By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Ngoto Craft Lager — has come to the party in a magnanimous way, giving imbibers a wider choice to choose from.
The spectacular and colourful launch held at Lake Chivero saw beer and gin connoisseurs from all walks of life converging for beer and gin tasting.
Courtesy of Media House Nhandaro Group Pvt Ltd, a Zimbabwean entity which trades as Dandaro Media House in South Africa, the flagship companies of the brands — Ngoto Craft Lager and Hdot Clothing Line — the craft lager is now available on the local market.
Ngoto Craft Lager is defined by the brewmasters as a “beer brewed to represent an immeasurable legacy. An African tale whose heritage is so rich it’s the composition of life itself. A beer whose character of taste depicts a story of kingship and melodies that are rhythm of a diverse people.”
The brewmasters even suggest that: “Ngoto was birthed from the womb of love as a source of livelihood. To those who carry us on their backs, Ngoto is a gift to you. To those who protect legacies, Ngoto is a beam that lights your path.”
For those not in the know, Ngoto in colloquial language means homemade beer or ndari but the difference is in the contents and taste.
Besides the Ngoto Craft Lager made from water, malted barley, hops and yeast, there is also the Ngoto Craft Gin which again has added more flavours to the already growing choice of gins available in Zimbabwe.
The gin also brings a flavorful of taste for those who love to enjoy their drink as well as cocktails.
Glen Tafadzwa Ngoshi (37), who is the CEO and founder of Media House Nhandaro Group, explained the journey travelled in the build-up to the launch of Ngoto Craft Lager.
“So the process is about four years old during which time we were perfecting the taste.
“As part of my travels far and wide we wanted to make something people would consume and made by Zimbabweans. So we came up with Ngoto whose taste could make Zimbabweans in the diaspora feel nostalgic about home and at least celebrate our country,” he said.
“The whole concept of Ngoto is like ndari in the rural areas especially where I come from in Zuruvi, Mhondoro. Usually people come together as a community to enjoy ngoto or ndari. Our target market is medium to high income earners but we do not segregate for as long as one is above 18 years. And the one good thing about Ngoto is that it doesn’t taste like any beer that exists out there.”
The Ngoto Craft Lager comes in packs of 8, 16 and 24 while the Ngoto Craft Gin will also be available in cooler premium tonics and spices which are ready to drink in clear bottles.
“All this is brewed in South Africa but we intend to construct a brewery here in Zimbabwe so that we do everything here including bottling. We are doing well in South Africa where we are distributing directly to clients.
“The Hdot Clothing Line has been there for the last 5 years and it is also well received on the market. Our coming on board is to complement other brands like a newly born child we want to celebrate and we are here to stay.”
According to Glen who is a marketer by profession, the Ngoto Craft Lager is their pride and they were looking at widening their market share both locally and across Africa.
And so proud of his roots in Mhondoro that he drew inspiration to making Ngoto Craft Lager something beer drinkers can be proud of.
“I’m a beer person and in my travels id taste 9 to 10 different beers in one sitting and I have no doubt we have a great product and just like in the villages let’s take ownership of the lager because it is ours. And whenever people gather Ngoto has to be there because it is like a unifier,” he said.
“Ngoto is that one thing we’re bringing to unify people with other races, creed or colour without segregation but just unity of purpose.”
Together with his wife — Lynette — they are the directors of Media House Nhandaro Pvt Ltd.
“However, we have other people who work with because I’m a very difficult person to work with. Daves Guzha has been our mentor he was open with us and he imparted knowledge in us without soliciting for anything,” he said.
Recently, Media House Nhandaro Group Pvt Ltd named Feli Nandi, Holy Ten, Stunner and Probeats as it brand ambassadors.
The artists have worked with the company since inception in the country performing at their activations as well as launches. All the artists are brands in their own rights and share the same vision as Ngoto brewmasters of not just being a local brands but transcending to other regional markets.
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