Our talented brewing students have once again made us proud, taking top honours at the South African Intervarsity Brewing Competition held in Bloemfontein.
This prestigious annual event, hosted by the Central University of Technology (CUT) in partnership with the Beer Association of South Africa, brings together brewing students from universities and training institutions across the country. The competition celebrates creativity, technical skill, and passion for the craft of beer-making — and serves as a launchpad for South Africa’s next generation of brewers. This year, 1000 Hills Chef School competed against 17 universities, including teams of microbiologists and chemical engineers — making our students’ results even more remarkable.
At 1000 Hills Chef School, brewing is an exciting part of our second-year curriculum. Under the expert guidance of Megan Gemmell, students learn the science and art behind crafting quality beers. Megan, an accomplished brewer, brings a wealth of experience, having earned national recognition for her innovative approach and dedication to quality. Her mentorship ensures that our students gain real-world insight into the brewing industry and the standards expected at a professional level.
Beer categories judged in the competition included:
We are thrilled to announce that our students achieved the following outstanding results:
🥇 Gold / First Place – Lager Category
🥇 Gold / First Place – Sour Beer Category
🥉 Bronze / Third Place – Summer Beer / Low Alcohol Category
These remarkable results are a testament to the hard work, creativity, technical skill and exceptional palates of our students — and to the quality of brewing education offered at 1000 Hills Chef School. Cheers to our young brewers and to Megan Gemmell for her continued mentorship and passion for excellence in the craft!
