March 8, 2018

The Company We Keep: Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela

The Company We Keep is a new column on the CN&CO blog that profiles some of the most interesting people in our networks. Here we share the details of the lives of people we know, showcasing the extraordinary diversity of our society and proving that people truly are at the heart of everything we do. In this edition we interview Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela-the Brew master behind locally produced beer Sharpeville (which is owned by CN&CO friend Motseki Majake) Apiwe is also the brainchild behind Brewsters Craft, South Africa’s first Black female owned brewery.

  • Who is Apiwe?

Born Apiwe Nxusani in 1984, Butterworth Eastern Cape. I am the middle child of 3 kids-older brother and younger sister. We were raised in a loving family by our parents who were both teachers. My father took early retirement in the early 2000s to start his own company – which is from where I learnt about business and actually continue to learn. I am married to my varsity sweetheart, Rudzani Mawela and have two kids Rinae (8) and Lwanzhe (8months).

  • How did you get into brewing?

I got into brewing through the interest and love for sciences. While I was in grade 11, I visited RAU (now UJ) for an open day. Growing up I knew somehow I would end up with a career within sciences /biology because those were the subjects I enjoyed. My parents wanted me to become a doctor, which I wasn’t that keen on. At open day, within the science faculty’s Microbiology study, they had on display yogurts, cheese, beer and wine…. Showcasing the study of Biotechnology. That for me is where the spark was initiated.

I then went and completed a BSc in Microbiology at Wits and later Honours in Microbiology at UP. I joined SAB through the graduate recruitment program after receiving a bursary from them.  I then completed an 18 months brewing traineeship with SAB, and did a  Diploma in Brewing and Master Brewer qualifications both through the Institute of Brewing and Distilling.

  • How long have you been brewing?

Technically I have been brewing since 2011, when  I moved into a position as “craft brewer” within the SAB Miller group. Within this position I was given the creativity to design own my beers and brew beers of various styles – something every brewer dreams of. Before that, like a typical brewer within any large brewing company, I just followed the recipes given as per tradition.

  • What is the best part about your job?

Since leaving SAB in 2013, after 8 years with the company, I joined Brewhogs Microbrewery as a Brew master and Shareholder. December last year I sold my shares at Brewhogs to focus on my company Brewsters Craft.

I am at the moment putting together what will become South Africa’s first black female owned brewery. The brewery which will offer contract brewing services coupled with quality control services will be an expansion of the training and consulting services I currently offer. The brewery should be operational by end of this year. So working on this project, as challenging as it has been at times, has been quite exciting for me.

At the moment I have been doing a lot of brewing training and seeing other young black women in my classes has been by far the most exciting thing. I would love to get to a point where having female brewers is a norm rather than an exception.

  • Advice you would give future brew masters.

Advise I would give to future Brewmaster is that our industry needs passionate, driven, dedicated individuals. Brewing is quite physically challenging and takes a lot of time, so they must be prepared for long working hours. It’s basically not an industry for faint hearted…. But having said that, the rewards are worth it. Seeing people in their numbers enjoy fruits of your Labour is worth every second. #SheLovesBeer

  • Lastly, a fun fact about Apiwe.

Fun fact about me…when I am not working or spending time with my kids and husband,  I love going out with my cousins especially to the markets or shisanyamas.