This is unusual.  Very unusual.  I don’t like beer.  In fact, I would go as far as to say that I detest the stuff.  Not on the hottest, dryest, most energy-sapping day has even the frostiest, most dew-covered brew ever quenched my thirst, or seemed even vaguely palatable.  Bitter, yeasty, yuck.

But, last night I discovered something I suppose I ought to have known.  Something I should have guessed at, but never thought to question…  All beer is not equal.  All beer is not flung together in the space of a few days to pump out to the masses.  All beer is not crafted with care, using only natural ingredients and no added preservatives, colourants or any other ‘funny’ stuff.

Some beer is special.  Some beer takes 12 weeks to create and should be savoured just as respectfully.  Some beer can blow a girl’s mind.

And the artisan brews I tasted last night at &Union did just that.

I am gobsmacked.  Who knew that beer could taste like champagne?  That there could be hints of dried apricot and other fruity notes?  Who could have guessed that a block of hard unpasteurised cheese and German mustard could transform that same fruitiness into a golden blaze of honeysuckle?

What an awesome revelation.

The event, in case you’re wondering, was the first official event organised by Cape Town’s shiny new Slow Food convivium: Slow Food Mother City (more about that soon).  &Union was the perfect choice: passionate purveyors of hand-crafted artisan beers, which are brilliantly paired with complementary seasonal foods, sourced locally.  The quality is exceptional and, wherever possible, the food is organic and free range.

(They even have unbleached, recycled Green Home toilet paper and napkins, believe it or not.)

Long story short:  I, who once loathed beer, now love it… REAL beer, that is.  So, do yourself a favour and try it for yourself.  Yes, you will pay more than you would for your average bottle of mass-produced swill (ahem), but it is most definitely worth it.

&Union is located at 110 Bree Street, Cape Town. www.andunion.com.  They’re open from 7am to 11pm, and serve delicious seasonal meals to go with their beautiful brews. They also make a mean coffee (being owned by the creators of Vida e Caffe).

On the evenings of 23 and 25 February 2010, we will be introduced to the world of unfiltered, lovingly crafted artisan beer. &Union’s beers are imported, but are made from top quality ingredients and, because they are brewed for up to 6 to 8 weeks instead of being rushed through the process in days, have distinctive flavours unlike anything mass-produced.

Which makes them perfect for food-pairing! In line with &Union’s philosophy of keeping their food offerings local, seasonal and organic wherever possible, we’ll be sampling locally raised and cured meats, organic olives, and some of the best of our local cheeses (made with unpasteurised milk).

The beer experts will be on hand to explain how each beer is made, and what makes them different from your average brew. And, helped along by carefully selected food matches, we’ll learn what flavours and characteristics we should be picking up and why.

&Union has a lovely selection of locally produced meats, cheeses and sausages, as well their famous beers and wines. For those who are keen to socialise, there is the option of staying on to have some dinner at &Union after the presentation.

If you would like to come to this event, please RSVP to events@slowfoodmothercity.co.za as soon as possible, indicating on which date you would like to attend. Numbers are limited by the size of the venue, so we will be offering this event twice, with a maximum of 15 guests on each date.

Date/s:

Tuesday 23 and Thursday 25 February 2010.  ** UPDATE:  this event is now fully booked, but if you’re keen to go onto a waiting list, mail us anyway, and if there are any cancellations, you’ll be first in line! **

Time:

6.30pm

Cost:

R20 for Slow Food Mother City members, R30 for guests, payable at the event.

Venue:

&Union is located at 110 Bree Street, Cape Town. www.andunion.com

Upcoming events:

If you can’t make it, or beer isn’t your thing, here’s a taster of the events and projects we’re organising for the months to come.

• Indigenous lamb tasting and CSA
• Food Film Festival
• Fruit & vegetable preserving workshops
• Fruit Community Supported Agriculture projects
• Wine and biodiversity outings (includes picnic – children welcome)
• Producer showcases
• Wild mushroom forest walk (children welcome)
• Chocolate tasting and demonstration

If you would like to become a member of Slow Food Mother City (R70 per annum), please visit this page and sign up!