The craft-beer wave has been enveloping South Africa for a few years now. And it was only a matter of time before local brewers recognised the added-value proposition of closing their brew with a natural cork – just as some of the finest European brewers have been doing for centuries.

Black Eagle Brewing Company, based in the laid-back town of Langebaan on the Cape’s West Coast about an hour’s drive from Cape Town, decided cork was the way to go when packaging their super premium Queue de Lion (tail of the lion) beer, and Amorim is a happy supplier of corks to this artisanal brewery.

According to Hugo Roux, co-founder of the Black Eagle Brewing Company, the Queue de Lion is made in the “Saison” style, with this beer being a Super Saison coming in at a hefty alcohol content of 8%.

“This is our flagship, which we only brew once a year,” says Hugo. “And the name Queue de Lion originates from the herb we use to flavour the beer – Lion’s Tale, which grows abundantly in our region and is also known as ‘wild dagga’.”

Hugo says this is a very traditional beer falling into the Belgian Strong Ale category and is also referred to as a rustic farmhouse ale.

“We decided to use cork for tradition as well as marketing reasons,” he says. “Packaged in a 750ml bottle, we want the beer to stand-out as well as to promote the concept of having a lovely tall bottle of beer on your table instead of a bottle of wine.”

The black eagle might be flying, the lion wagging its tail, but with 8% alcohol, this brew’s got the kick of a mule if you’re not careful!

For further information see http://www.bebc.co.za.