Alex beer crafters wanted
ALEXANDRA – A local beer brewer has encouraged locals not to abuse beer but rather 'put it into good use'.
A youthful Alex filmmaker and beer brewer has called on the township youth to shy away from unsavoury pastimes and join her movement to turn them into future beer brewers.
Obakeng Malope, a committee member of the Craft Beer Association of South Africa, said it was her wish to turn idle youth in township into beer brewers. “I would like to see the youth of my township, especially the female youth, shying away from indulging in unsavoury pastimes and start crafting their future in one of the township’s favourite drinks.
“I am here to help them. They should not be put off by the fact that they do not own the big industrial equipment that is synonymous with big brewery houses but can start by brewing craft beer in their homes, using their own pots and saucepans.
“It’s that easy. I have a friend of mine, Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela, who inspired me to join the industry and is now one of the biggest female craft beer brewers in Johannesburg, if not in the country. She started with her own pots and saucepans as her equipment in her home,” said Malope, a resident of 18th Avenue and Rev Sam Buti Street.
Malope said she would also like to change the narrative around beer as a drink that is often associated with getting drunk to evade social problems or circumstances. “Beer is a drink like any other. Let’s not abuse it but put it into good use, especially with craft beer as we can pair it with our meals in the home and enjoy it responsibly,” she added.
Malope (33) said she can organise a trip to a brewery for those interested to learn more about the craft of beer brewing in the hope that they may inspire them to take up the challenge and become beer brewers as well.
She is currently using her filmmaking skills to produce videos from Nxusani-Mawela’s brewery to educate the public about the dangers of abusing alcohol as well as the benefits of enjoying it responsibly and, on top of that, learning to brew it for themselves.
“They can start small in their own home and establish a market, and who knows, one they can open their own taverns to sell their own brands and eventually buy the much dreaded industrial brewing equipment.
“All they need is a will to do it, and then register and become licensed and join me to take them through their beer brewing journey.”
She concluded by encouraging the youth to also brew their own traditional beer such as uMqombothi. “I don’t want them to lose their culture and traditions,” she said.
Details: maalkop.cc@gmail.com; Instagram
