Imagine a place with 99 bottles of beer. Not just any beer but a carefully curated selection. Welcome to BeerHouse, once a Cape Town institution. It all started with a trip to Germany. Randolf Jorberg, the founder, visited a beer bar in Heidelberg. He wondered why Cape Town didn’t have something similar. That’s how the idea for BeerHouse was born.
BeerHouse opened its doors on August 2, 2013. This was International Beer Day. The location was 223 Long Street. The building itself was a two-story Victorian gem. It formerly housed Bead Merchants of Africa. Inside, a long bar beckoned. A lounge and dining area offered seating. Outside, a terrace and wrought-iron balcony provided a view.
Randolf Jorberg, a German entrepreneur, was the mastermind. He envisioned a place celebrating beer. BeerHouse stocked bottled and draught beer. They came from 13 countries. The beer wall displayed 99 bottled beers. Each was numbered and of various styles. Fifteen to 20 beers were on tap. BeerHouse championed the local craft beer revolution. It supported South African microbreweries. The Western Cape boasts over 100 such breweries. You could find clear, weiss, and experimental brews. Traditional African beer, Umqombothi, was also available. It is made from corn, sorghum malt, and yeast.
The BeerHouse even had beer keg wash-basins in the washrooms. Thrillist featured it in its list of “21 Best Beer Bars in the World”. The brand strived for innovation. It influenced how people think about beer. It also improved the customer experience. BeerHouse aimed to give guests a 365-day beer festival. It became a tasting room for South African craft beer.
In August 2017, BeerHouse pioneered Brew Food Fusion. This menu centered around meat. The meat was prepared using beer. In-house hardwood smokers added flavor. Beerhouse teamed up with Piet Marais. He was the winner of TV’s “The Ultimate Braai Master”.
BeerHouse saw itself as a hub for all things beer. It provided the best local and international selection. It supported local micro-breweries. It gave them a platform to shine. Social atmosphere and high service standards were essential. Beer culture and education were also very important.
The biggest challenge was overcoming traditional mindsets. BeerHouse embraced innovation. It adopted new tech and software early. The team used cloud-based software. They used mobile iPads for ordering. Yoco credit card machines helped too.
Sadly, BeerHouse closed its doors on August 3, 2024. Randolf Jorberg cited extortion as a major factor. In June 2015, tragedy struck. Joe-Louis Kanyona, a doorman, was stabbed and killed. Jorberg believed it was due to his refusal to pay protection money. Extortion and gang rivalry were to blame. In September 2020, the Police Minister visited BeerHouse. He reassured staff of their safety. He announced new plans to combat extortion.
In August 2024, Jorberg announced the closure. He attributed it to sustained extortion pressures. Mark Lifman, a controversial figure, filed a defamation lawsuit. He sought damages for statements linking him to extortion and the murder of Kanyona. Lifman himself was assassinated in November 2024. This happened just before he was due in court.
Despite its closure, BeerHouse remains a significant part of Cape Town’s history. It was a place where beer lovers could explore. It was a champion of local breweries. Its legacy lives on in the memories of those who raised a glass within its walls.