It’s the start of a brand new decade, and there’s no time like the present to start developing a taste for beer. Not just any beer, either. The revival of the roaring twenties is the time to delve into the delicious delights of craft beer. You don’t even need to venture too far from your backyard. In fact, when it comes to craft beer, the best place to start is close to home, at your local craft brewery. Local is lekker, after all. But, if you still need convincing, we can give you five fantastic reasons to seek out your nearest brewers and sip their cold crafts.
There’s no denying – small businesses need the support of their community, and your local craft brewery is no exception. Craft brewers put their heart and soul into their business, going to great lengths to perfect their product. And, you’re not only helping a small business grow, but you’re also contributing to your local economy. At 1000 Hills Brewing Company, we’re more than just a local craft brewery – we’re a family. As part of 1000 Hills Chef School, we approach our craft with flavour and food pairing in mind. Not to mention, we’re inspiring the next generation – our advanced students all complete a brewing course as part of their studies. Long live craft beer!
When it comes to craft brewing, it’s not the number of beers you produce that counts, but the quality – with flavour at the top of the checklist. A delightful tasting experience is one thing you’re always guaranteed when visiting your local craft brewery. While commercial brewers pump out the same recipe batch after batch, craft brewers experiment with different ingredients. (Explore the difference between craft beer and commercial beer.) For a craft brewery, the result is all about the complex nuances of flavour, and their customers’ enjoyment, of course. We, particularly, love exploring different flavour combinations with our Deli exclusive, The Rebel, which has been a blonde ale, a Trappist, and an award-winning salted popcorn caramel, to name a few.
Flavoursome brews aren’t the only highlight of visiting your local brewery. You’ll also find an exciting range of styles. Gone are the days of choosing between lager or lager. Now there are Belgian beers, pilsners, pale ales, blondes, IPAs and more. Brewers can also combine styles to create a hybrid of two. We love experimenting with styles, using the pale ale style as our starting point. Discover how we style our brew crew here.
If flavour and variety aren’t enough, the food and beer pairing will have you hooked. That’s right, food and craft beer are a match made in heaven. Pair the right beer profile with the right dish and the enhanced flavours will blow you away. As we’ve already mentioned, we’re rather passionate about pairing our craft flavours with food. Our student-run deli opens on weekends, offering a carefully planned menu and craft beer on tap. The menu changes with each syllabus, providing new flavourful beer and food combos to whet your palate.
Are you ready to be blown away by the last reason to head down to your local craft brewery? Craft beer is healthy! (In moderation, of course). Thanks to a selection of natural and quality ingredients, craft beers are full of beneficial nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins and fibre. All which are great for your health. (Read about how you can boost your health with the benefits of beer.)
Now that you’ve worked up a thirst, you better book a table at your local craft brewery, 1000 Hills Brewing Company. Our Deli and Microbrewery opens Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 8:30 am until 4 pm. We’ll also give you a complimentary tasting if you’re struggling to decide which of our flavours is for you. Call 031 777 1566 to book a table.
There are so many things to do in Durban, but many of them tend to revolve around the beach or being active outdoors. What about something different – the pleasure of the outdoors complete with relaxed friendly vibe?
Of all the colourful cities in South Africa, Durban and its surrounds offer the most relaxed outdoor activities for the whole family. The beaches are warm and sunny, while the outer suburbs offer beautiful stretches of thick forest with magnificent walking trails and viewpoints. Coffee shops dot the area among the petting zoos and shopping malls.
Picture this:
A morning spent outdoors, overlooking the scenic views of the Valley of 1000 Hills, while the children play and the adults enjoy premium-quality craft beers, or a wide range of teas and finely crafted eats and treats. Even the dog enjoys the outing, playing with the children and enjoying a snack of his own.
If this sounds like the perfect way to spend a relaxing weekend, then it’s time you venture into the hills and try out a whole new flavour of fun (and food). Stretch your experiences with these new things to do in Durban.
1000 Hills Brewery is run as part of 1000 Chef School, and is located on the same premises in Bothas Hill, KwaZulu-Natal. The Chef School is a local tertiary college, but they are so much more. They’ve entrenched themselves in the community, inviting visitors to sample foods from their on-site deli, participate in gourmet evenings, or enjoy the peace and quiet of the friendly and trendy premises.
Here are some of the reasons visitors fall in love with our offerings, every weekend.
The second-year students from 1000 Hills Chef School learn to craft the finest selection of ales as part of their curriculum. True to the college theme, we’ve designed our beers to represent our school spirit, as you can see by our colourful labels.
If you’re a beer-fanatic, you’ll love our selection, especially if you’re a beer-drinker looking for things to do in Durban. While we follow the best practices laid-out by the industry, we also prefer to adopt a nonconformist style, we like to experiment with flavours and brews. Most of our beers follow a pale ale style, varying in test and flavour.
Each flavour is personified according to its characteristics. If you’ve ever cracked open a cold one and felt yourself becoming best friends with a brew, you’ll relate to these names. We have The Cheerleader, The Quarterback, The Fes (the foreign exchange student), The Dean, and The Graduate.
We might also introduce a new member to our brew crew soon, but you’ll have to connect with us via social media to see what, when, and where our exciting new craft beer will be. Either way, our brew crew will not only satisfy your meanest thirst, our awesome mircro-brewery and deli will give a new and exciting list of things to do in Durban.
1000 Hills Brewery loves brewing exquisite craft beers day after day, but what would a brewery be without beer lovers enjoying our refreshing beverages. This is why we offer a complimentary beer tasting with our brew-master, Trevor Maarschalk, as well as a free tour of our facilities every Friday, Saturday or Sunday between 8.30AM and 4PM. Add some culture to your weekend plans and learn about how your favourite beers are made. Booking is essential – find out more here.
1000 Hills Chef School believes their students learn the most when they’re physically doing the work. Students learn a number of artisanal production methods used in creating all the produce that is sold in the deli. The result? A fantastic deli that’s a hidden gem in the Valley of 1000 Hills, serving artisanal food that’s crafted conscientiously, with the purpose of wowing the palate. If you’ve been there and done that, we’ll surprise you! Every two months we launch a whole new menu. Because why do predictable? You can find the menu here.
The deli offers a culinary adventure for the whole family. We’re fortunate to have premises that are breathtaking, from the magnificent view of the giant rocks and the rolling hills to the lush green grass and a play area for children. We’ve created an environment that offers something for everyone and even welcome furry friends, so, if you’re looking for things to do in Durban with your pooch, pop by!
When last did you enjoy a night out? Fine dining? The best South African wines? On the first Thursday of the month, the students from 1000 Hills Chef School host a gourmet evening. The evening promises plated dishes which are finely crafted, accommodating even the most sophisticated of palates. Each dish is professionally paired with a selection of South African wines, or sometimes craft beers and even a showcase pairing featuring South African gins.
This sophisticated evening is a must if you’re looking for classy things to do in Durban. To view the menu, or to book your spot, visit their website.
Being part of the community means reaching out and welcoming everyone. We do this by letting you know we’re here and luring you with flavours, tastes, and activities that are irresistible and suitable for the whole family.
We’ve included everyone in our menu, scones with jam and cream, healthy and crunchy salads, curry to tempt you for days, and even steak prepared to perfection. Because we’re so passionate about welcoming familiar faces, our prices are reasonable, our food is hot (or cold, if you ordered our unique school-made ice cream), and our smiles are from the heart.
The best part is that we’re only 10 minutes from Hillcrest. So, if you’re looking for fun things to do in Durban, this is it. Dig into something fine and eat your heart out. We’re here all weekend, every weekend.
Follow us on Instagram or like our Facebook Page to stay up to date with our latest news and specials.