College of Science, Engineering & Technology

Cheers! Unisa toasts its award-winning student brewers

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The Unisa team took top honours in the Summer Beer category

This year marked 18 years of the Intervarsity™ Brewing & Tasting Challenge, co-hosted by the Central University of Technology and the Beer Association of South Africa. The three-day event features training sessions on sensory evaluation, beer tasting and lectures by industry experts. On the final day, students showcase their brews to qualified judges from both the craft and commercial brewing sectors.

The challenge is an educational and competitive initiative designed to inspire innovation and technical excellence among university-level brewers. It fosters collaboration and encourages participants to apply their knowledge of chemistry, microbiology and engineering to real-world brewing scenarios. Beyond the competition, it serves as a platform for emerging brewers to connect with the broader brewing industry. The 2025 edition, which took place from 23 to 25 October, featured participation from 18 universities across the country, competing in the categories of Summer Beer, Sour Beer, Lager Beer, IPA Beer, and Beer Label Design.

With the support of the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering in Unisa’s College of Science, Engineering and Technology, the Unisa team prepared and submitted their entries within a tight timeframe. The process involved sourcing ingredients, scheduling brewing sessions and maintaining consistent fermentation under strict time and resource constraints. Student brew teams were challenged to create brews in predetermined categories that are sensorially evaluated according to the Beer Judge Certification Programme guidelines.

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The team showcasing their beers

Against stiff competition from 17 other universities, the Unisa brewing team took first place in both the Summer Beer and Beer Label Design categories. These wins build on a growing legacy of successes, including

  • 2023: Third place in the African Wild Beer category
  • 2024: Mentor of the Year awarded to Dr Kabelo Ledwaba

This win showcases Unisa’s commitment to fostering innovation, collaboration and experiential learning. The recognition strengthens the university’s visibility within the brewing industry, paving the way for partnerships and future academic-industry collaborations.

Looking ahead, the Unisa brewing team plans to recruit more students, formalise the Unisa Brewing Club, and enhance brewing knowledge through event participation and brewery visits. Exciting discussions are underway about brewing for university events, allowing the public to taste Unisa’s creations and provide feedback to refine future recipes.

* By Pinky Mothibi, Mpumelelo Mbatha and Lesego Maloka, College of Science, Engineering and Technology

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Publish date: 2025/11/14

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