Balgowan Brewery

Balgowan Brewery is a company registered by two young, enthusiastic entrepreneurs who are products of Rhodes University.

Cindy Slater obtained her PhD in Biochemistry in 2015. Stefan Just studied Applied Mathematics and Physics with Electronics and recently submitted his thesis for his MSc in Electronics.

In their final year at Rhodes, and 6 years after Slater’s first brew, they developed their social and brewing skills with academic peers at Rhodes, brewing beer on weekends. Needless to say, they both claim a love for science and their fascination of fermentation turned a passion for home brewing into a career. After leaving Rhodes they decided to settle on the Midlands Meander and concentrate full time on their brews and forming the Balgowan Brewery on the beautiful property of Midlands Forest Lodge.

After months of experimentation, Just and Slater have scaled up and perfected their brew process with recipes for several types of beers. Good beer starts with water, malts, hops and yeast but consistency is the heart of any product. Meticulous planning and execution are key in maintaining a consistent brew process. Balgowan Brewery aims at creating both quality and authentic tasting beers using local as well as imported ingredients.

Tours and tastings by prior appointment only.