The Beerhouse

Beerhouse
Beerhouse
IndustryService - Food & Beverage
FoundedAugust 2, 2013; 11 years ago (2013-08-02) in Cape Town, South Africa
FounderRandolf Jorberg
Headquarters223 Long Street,
Cape Town
,
South Africa
Number of locations
1 (2018)
Area served
Cape Town,
Key people
Randolf Jorberg
ProductsBeer, Craft Beer
Websitehttp://www.beerhouse.co.za

The Beerhouse was a speciality beer hall which opened in Cape Town's Upper Long Street on International Beer Day, Friday 2 August 2013,[1] and closed 11 years later, on 3 August, 2024. [2]

Occupying a two-storey Victorian building, the former premises of Bead Merchants of Africa,[3] The Beerhouse comprised a long bar, inside lounge/dining area and outside terrace with historic wrought-iron balcony.[4][5]

The brainchild of German entrepreneur, Randolf Jorberg, Beerhouse stocked bottled and draught beer from 13 countries, 99 bottled beers of various styles all numbered and displayed on a beer wall, and 15- to 20 beers on tap.[6]

As a proponent of the local craft beer revolution, Beerhouse had a strong bias towards supporting South African microbreweries[7] of which the Western Cape boasts over 100.[8] In addition to clear, weiss and experimental brews, traditional African beer, Umqombothi, made from corn, sorghum malt and yeast was available.

The Beerhouse carried through its theme with beer keg wash-basins in the wash-rooms[9] and was featured in Thrillist's "21 Best Beer Bars in the World"[10]

On Saturday 20 June, 2015, Beerhouse doorman Joe-Louis Kanyona was stabbed in the neck whilst on duty, and died a few minutes later.[11]

Jorberg cited extortion as a major factor behind the closure of The Beerhouse.[12][13]

  1. ^ "There are 99 reasons to go to this pub". Times Live South Africa. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  2. ^ Ludidi, Velani (2 August 2024). "Extortion rackets forces Beerhouse to close its doors in Cape Town". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Beads Merchants Of Africa (Pty) Ltd". Kompass. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  4. ^ "Beerhouse in Cape Town". Cape Town Magazine. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  5. ^ "The colourful History of Long Street". Long Street Hotel. 15 November 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  6. ^ "Beerhouse on Long". SA Venues. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  7. ^ "SA's beer revolution: Micro-breweries get to shine". Fin 24. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  8. ^ "South Africa Craft Breweries". Craft Bru. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  9. ^ "For the love of beer! Where can I find a decent brew?". Cape Town Magazine. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  10. ^ "The 21 Best Beer Bars in the World". Thrillist. 12 October 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  11. ^ de Greef, Kimon. "Murder on Long Street: Congolese bouncers and the private security industry". Ground Up. Ground Up. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  12. ^ Ludidi, Velani (2 August 2024). "Cape Town's Beerhouse to close doors after fending off extortion underworld for 11 years". Daily Maverick. Daily Maverick. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  13. ^ COLLINS, FARREN (22 June 2015). "Long Street bouncer stabbed to death". Times Live. Times Live. Retrieved 17 October 2024.