By MOSES K. GAHIGI

More by this Author

Jessi Flynn from Boston Massachusetts, Debby Leat from Zimbabwe and Josephine Uwase came together to offer a new craft beer experience in Rwanda. The three women will establish a micro brewery in Kigali, with matching beer-themed grilled meals.

Jessi Flynn learnt about brewing from her father in the US and she loved it so much that she did more courses to gain more knowledge, and now she has built a business around it.

Kweza Craft Brewery recently got their licence to begin operations.

The first craft beer experience happened at Akagera Game Park, where the three women set up their mobile craft beer restaurant in the wild.

Jessi said the outing didn’t involve many people as they wanted to adhere to coronavirus protocols and the reception was better than they expected.

They brewed five types of beers, three of which were India pale ale with a jasmine flavour, a Belgian blond ale and a stout. The other two types were a ginger beer and sorghum beer — both made exclusively of local ingredients — which revellers loved the most.

The women plan to modify the other three beer formulas to include local ingredients.

Josephine has been brewing local Rwandan beers (Ikigage) for the past 27 years.

However, her experience and skill, is illegal in the country. Local women beer brewers are arrested, and their brews impounded. Traditional beer is classified under illicit brew.

But, Jessi saw the value in Josephine’s skills and brought her on board, where she works as an assistant brewer, where she helps in the blending of the different local ingredients to create tastefully satisfying craft beers.

Debby is an executive chef, and her role is to prepare food that matches the craft beer experience. She for instance uses a certain beer concentrate to marinate pork to make them tender and delicious. Debby has also come up with a recipe of ginger glazed chicken.

“Beer was traditionally prepared by women in Africa and Mesopotamia, and we are just connecting with those roots to build a great craft beer experience around it that will be enjoyed by people,” said Jessi.

“Rwandans have been brewing beer for centuries, at Kweza craft brewery we just want to professionalise and commercialise it,” she added.

The Kweza craft brewery and restaurant in Kacyiru. PHOTO | COURTESY

The three women plan to buy ingredients from local women who grow most of them. They also plan to continue experimenting with different ingredients to create other craft beers.

“We are now designing a micro brewery restaurant and working with an architect. It will be a relatively small place where you come in and have a pint and enjoy the view with friends, and enjoy the brewing process behind glass walls,” said Jessi.

Although Kweza craft brewery is currently in Kacyiru, the microbrewery is being constructed at Kinyinya, and a second one is also in plans The women also plan to expand the concept to other African countries.

They also have mobile brewing equipment, which are ideal for concerts, road shows, picnics and camping excursions. They are working with a female potter who will make clay glasses for customers in the near future.

“Beer used to be made and served in clay because it keeps your beer cold and safe and we want to connect to that history,” said Jessi.

The craft beer prices are a little high; a glass of beer of 330ml goes for Rwf5,000 ($5) as they target high-end consumers and tourists.