What started off as a hobby, is now a fully fledged craft beer microbrewery in Shaka's Head on the Dolphin Coast just outside Ballito. Gary our brewer and plant manager is inherently a KZN "citizen" having grown up and matriculated in the beautiful Natal Midlands, he then went on to complete a National Diploma in Analytical Chemistry at what was then Natal Technikon in Durban. (now known as Durban University of Technology.
Gary began his career in the laboratory before moving into various roles within the speciality chemistry industry. We are currently producing eight international favorites. Ursula and her husband Gary Wilby left the corporate world to start The Great Railroad Brewing Company, (now renamed the Ballito Brewing Company) which they opened in August 2015.
“We have always been keen home brewers and decided to take a risk and turn our passion into a business.” said Gary, who is an analytical chemist. “We have had some fun setting up this brewery, especially when it came to figuring out the Chinese instruction manuals, which were not well translated into English.” The brewery is now working at full pace and Gary said they can make any style beer on demand.
“We have eight different styles: Our Dingaans Premium Lager, Shakas Impi Lager; Bohemian Pilsner, a classic Pilsner with a twist; German Weiss beer; Irish Red Ale; Ballito Belgian Ale, a Belgian Witbier (made with bitter orange peel and coriander), Ballito Olde' English Ale. Due to popular demand we are currently busy formulating a unique IPA (Indian Pale Ale).
We have recently added our uniquely formulated craft Gin & tonic to our portfolio. Currently, we blend a craft gin with our specially formulated tonic water which is available in a number of flavours. We have recently purchased an experimental still and are busy formulating some unique gin recipes before we acquire our own still.