Once upon a brew: The remarkable tale of a beer turned whisky

Darling Brew - one of South Africa’s most awarded and forward-thinking craft breweries, and Africa’s first carbon-neutral brewery – has once again broken new ground. This time, not with a beer, but with a boutique whisky. In a move that blends sustainability, creativity, and a touch of alchemy, Darling Brew has launched Reminisce — a limited-edition 5-year-old malt whisky distilled entirely from beer, and the first of its kind in South Africa.  

The idea to distill beer into whisky was born out of necessity. With sales halted during lockdown, Darling Brew faced a dilemma: what to do with pallets of beer that could no longer reach consumers? Instead of dumping it, they collaborated with a master. Enter George Dalla Cia, a celebrated third-generation distiller best known for his work in grappa, brandy and eau-de-vie. Though this marked his first foray into whisky, George was immediately intrigued by the challenge.  

“We started with a world-class beer, and through an exceptionally refined process, we magnified its soul tenfold,” says Dalla Cia. “The double potstill stage allowed us to preserve the character, while eight-plate fractional distillation added layers of purity, elegance, and complexity rarely found in whisky.” 

“What makes this even more unique is the use of a bain-marie distillation technique where heat is applied delicately to protect and enhance the volatile compounds. It’s slow, meticulous work, but it ensures a spirit of remarkable smoothness and balance. We then matured the whisky for five years in carefully selected bourbon barrels, extracting subtle notes without overpowering the base.” 

This process resulted in a spirit unlike anything else on the market: an unfiltered, richly layered whisky that carries the malt and hop character of its beer origins. It’s important to note that while some whiskies are made using a beer-like “wash” — essentially an un-hopped, uncarbonated precursor — Reminisce is distilled from true, finished craft beer, brewed to full flavour and quality before transformation. 

The whisky has a rich amber colour, with golden hues that catch the light. On the nose, it opens with notes of honey and dark chocolate, followed by hints of mocha, potpourri, and a bright touch of orange zest. The taste is smooth and layered, offering flavours of ginger spice, vanilla, nougat, and white chocolate, with a gentle fynbos earthiness. There’s a soft bitterness and floral edge from the hops — a subtle nod to its craft beer roots — that brings added depth.Its complexity is matched only by its scarcity: just 650 hand-bottled, hand-labelled, hand-numbered bottles have been released. Each purchase is recorded in a collector’s register — a nod to the uniqueness of every bottle and every story it will be part of.  

Whisky distilled from craft beer is an emerging trend globally — with experimental batches appearing in the US and Europe — and Reminisce is the first of its kind in South Africa. With Darling Brew's reputation for pushing boundaries in the craft scene, it's a fitting milestone. 

“With conflict and challenges, we grow and explore opportunities,” says Tewie Roos, Managing Director at Darling Brew. “During lockdown, many would have written off unsold product. But we saw potential in every bottle. We don’t waste. We rework. That’s the heart of our philosophy.”