Triggerfish has been brewing in Somerset West since 2010, which makes it the second-oldest craft brewery in the greater Cape Town area. Its taproom is at Paardevlei, on W.R. Quinan Boulevard, and there are more than twenty beers to choose from, including IPAs, ales and stouts.
There's a kitchen for proper meals alongside the beer, live music and events, and a happy hour in the late afternoon. The mood is relaxed and sociable, with a slightly funky, creative energy.
Paardevlei itself has an interesting history. The land was once part of the explosives works De Beers set up here, which began production in 1903 and later became part of AECI. Today the area is being redeveloped into a mixed neighbourhood.
It's one of the closest places on this list to Green Gables, which makes it an easy way to end a day at the beach or in the Winelands.
Getting there from Green Gables
The taproom is at Unit 9, W.R. Quinan Boulevard in Paardevlei, about 10 minutes by car from Green Gables. There's parking on site.
Opening hours
The taproom is open Tuesday to Thursday from 11:00 to 20:00, Friday and Saturday from 11:00 to 21:00, and Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00. It is closed on Mondays. The kitchen keeps similar hours, but check before you go if you want a full meal late in the day.
What to drink
Ocean Potion, an American Pale Ale with a big tropical-fruit and citrus aroma, is the flagship and a good place to start. Hammerhead was the first bottled IPA in South Africa. For something lighter, Sweetlips is a gentle blonde ale, and Bonito is a version of it spiced with buchu, the Cape herb, which gives it mint, orange and blackcurrant notes.
Roman Red is a balanced amber ale, Picasso a crisp pilsner-style hybrid, and Empowered Stout a full-bodied sweet stout. If you like your beer bigger, Titan is an 8% imperial IPA made with Southern Passion, a locally bred hop with a passion fruit aroma. Triggerfish was the first craft brewery to build a big IPA around it, in 2012.
Seasonal brews come and go. Great Weiss, a traditional wheat beer, appears in summer, while winter brings stouts like Champs Breakfast, a coffee oatmeal stout made with 35 litres of espresso per brew. Some of the strongest beers, such as the Black Marlin imperial stout and the Crazy Diamond Belgian ale, age well, so ask what's on.
The Triggerfish Market
Every Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00 the Triggerfish Market sets up at the brewery, with free entry. Expect local stalls, food, music and a relaxed, family-friendly crowd.
Tips for your visit
With more than twenty beers on the list, ask the bar staff about tastings before you commit to a pint.
Come on a Sunday if you'd like to catch the market, and remember the taproom is closed on Mondays. If you're driving, the lighter beers like Sweetlips and Picasso are the sensible choice.
Make a day of it
Cheetah Outreach is nearby, so it's easy to pair a morning with the cheetahs with lunch at the taproom. Triggerfish also makes a relaxed stop on the way back from Stellenbosch.
