The South African beer scene is expanding at such a rapid rate that we decided to feature some up-and-coming breweries alongside the established ones.
Cape Brewing Company
Paarl; capebrewing.co.za
There are some big names behind this Cape Winelands brewery, including Henrik Dunge from Swedish brewing company Åbro, wine giant Charles Back, Andy Kung from Fairview’s Goatshed Restaurant and well-loved brewmaster Wolfgang Ködel, formerly of the V&A Waterfront’s Paulaner Bräuhaus. The brewery will sit alongside the chocolatier, restaurant, glass-blowing studio and, of course, the wine tasting room at Spice Route, next to Fairview. CBC will produce a range of both top- and bottom-fermented beers, including lager, pilsner, IPA and stout – and yes, you will also be able to get your fix of Wolfgang’s delectable Weiss.
Fraser’s Folly
Struisbaai
Fraser Crighton, a trained winemaker, started brewing when he moved from his UK home to South Africa, seeing it as the best way to get his beer fix. Expect traditional English styles, including the flagship English IPA from what will be Africa’s southernmost brewery.
Gallows Hill Brewing Co.
Cape Town; gallowshillbrewing.com
Brothers Schalk and Christoff Marais have been homebrewing together since an overseas trip left them hankering for a greater range of beer styles. They decided to take brewing to a commercial level when they realised they weren’t alone in their quest for something different in their pints. While they don’t plan to have flagship beers, certain styles will dominate, including India Pale Ales, porters and stouts. The Woodstock-based brewery will feature a tasting room and will be close to a number of restaurants.
Herold Beer
George; heroldwines.co.za
This established winery sits slap-bang in the middle of South Africa’s only hop-growing region, so it makes perfect sense to add a brewery to the portfolio. A family-run enterprise, there’s an unpretentious tasting room and meals are available. Brewer Nico Fourie has been experimenting with beer styles to find something unique to add to the Garden Route brew scene.
Honingklip Brewery
Bot Rivier; honingklip.co.za
Husband-and-wife team Mark and Analize ter Morshuizen are familiar faces in the Western Cape brewing world, thanks to their heavy involvement in the SouthYeasters Home Brewers Club. Their journey into beer began when they lived in Europe, something reflected in their flagship Belgian-style beers. The brewery is based on a family farm and will feature a tasting room with wonderful views over the Botriver valley. Light snacks will be available, as well as farm produce and a 4x4 trail for pre-tasting entertainment.
Theo Petersen heads up this tiny brewery in the pretty town of Montagu. His trio of beers – Karoo Ale, Honey Ale and Dark Roast Ale – are served in the Mystic Tin, a bar-bistro-B&B with eclectic décor and plenty of outdoor seating. Theo is happy to show you his simple setup, which employs the extract brewing method.
Lakeside Beerworks
Kommetjie; lsbw.co.za
Morne Uys and Pierre-Charl du Preez began homebrewing together in 2012 and quickly realised they had found their calling in life. Less than a year later, they had both quit their jobs and turned their new hobby into a full-time career. Beer fans are lapping up their weissbier, red ale and American pale ale, brewed in Kommetjie.
Saxon
Wellington
Roger Jorgensen is well known among boutique booze fans, although until now his name has not been associated with beer. “The Still Man” is renowned for his handcrafted vodka, gin and absinthe, but beer lovers will rejoice when they hear that he is also venturing into real ales. The project is in its early stages, but you can expect a range of bottle-conditioned ales inspired by the beers of England, Belgium and the USA, but with Roger’s signature local twist.
South Cape Breweries
Mossel Bay; southcapebreweries.co.za
Brewer Johann Baker decided his homebrewed beers were too good not to share, so along with Jan van der Walt decided to turn his lifelong hobby into a business. The result is a pilsner, an ale and the flagship lager, all of which are being embraced by Mossel Bay locals. The beers are available around town and brewery tours are on the cards.
Stellenbosch Brewing Company
Stellenbosch
Long-time homebrewer Bruce Collins has travelled the world in search of great beer and has the IBD (Institute of Brewing and Distilling) diploma under his belt. The brewery, set to be located at the Joostenberg Winery, will be run by Bruce, beer-loving wife Karen and fellow cerevisaphile, Herman Kruger. Expect a creative range of beers featuring pumpkin, fruit and a whole lot of hops, as well as brewery tours, picnics and, of course, tasters in the tap room.
The Winemakers Club
Gordon’s Bay; winemakersclub.co.za
“It takes great beer to inspire great wine” is the slogan of husband-and-wife team Mark and Kelly Goldsworthy. Mark, a trained winemaker, is now at the helm of the brew kettles for their beer brand, Red Sky Brew. As well as selling their own ales, Mark also runs homebrewing workshops and sells ingredients and equipment.
Woodstock Brewery
Cape Town
Sitting in a district that’s set to become a must on the Cape Town beer circuit, Woodstock Brewery is the brainchild of André Viljoen. After nearly two decades in finance, André decided to launch a business in a field close to his heart – or at least his lips. The family-run operation will serve a range of beers incorporating Belgian, American and German styles in the beer garden and adjoining restaurant. There will also be a craft beer bottle shop and brewery tours will be available.
Agar’s Real Ales
Johannesburg
Brewing is in Michael Agar’s blood. His grandfather brewed his own beer in the 1950s and 60s, though Michael admits “you couldn’t drink it”. Luckily, he is not experiencing similar problems with his own beers, which have proved an instant hit at festivals. Michael has been brewing since he finished varsity in 1984 and got a true beer awakening when he spent three years in the USA. The brewery will produce a range of styles including a German Kolsch, an American Amber Ale and a Belgian Saison named for his very proper white French Standard Poodle.
SMACK! Republic Brewing Co.
Johannesburg; smackrepublic.com
Expect funky branding and fresh, exciting beers from this trio of former homebrewers and self-described “hopheaded urban warriors”. Homebrewing brought David Martin, Andrew Martin and Grant York together and their thirst for hops led them down the path to opening their own microbrewery. Their flagship beers – a Golden Ale, American Pale Ale, and a Weiss – will be on tap at the brewery, sitting SMACK bang in the centre of Jo’burg. The team is as passionate about reviving inner-city Jozi as they are about fighting for the rights of the artisanal beer drinker and their brewery will reside in the Arts on Main building, in the Maboneng Precinct.
Soweto Brewery
Soweto
Soweto’s first brewery is in the very passionate hands of Vincent Lot Nkomo. His love of beer stems from a brewing stint while studying at hotel school and when kit brewing didn’t hit the spot, Vince looked for all-grain inspiration. With Dirk van Tonder of the Irish Ale House (see page 205) as a mentor, Vince is ready to launch his lager, ale and light beer, all under the name “Sotra” – a slang term for Soweto. The brewery will have an attached pub, making it an exciting addition to Soweto’s tourism scene, as well as a great intro to craft beer for locals.
The Keghouse Brewery
Randburg
Vincent le Roux is already well known in beer circles thanks to his Gauteng-based homebrew shop, The Beer Keg, so the leap to becoming a commercial brewer makes a lot of sense. Vincent started out wanting to learn how to distil, but on the journey he accidentally fell in love with beer and has never looked back. Once up and running, the shop and brewery will be in the same building and there will be a tasting room for sampling the blonde ale, APA and seasonal pumpkin ale.
Drostdy Brewery and Distillery
Wolmaransstad
Sitting in an offbeat corner of the North West province, the Drostdy Brewery is a worthy detour for a thirsty traveller. Pharmacist-turned-brewer Gert Jacobs makes a range of ales, all named for the various industries of the region. The brewery is based in the Drostdy Village, once the home of the town magistrate. The nineteenth-century buildings were razed in the Anglo-Boer War, but have since been rebuilt with a new – and many would say improved – purpose. Meals are available, as well as accommodation, just in case you have one too many. The beers are also available on tap around town.
Mogallywood
Maanhaarrand
When a couple who met at a beer festival later get married, it’s no great surprise that they then go on to open their own brewery. It took Roeks and Lauran Griessel three decades to get around to opening their own brewpub, but Roeks was not new to the world of brewing, with his first homebrew hitting the fermenters in 1968. The Magaliesberg-based pub serves food (bookings essential) and there’s accommodation available on the farm as well. Look out for occasional festivals or join in Roeks’s hands-on brewing weekends.
Hops Hollow
Long Tom Pass; hopshollow.com
Established in 2000, this brewery sits in a superbly scenic spot on the Long Tom Pass, making it the highest brewery in South Africa. Having changed hands since Theo de Beer – now brewmaster at Anvil Ale House in Dullstroom (see page 209) – the brewery was out of action when we visited, but keep an eye out for future beers. Accommodation and meals are also available.
Odyssey Craft Brewery
Durban North; odysseycraftbrewery.com
Father-and-son team Raymond and Ashton Barske started homebrewing in 2011, inspired in a large part by the Discovery Channel TV show Brewmasters. After one brew they were hooked and soon graduated from 60-litre batches to 700 litres. Thanks to Ashton’s scholarship from the prestigious Siebel Institute of Technology, you can expect some unique brewing techniques to be employed. As well as year-round beers in a range of European styles, Raymond and Ashton will also brew a range of seasonal beers, including a warming cherry stout. Visit them for tasters and a brewery tour and join them on their journey into beer.
Standeaven Brewery
Alverstone; thestandeavenbrewery.co.za
This family-run brewery sits in a region that is fast establishing itself as a South African brew route, close to the Porcupine Quill (see page 237) and Shongweni (see page 241) breweries. Brewer Shaun Standeaven is a newcomer to brewing, but has a passion for beer that he’s keen to share. The beer range includes a pilsner, an Irish Stout, an “African Pale Ale” and a Weissbier, all relatively low in alcohol.