Christine & Warren Bernard recently visited The Darling Brew Tasteroom in Darling on the West Coast Way Culture Route and discovered the new collaboration between The Flying Pig Smokehouse And Darling Brew!
We can’t go to Darling without popping in at Darling Brew. It’s one of my favourite places to visit for lunch. Beer lovers will love sitting inside – a beautiful restaurant overlooking their working microbrewery, but there’s also the choice of a great outside area as well as a section for the kids. We decided to take a visit to try out their new menu, which has only been out for four months. We met Gil, from the Flying Pig, who explained the new menu to us. The new menu is a smokehouse delight such as smoked pulled pork and pulled brisket, and each element has been carefully paired with a few beer or wine choices. Everything on the menu is locally sourced from the meat and cheese to the bread. This alone is the epitome of what Darling stands for – a community that thrives on its local culture.
The Flying Pig Smokehouse And Darling Brew
We decided to start off with two of their new beers. I had the Rooi Bok (a 5.1% lager) which was perfect for me. I’m not as much of a beer drinker as my husband, and this beer was light and easy to drink. Warren went for the Godfather (a 7.5% rye IPA) which he loved. This beer was first launched at the 2017 Clarens Craft Beer Festival. It has a hoppy taste and was a lot heavier than my lager. There is a wide selection of beers on offer so it’s easy to find something to suit your needs, and Warren and I chose well for our tastes. However, if you’re not sure what to get I would recommend doing a tasting of a few before deciding. They offer 100ml glasses of all their beers.
Choosing something from their menu wasn’t easy. Everything looked amazing. Eventually, Warren went for the Smoked Pulled Beef – 6-hour smoked and 6-hour roasted beef served with gherkins, mustard and slaw on traditional West Coast roosterkoek with fries. I decided to try out one of their vegan offerings, the Pulled Mushroom – smoked, pulled mushroom served with vegan dressed slaw on roosterkoek and fries. I’m not vegan, but I was impressed that they offered something different from other restaurants. The food was amazing, and it’s pretty obvious that the collaboration with The Flying Pig was a great success.
I’m looking forward to going again. I already have my eyes on The Cuban – cured smoked bacon and ham, with cheese, gherkins, mustard mayo on toasted sourdough bread and fries. There are also salads, bagels, and cheese platters to share if you’re looking for something a little lighter, as well as a good selection of coffee and desserts.
Hungry yet?
Make a trip out of it.
Combine your Darling Brew visit with a West Coast Darling road trip for some wine tasting at Ormonde Wine Estate and a visit to the Darling Museum. Add a West Coast safari with a game drive, archery and a self-guided nature walk at Thali Thali Game Lodge. Or turn it into a foodie road trip and visit Russells on the Port for lunch and cocktails overlooking the Port Owen Marina. Visit www.westcoastway.co.za for more information on the best #WestCoastWay experiences.
Find Darling Brew Tasteroom & Brewery on the West Coast Way Culture & Foodie Route.
Distance from Cape Town: 76km
Darling Brew Tasteroom & Brewery: 48 Caledon Street, Darling
Brewery, Restaurant, Tastings & Sales, open-air kids play area, MTB-friendly, Live Events
School Holidays & Flower Season: Open 7 days a week.
Tasteroom operating hours:
- Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9 am to 5 pm Kitchen closes at 4 pm
- Friday 9 am to 7 pm Kitchen closes at 6 pm
- Saturday 9 am to 5 pm Kitchen closes at 4 pm
- Sunday 10 am to 4 pm Kitchen closes at 3 pm
- They are also open for private functions. The restaurant works on a walk in basis but large groups are encouraged to book
They are also open for private functions. The restaurant works on a walk in basis but large groups are encouraged to book.
Contact: +27 (0)21 286 1099 | [email protected] | www.darlingbrew.co.za
Written by Christine Bernard Photography by Warren Bernard
Photos by Warren Bernard (www.flatwhiteimages.com)
West Coast Way is Your Route To Nature
West Coast Way is your ultimate gateway to experiencing the natural beauty and cultural richness of the Cape West Coast of South Africa. As a premium tourism brand, we offer six uniquely themed trip plans that promise an unforgettable journey: Cape, Culture, Foodie, Tractor, Berg, and Wild.
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Savour the delights of wine, craft beer, olives, and Rooibos tea tastings. Indulge in authentic Weskus cuisine and the traditional braaivleis (barbecue). Feel the thrill of swinging into Citrusdal on a zipline or challenge yourself with Cederberg bouldering. Rejuvenate in natural warm pools and embark on serene cruises across lagoons and rivers. Explore the diverse landscapes of nature reserves and a National Park, or embark on exciting game drives. Hone your skills in archery and angling, or amp up the excitement with sandboarding and quad-biking. Enjoy horse riding, immerse yourself in the unique San culture, and experience the vibrant Riel dancing. For water sports enthusiasts, kite- and windsurfing, surfing, and kayaking trips await. Go beach hopping, learn about bees and whales, and delight in birdwatching in a twitcher’s paradise – all within South Africa’s renowned wildflower reserve.
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