1000 Hills Brewery Hero
KZN Craft Revolution

Creatively crafted,
expertly brewed!

"Where culinary passion meets brewing artistry —
flavour and food in every pour."

Discover Our Story Explore Beers
2009 Established
15+ Years Brewing
5 Core Beers
Brewed with soul
Pale Ale
House Style
SRM 1–40
Colour Scale
ABV %
Alcohol by Volume
1000 Hills Beers
2009 Porcupine Quill
"Flavour & food in mind"
Our Story

The Heart of
1000 Hills Brewery

Established in 2009 as Porcupine Quill Brewing Company, the brewery forms part of 1000 Hills Chef School where Advanced Students learn the art of Craft Beer Brewing.

This brings a unique approach to brewing – with flavour and food in mind. In true craft tradition, we prefer not to follow any particular style too closely but rather experiment with our own styles. Most of our beers follow a pale ale style.

This particular style covers a range of flavours and appearances and suits how we brew our beers.

— 1000 Hills Brewery
Our Philosophy

Brewing Beyond
the Ordinary

We believe that great beer starts with great ingredients and a fearless spirit of experimentation. Our brewing philosophy is rooted in the culinary arts — every batch is crafted with the same precision and passion as a fine dish.

“We don't follow styles — we create them. Flavour is our compass.”

From the selection of malts to the timing of hop additions, every decision is made with food pairing and sensory experience at the forefront.

Locally Sourced

Quality grains & hops from trusted suppliers

Experimental

No style constraints — just pure creativity

Food First

Brewed to complement the culinary arts

Chef & Brewer

Advanced students master the craft

Our Range

Meet the Brew Crew

Five distinctive beers, each with its own character — crafted with passion and precision.

The Cheerleader

The Cheerleader

Amber Ale

Popular, lively and full of character — a crowd-pleaser with a warm amber glow.

The Dean

The Dean

Gold Star Pilsner

Crisp, disciplined and gold-star quality — a pilsner that commands respect.

The FES

The FES

Belgian Exchange

Student-inspired Belgian ale with a worldly spirit — bold, complex and unforgettable.

The Graduate

The Graduate

India Pale Ale

First in class — a hop-forward IPA with distinction and a bold finish.

The Quarterback

The Quarterback

American Pale Ale

All-American valour — a pale ale that leads the play with citrus and pine.

Beer Science

Understanding Your Beer

Beers are rated by colour, alcohol content, and flavour — here's what it all means.

Colour & Clarity

SRM Scale
Standard Reference Method for beer colour, equating to the Lovibond Scale. Lighter beers score low (1), dark stouts score 35–40.
Pale 1 Amber Dark 40

Alcohol Content

ABV %
Alcohol by Volume — the standard measure of how much alcohol is in the beer, expressed as a percentage of total volume.
Light 2% Mid 6% Strong 12%

Flavour & Bitterness

Hops 🌿
Subjective & varied — adding different hops during the brewing process creates bitterness, aroma and taste from the oils of the female hop vine.
Subtle Balanced Bold
The Art of Hops

Where Flavour Comes Alive

What you taste are the oils from the female flower of the hop vine — bitterness, aroma and taste depend on when they enter the kettle.

Timing is everything. Hops added early in the boil contribute bitterness, while late additions and dry-hopping bring aroma and flavour.

Our chefs and brewers work side-by-side to craft beers that not only taste exceptional but also enhance the dining experience — every sip tells a story of place, passion and palate.

From citrusy and floral to earthy and spicy, the hop profiles in our pale ales are as diverse as the South African landscape that inspires us.

Cascade Centennial Citra Saaz Fuggles Galaxy Mosaic African Queen & more