The Village News
15 November 2025
Hedda Mittner
Clients, friends and supporters of the Hermanus Brewing Company flocked to their premises in Mimosa Street last week to raise a glass to this pioneering brewery’s 10th anniversary.
For the past decade, its founders James and Di Rattle have not only won wide acclaim for their award-winning Old Harbour beer but also become an integral part of the community by initiating CBD revitalisation projects, sponsoring events and charitable causes, and promoting Hermanus as a tourist destination.
Brewed at their microbrewery from Overberg barley and Southern hops, their Old Harbour Beer is a classic easy-drinking South African lager that was a local hit right off the bat, but to show that they can also hold their own nationally against the bigger craft breweries is a proud achievement indeed.
Even more special was when Di topped their back-to-back gold medals at the National Beer Trophy Awards in 2017 and 2018 by receiving the Mayoral Award for Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019 – well-deserved recognition for the Hermanus Brewery’s contribution to the economy of the Overberg and their creation of a brand everyone can be proud of.
It all started when James and Di, who’ve been married for 35 years, did an RV trip along the west coast of the USA in 2000. Inspired by all the micro-breweries they found along the way in small towns in California and Oregon, it became a long-held dream to create a similar lifestyle for themselves when they were older and had more freedom.
James had already set up a business and had a successful career in the construction industry and Di was working as a magazine stylist for top publications such as Fair Lady. But in 2010 they made the life-changing decision to relocate to Hermanus with their three children.
While Di opened a little home décor and gift shop called Shuk, James was gearing up to start the first microbrewery in Hermanus. He completed a course on brewing technology at the World Brewing Academy Siebel Institute in Chicago and, on his return, found premises that he renovated to brewing specifications. Using concise German-based brewing technology, they set to work and hit the ground running.
Within a year they had to enlarge the space to house extra tanks in order to double their brewing capacity. Di sold her little shop to become involved full-time and prides herself on delivering a personalised hands-on service to all their clients while handling the sales, deliveries and marketing side of the business.
Old Harbour Lager, with its balanced depth of flavour and crisp mouthfeel, is unfiltered, is unpasteurised and has no additives — pure goodness. In support of the local economy and environment, the Rattles are dedicated to using local products and recycling. Their ingredients are sourced from within 50km of the brewery. They also own a zero-waste bottle plant by recycling their beer and soda bottles, and after brewing, all the spent grain gets sent to a farm to feed well-loved pigs.
“We want the brewery to be a special place — a beautiful venue, with our own local beer and a welcoming community vibe where people can enjoy a proper pint,” says Di.