Darling Brew is now in Cape Town with a cool new spot in Woodstock. You now don’t have to drive all the way to Darling to enjoy beer-tastings, beer-on tap, beer desserts and more.
Where is it?
85 Albert Road, Woodstock
Why go there?
It’s a lot closer than going all the way to Darling to try enjoy their craft beers! The food is delicious too and they have some good specials on different days of the week.
How much am I going to pay?
Breakfasts from R40, burgers from R120, Flammkuchen from R90, platters for two from R150 and desserts from R50. A beer will cost you around R30, cocktails are R60 and a carafe of wine is around R40.
When is it open?
Monday to Thursday: 06h30 – 00h00
Friday to Saturday: 06h30 – 01h00
Contact details
Telephone 074 328 1405, https://www.darlingbrew.co.za/
I recently attended a beer-making evening at the newly-opened Darling Brew in Woodstock and spent a fun evening with a group of people learning about the art of making beer (I threw in some hops), drinking beer (bottomless beer on tap) and tucking into delicious food (copious amounts of German sausages, breads and cheeses). I also went home with my own Growler of beer and go back in a few weeks time to collect the beer I made – well, the beer I threw some hops into. The Master Brewer actually did all the hard work while I drank beer and scoffed pretzels!
Learning to make beer is one of the things you can do at Darling Brew, but they have plenty of other things on offer too. Here’s what you can look forward to if you pay them a visit on Albert Road in Woodstock.
Eat at Darling Brew
Darling Brew are open from 06h30 in the morning (those beermaking people get up early) so you can pop in for a coffee or breakfast before work. Otherwise they have burgers, bangers n’ mash, schnitzels and beer-based desserts for lunch and supper. Below are a few items that you will find on their menu:
- Sweet Morning Breakfast (croissant filled with peanut butter, chocolate and caramelised banana) – R55
- Farmer’s Breakfast (mushroom and Mozzarella omelette, bacon and boerewors served with a side salad and sliced baguette) – R85
- Fisherman’s Breakfast (smoked salmon and red onion omelette served with a side salad and sliced baguette with homemade Horseradish butter) – R105
- Crispy Mozzarella Sticks served with a Marinara sauce – R61
- Spicy or mild Buffalo Wings served with coleslaw – R63
- Warm Cous Cous salad with paprika, onions, pesto, cucumber, red pepper and pine nuts – R77
- Swiss Meat Salad with mature cheddar, Lyoner sausage, cucumber, red onions and vinaigrette. Served with fresh homemade bread – R87
- German Vienna Sausages served with fresh homemade bread and German hot mustard – R61
- Bavarian Leberkase (meatloaf with a fried egg, home made fried cube potatoes and pickles) – R96
- Darling Burger (333.33g all-beef house-blend patty, with bacon strips, caramelised onions, grilled jalapeños, white cheddar cheese, and home-made BBQ sauce) – R131
- Greek-style Flammkuchen (Tarte Flambée with crème fraîche, thinly sliced onions, olives and feta cheese) – R99
- Meat Platter for Two (selection of German style meats, bread, pickles, olives, peppadews and biltong paté) R169
- Cheese Platter for Two (a variety of locally sourced cheeses, bread, pickles, figs, seasonal fruit, nuts and obatzer) – R149
- Beeramisu (the homemade Italian classic, with their famous Silver Back Beer, sponge finger, espresso mascarpone and cocoa) – R51
When I popped in for lunch a few weeks later I had the Rostbratwurst which was really good, as German sausages usually are! It is normally served wth homemade bread and German hot mustard, but I asked if they could swap out the bread for some mash potato because I prefer bangers and mash to bangers and bread! They happily did so at no extra charge and I loved my mash served in a jar. I also had a 300ml Darling Slow Beer and the bill came to R99, which I thought was a good deal for a meal and drink.
Wednesdays are Burger Special days where you can enjoy half-price burgers from 12h00 to 22h00 and they also have a pasta buffet from Monday to Friday, 12h00 to 15h00 where you can have pasta with a choice of two sauces and a soft drink for R77.
Drink at Darling Brew
Darling is one of South Africa’s first well-established and award-winning microbreweries since 2010. They brew a wide range of craft beers that are loved for their flavour, high quality ingredients and slow brewing process. Each beer in the range has unique characteristics and an inspiring story dedicated to the endangered creature they honour and support through various conservation programs they donate to. Darling Brew’s range includes traditional lagers, ales, oat ales, pale ales, IPAs, wheat beers and exotic darks.
The drinks menu is extensive, including their craft beers, spirits, shooters, liqueurs, cocktails, bubbly and wine. They also do beer tastings (from R40) and you can order a five litre keg for your table.
Thursdays see half-price beers on tap from 17h00 to 19h00 and on Saturdays, ladies can enjoy half-price Sugarbird gin and tonic, Laxtonia Cider on tap and cocktails from 15h00 to 19h00.
Brew classes at Darling Brew
Darling Brew offer master classes in the art of beer making, hosted by Jan Kaserer, their master brewer. During the session you will be taken through the beer brewing process step by step, while enjoying beer tastings and eating your way through various platters of German-style meats, German sausages, locally sourced cheeses, pretzels and pickles. To end off the evening you are presented with their famous Beeramisu dessert seved in a jar.
The class comes with a bit of price tag, but it’s well worth it. I rolled out of Darling Brew after eating all that food and quaffing all their beer!
Full pint class – R899
Includes
three-course meal, platters, beer tasting (8 beers) and a one litre Growler of
your favourite beer on tap. You are invited back six weeks later to collect
your very own five litre keg of your special brew.
Half pint class – R399
Tuck into a two-course meal with a beer tasting (8 beers).
It’s always beer o’clock at Darling Brew (although they draw the line at beer for breakfast) and it’s worth stopping in for a pint or two. I am definitely going back one Saturday afternoon for those half-price gin and tonics…
Published June 2019 | Hosted by Darling Brew for beer brew class, lunch own account