The beer maker, making strides

Elizabeth Joseph Born and raised in Oranjemund, Rittmann has appreciated the simpler yet finer things in life. ”I have to engage more with the customers and give them tours through the plant and do tastings with them. I also have to market our product and since I am alone here, I have to manage the day to day operations too. What really interests me is the diversity which the craft beer industry has to offer. How the ingredients come together to produce different flavours and aromas,” he says.After matriculating from Delta Secondary School in 2006, he pursued engineering and did an introduction course for a year and then decided to switch lanes in 2007.In 2009, he joined Namibian Breweries and then went to Germany and studied at Ferdinand von Steinbeiss Brauerschule for 8 months. He has been a part of Namibian Breweries for the last 9 years.A normal dayRittmann surely never backed down for any challenge and rather saw it as an opportunity to better himself on a personal and professional level.“My day starts quite late. After a much needed coffee in the morning I will just relax at home. I will start work only at about 10h00. Whereby I will start preparing to brew. Preparation takes about 2 hours so I can start brewing at about 13h00. Brewing continues well into the evening ending only at about 20h00. In between I have to interact with clients and give them tours. At times it can be challenging to juggle the too. When I finish, I complete my admin and start doing rounds at the tables for those who request. When I get home I can have late dinner rounded off with a lovely ice cold Camelthorn Helles,” he says.He says that there's not much that sets him apart from his colleagues. “We are all superb, passionate brewers. We all love what we do. “And I believe that there's not much that sets me apart from anyone of them. “I think we are all evenly capable and competent,” he further adds.When he is not busy brewing the best beer in Namibia, Rittmann enjoys motorsport and sometimes participate in drag racing whenever there is an event.“I am a bit of an adrenalin junkie. I have done the highest bungee jump at Bloukrans and the highest swing at the Moses Madhiba Stadium in Durban. “I don't want to do the skydiving too early because I don't know what to do after that,” he further adds.Rittmann wants to take his interests with beer styles and their tastes a bit further and return to Germany and study Beer Sommeliering. Nothing in life will ever be fair. As soon as you can make peace with that, You will live to forever be happy.

The beer maker, making strides

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-19

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The beer maker, making strides

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-19

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