Triggerfish Brewing sits off the R44 at De Beers Avenue in Somerset West, about 45 minutes east of central Cape Town. It started brewing commercially in 2010, which makes it the second oldest craft brewery in the greater Cape Town area. The taproom runs Monday to Saturday, eleven to nine.
The range is the point. The Beer Route notes that Triggerfish has brewed more than 60 beers across 34 recognised styles, and built a reputation for the hard ones. Barley wine, Belgian strong ale, and imperial stout are house specialities.
Two beers anchor the lineup. Roman Red is an American amber ale, one of the first three beers the brewery sold at Lourensford Market. Hammerhead is billed as the first bottled IPA in South Africa, a hop-forward ale with a solid malt spine.
A sour programme followed in 2013, using old wine barrels from the surrounding estates. For more places to drink beer near the city, see our Cape Town craft beer list, the full Cape Town bar guide, and our Cape Town pubs.
What to order
- 01
Roman Red
The amber that started it all. Caramel and pine with a dry, bitter finish. The order if you want the house signature.
$$ - 02
Hammerhead IPA
South Africa's first bottled IPA. Citrus and pine over a malt backbone. The benchmark hop pour on the board.
$$ - 03
A Barrel-Aged Sour
The programme started in 2013 with old wine barrels. Ask the bar what is pouring; the sours rotate.
$$ - 04
A High-ABV Special
Barley wine, Belgian strong ale, or imperial stout. The styles the brewery is known for. One glass, then switch.
$$$
The room and the crowd
This is a working brewery first and a taproom second. The space is industrial and plain, set on the edge of wine country rather than in a city street. Tripadvisor reviewers come for the beer and the tour, not the decor.
The crowd is beer-led and weekend-heavy. Brewery tours bring in visitors, and the seasonal kitchen keeps tables turning. Some reviewers flag slow service on busy days, so build in time.
Triggerfish sits in the heart of Cape wine country, and that location shapes the beer. The sour programme leans on barrels the estates no longer use, and the high-ABV stouts and barley wines age well in that climate. The taproom pours these alongside a few local wines and artisanal schnapps, so a mixed table is covered. It rewards a flight rather than a single pint.
What regulars say
- 01
Go for the range
The Beer Route and Untappd both point to the breadth of styles. Few South African breweries pour this many.
- 02
Take the tour
SA-Venues notes the brewery tour as the way to use a visit. It pairs the beer with the process.
- 03
Allow for slow service
Tripadvisor reviews repeat the same note on pace. The beer earns the wait, but plan around it.
Who it is for
- 01
The beer traveller
A worthwhile detour off the Stellenbosch wine route. The range rewards a long sit and a flight.
- 02
The style hunter
Barley wine and barrel sours are rare on a South African board. This is the place to find them.
- 03
Avoid if you want a city bar
Somerset West is a drive from the City Bowl. For a quick central pint, stay in town.
Pair this bar with
Drink German-style lagers at Cape Brewing Company in Cape Town, hit the city taproom at Devil's Peak Tap Room in Cape Town, or pour from the source at Jack Black Tap Room in Cape Town.
Sources: Triggerfish Brewing official site; The Beer Route; SA-Venues; Untappd; RateBeer; Tripadvisor reviews.