The highest craft brewery in South Africa with unique beer and an excellent liquor
The Hops Hollow Country House and Brew Pub is a unique bed and breakfast and restaurant, situated on the highest point of the Longtom Pass, in Mpumalanga.
It markets itself as the highest brewery in South Africa, which is a unique selling points which draw in many visitors.
Its location, 22 kilometres from the Mashishing, formerly known as Lydenburg, is not its best attribute. Its unique beer and great liquor are.
Although the first beer was only brewed during February 2001, the initial concept and planning started in 1993.
The brewery has since grown into a place where South African and international beer lovers stop over for one of the best.
The beer brewed at Hops Hollow Brewery is a combination of the brewer’s experience, scientific background, and artistic flair.
Colin, the Hops Hollow brewer, told BusinessTech that their malt draught beer is brewed with no enhancers or unnatural additives.
They use clean mountain water, which is soft with low levels of minerals and no added chlorine or fluoride.
Although it is a small operation, Colin, which has been with the Hops Hollow Brewery for 12 years, said they maintain the highest standards.
As each batch of beer is handcrafted, the outcome is not always predictable. This means each batch always surprises with different nuances and tastes.
The beer is coarse-filtered and not pasteurised, and thus contains a small percentage of active live yeast.
The Hops Hollow Brewery handles its own bottling and produces beers for a handful of other regional brands.
Beer is not the only product Hops Hollow Brewery produces. It also has an excellent liquor, named “Nag my liefie”.
The Hops Hollow Brewery also produces its own Vodka, named “3D Vodka”, which it says is great for mixing.
Hops Hollow Country House and Brewpub
Apart from visiting the Hops Hollow Brewery, people can also stay at the Hops Hollow Country House or enjoy a meal at the Brewpub.
The Hops Hollow Brewpub is a unique restaurant offering beer on tap, a full-service bar, and a menu featuring lunch and dinner options.
The décor and food are exactly what one would expect from a unique restaurant and pub at the highest point in South Africa.
It features a central fireplace, comfortable seating, and numerous artefacts on the walls and throughout the restaurant, lending it a unique ambience.
For those who wish to stay overnight, the Hops Hollow Country House offers comfortable en-suite bedrooms.
Facilities included in the quaintly decorated rooms are a fan and heater, linen and towels, and tea and coffee making amenities.
Breakfast is served all day, so even if a guest decides to sleep in, they can still grab a proper breakfast.
“At Hops Hollow, we strive to make you feel at home and invite you to relax and enjoy the positive energy of our home,” the hosts said.
Prices are affordable, ranging from R580 per person per night to R720 per person per night, depending on the room selection.
Visitors can enjoy the comfortable mountain setting, great views of the Drakensberg region, and a children’s garden play area.
An added bonus is the friendly dogs which greet visitors to the Hops Hollow Country House and Brewpub on arrival.
Hops Hollow Brewery photos
Hops Hollow Country House and Brewpub photos
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