4 minute read
Brauhaus am Dam
Brauhaus am Dam: A German Gem at Olifantsnek Dam
In the beautiful setting of Olifantsnek Dam and the Magaliesberg Mountains you will find the North-West’s best kept secret – Brauhaus am Dam, an authentic German brewery, eatery and events venue. The brewery boasts a female master brewer behind its award-winning beers. Now that the secret is out, we decided to find out more about her (Imke Pape) and why this wonderful place is the ideal outing any weekend of the year.
Brauhaus am Damm was started by a group of friends. It sounds like the perfect collaboration. How did this come about and what are each of your roles in the business?
A friend of ours heard about the closure of Famers Bräuhaus in Hattingspruit KZN and convinced us together with another friend and investors to buy it and build a new venue to house this magnificent brewery. We divide the roles of Brewery, Director and Maintenance Manager between us.
Where did the German influence and inspiration come from?
We are all Germans in the “conglomerate” and therefore the German aspect came naturally.
Your beers have won multiple awards. Congratulations! What sets your brewery-method apart from the rest?
Our Brewery is a state of the art piece of equipment. I have excellent cooling facilities for my fermentation and lagering tanks and therefore I am able to produce very good lager beer. Furthermore, I studied extensively to understand the processes in both the actual brewing and fermentation of the different beer styles. My month spent in Craft Breweries in Germany and Austria, doing practical work also helped to prepare me for brewing award winning beer!
Why did you choose Olifantsnek as the location for your establishment? What makes this area so magical?
Brauhaus am Damm was built on a piece of our Farm “Steinfurt”. In trying to find a perfect location for our Brewery we looked all over the Rustenburg area and finally decided to build a new “home” on our own Farm at the Olifantsnek Dam. The location is extremely tranquil and overlooks the Dam and the magnificent Magalies mountain range.
The Magaliesberg biosphere has been declared as an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Brauhaus am Damm is not just a brewery with beer tours and beer tastings and a delectable restaurant, it is also a popular events venue. What types of events do you host here?
We cater for any event, any number of guests and any budget! The main dining area and outside deck can seat up to 200 guests and is ideal for weddings and large functions.
Our conference room can accommodate around 30 delegates and has a private dining area adjacent to it, should you require more privacy for the conference.
For smaller functions and parties (up to 80 persons) we have a rustic cellar bar with private outside beer garden - ideal for birthday parties and anniversaries. Whatever function you have in mind - birthday, baby shower, bachelor party, wedding, anniversary, conference etc. we will make it unforgettable for you and your guests!
While the brewery is your speciality, you also offer an incredible authentic German menu. What is your most popular dish?
The most popular dish in Brauhaus am Damm is by far our Eisbein. The secret to its exceptional taste is that we boil it in Brauhaus Beer and then roast it to perfection. I can confidently say that you will not lay your hands on a better Eisbein in the whole of SA! Apart from the Eisbein we also serve other German specialties such as Schnitzel, Sauerbraten, a variety of German sausages and homemade Pretzels, to name but a few of our delectable dishes.
Anything new on the menu or are you planning to launch a new beer soon?
I specialise in German Beers but my newest beer creation is my “African Summer Dream” an American Pale Ale with an African twist! It is a refreshing ale with lots of “tropical” fruit aromas and perfect balance of the malt backbone and hop bitterness. A perfect beer to have on hot summer days. Every now and again I brew a once off specialty - the next one might just be a “Bock”
What can Gautengers expect when visiting Brauhaus am Damm?
They will be treated with friendly hospitality, experience the tranquility of the magnificent surroundings and enjoy award winning beers and delicious food! If our guests would like to learn more about the art of brewing - we offer beer and brewery tours with beer tasting - these tours MUST be booked in advance!
Phone: 064 617 2423 / 087 098 0641 Email: info@brauhaus.co.za
