Meet our new Head Brewer
Meet Dewald, our new Head Brewer!
After 12 years as Head Brewer, MD Miles handed over the reigns to Dewald in August 2025. After 3 months in the role, Dewald has got his feet firmly under the table and is right at home here in Tongham. So we caught up with Dewald to find out how it’s going…..
Q: How long have you been with Hogs Back Brewery?
A: I started at HBB on the 26th of August 2025.
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.
A: It all started around 16 years ago when a friend handed me a beer that he brewed on his homebrew kit. Shortly after I was brewing extract kit beers at home and wasn't satisfied with the restrictions of brewing pre-made kits. I started experimenting with all grain brews and brewed as often as possible. It was safe to say the bug had bitten and had a firm grip. After a few years of home brewing, I stumbled upon a brewery that was being built Cape Town (South Africa) on the route I took to work. One day I walked in to have a look and subsequently met the owner. I made a point of visiting him as often as possible while taking some of my own beers and pestering him to hire me. Eventually I convinced him, took a big pay cut and the rest is history. The breweries that I have worked for include Woodstock Brewery (South Africa), Cape Brewing Company (South Africa), Tuk Tuk Microbrewery (Side project during my time with CBC), Phoenix Beverages Ltd. (Mauritius) under the craft section Manawa and now here at HBB.
Q: Which beer you are most proud of brewing from your career so far and why?
A: I selfishly want to say any of the big IPA's I've brewed but the actual standout beer that comes to mind was a Munich Dunkel (a dark German Lager) I brewed while working under Brewmaster Wolfgang Koedel during my time at Cape Brewing Company. He gave me free reign on ingredients, fermentation and overall profile of the beer. We won an award for that beer and I would not have been able to achieve that without his guidance and willingness to let me experiment.
Q: What plans do you have for news beers at the Brewery?
A: I would like to experiment with our homegrown Farnham White Bine hops and also do a few dark beers and IPA's from time to time. Although I would like to keep brewing new beers and trials, I also feel that it is important to step back and allow all our brewers the chance to experiment and express
Q: Any tips for aspiring home brewers out there?
A: Don't let the little things stress you out. Every batch brewed is a step in the right direction. Even the batches that don't turn out well are just your way of "paying school fees" and paving the way to brewing the beer you want. Most of all, enjoy the process and share the experience (and the tasty brews) with friends and family.
Q: What’s your favourite beer and who would like to share it with?
A: Big punchy IPA (West Coast if it's going), ideally in the countryside, my family and friends. Many people are interesting on paper but family is irreplaceable.
We’re delighted Dewald has joined the team and we are very much looking forward to seeing the next beers out of the brewhouse!
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