remember that beer was what these folk drank instead of water. It had too be mild, or the streets would have been full of drunken peasants stumbling around."
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"I wish to see this beverage (beer) become common.” ~ Thomas Jefferson (A Brewer and 3rd president of the United States)
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"I drink to make other people interesting." ~ George Nathan
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"Drinking Beer promotes freedom of speech."
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"From man's sweat and God's love, beer came into the world." ~ Saint Arnold of Metz, The patron Saint of Brewers
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"I drink with impunity...or anyone else who invites me." ~ W.C. Fields
Nutritional Benefits
University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dr. Margo A. Denke, an Associate Professor of Medicine, conducted clinical research on the health effects of alcohol, and beer in particular. The results of her 2001 show that one to two beers a day provides the following nutritional benefits:
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14% of dietary calories
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11% of dietary protein
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12% of dietary carbohydrates
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9% of dietary phosphorus
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7% of dietary riboflavin
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5% of dietary niacin
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No fat
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No cholesterol
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No caffeine
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No nitrate
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Significant amounts of magnesium, selenium, potassium, and biotin
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B vitamins including impressive amounts of B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9 and B12
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Up to 97% Pure Water
Health Benefits
Studies have shown that moderate consumption of beer provides:
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20% to 30% reduction in death from all causes among moderate drinkers
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13% reduction in the incidence of all disease in general
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Significantly reduced risk of ulcers (protects against Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria associated with peptic ulcers)
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Significant (40% to 50%) reduction in the risk of developing gallstones and kidney stones (beer only, not other alcohol)
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45% reduced incidence of stroke (up to 2 beers per day as compared to nondrinkers), including among Type II diabetics
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56% lower risk of angina
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47% lower risk of myocardial infarction
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Substantially lower risk (than abstainers, OR heavy drinkers) of carotid arteriosclerosis
(From the Beer Diet Book)
"It’s Just Good for You"
In the 1930s, copy writer Dorothy Sayers (best known for the Lord Peter Wimsey crime novels) coined the advertising line "Guinness is Good for You!" and the famous Irish stout was dispensed to invalids and nursing mothers.
Beer is also considered inherently kosher, conforming to Jewish standards of food purity.
Fermenting Revolution
Zululand Brewing Co.
Eshowe
Zululand
KwaZulu Natal
South Africa
info@eshowe.com
035 4744919
Your Brewers:
Graham and Richard Chennells.
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About Eshowe
