More Accolades for Brewing UCT at the 2013 SAB International Brewing Challenge

It was cause for celebration yet again for Brewing UCT at this year’s 6th annual SAB Intervarsity Beer Brewing Challenge. The team returned to the SAB World of Learning in Johannesburg on the 30th August to defend their championship title.

Competing against 10 other South African Universities, The BUCT team, comprised primarily of UCT Chemical Engineering Post Graduate students – Dr Rob Huddy (Post-doctoral fellow), Mark Kerr, Derek Ndoro, Alex Opitz and Brian Willis – won the R15k first prize in the Miller Best Speciality Beer Category for their rugby inspired Tri-Nations India pale ale. The “passion-fruit”, “hoppy” IPA wowed judges in flavour profile and concept, incorporating hops from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand to embody a legitimate Tri-Nations tribute.

BUCT also walked away with the second prize in the Cider Category for their locally inspired Granny’s Original Recipe Cider. The team paid homage to the Western Cape by crafting the Cider from royal gala and golden delicious apple juice from the Elgin region - courtesy of William Everson and The Montego Brothers.

PhD student Brian Willis says that the team took a holistic approach to beer crafting this year, concentrating on novel concepts that would translate well into winning recipes and corresponding labels. On this front, the team took home 3rd Prize for their German-artisan style Spitze Maibock label.

Despite narrowly trailing this year’s overall winning team from TUKS (University of Pretoria) the team are inspired and “already planning their next brews” according to Dr Rob Huddy. Team mate Mark Kerr notes that the opportunity to “showcase our passions and product to fellow beer lovers is a source of great excitement” for all members.  BUCT assures that even better beers are brewing for 2014.