Southern Africa is buzzing with craft beer and gin places that are worth your time. South Africa has changed from a place where industrial lagers ruled to one of the most exciting craft beer and gin scenes in the world. With more than 220 craft breweries in the country, and a gin boom built on local botanicals from the Cape Floral Region, you have plenty to explore. Here is your guide to finding the best craft beer and gin experiences in Southern Africa.
The Craft Beer Scene
South Africa’s craft beer trend started spreading in the late 2000s. Brewers mix old-school methods with new ideas based on local ingredients and flavours.
Cape Town Hub
Cape Town and the Western Cape are at the heart of craft beer culture. You should check out Woodstock Brewery if you want a mix of styles in a relaxed beer hall setting. Jack Black Brewing Co. in Cape Town is also a favourite for visitors who want quality brews in cool taproom settings. For a different vibe try Aegir Project in Noordhoek where fresh beer and friendly locals make a weekend visit worth it.
Unique Styles
Some brewers go beyond common styles like IPAs and stouts and use local African ingredients. Soul Barrel Brewing Co. in the Cape Winelands makes bold beers such as “Sorghumwine” that use sorghum, a traditional grain. Their beers often win awards and make you think differently about craft beer.
Eastern Cape and Garden Route
The Eastern Cape is proving that great beer is not just in major cities. Richmond Hill Brewing Company in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) has a lively taproom and creative beers you will enjoy. Down the Garden Route you will find Sedgefield Brewery, a smaller place where the brews feel like a local secret.
Beer Trails
The Beer Association of South Africa (BASA) has made a Brew Route to help travellers find the best breweries around the country. You can use it to plan your trips and make sure you visit more great spots.
The Craft Gin Scene
Gin has seriously taken off in South Africa, thanks to the country’s varied plants and flowers. Distillers use native botanicals to make gins with real character.
Fynbos Flavours
Fynbos is a group of plants found in the Western Cape. Many distillers use these native plants in their gins. The results are rich and unusual flavours you will not find anywhere else.
Notable Distilleries
Wilderer Fynbos Gin in the Paarl and Stellenbosch areas is a pioneer of South African gin. Their tastings are relaxed and full of local stories.
Deep South Distillery in the Cape Peninsula makes award-winning gins in small batches. Their products reflect the sea air and local plants.
Innocent Spirits Distillery creates artisanal gins and rums with bold ideas. They are a great stop for people who want to try something offbeat.
Six Dogs Distillery is known for gins inspired by the dry Karoo and Blue Country plants.
Blind Tiger Gin is one of the newer names getting attention for its smooth, interesting gins.
Tasting Tours
Many tours bring you right into the distilleries. You can see how gin is made and taste samples that show you how botanicals change the flavour. There are full-day gin tours out of Cape Town that make for a fun day trip.
Tours and Experiences Worth Booking
Here are some of the best ways to enjoy beer and gin in Southern Africa:
- Kiff Kombi Tours in Cape Town runs “Urban Safari” tours that include craft beer and sometimes gin stops, with local stories and hidden spots.
- Reveler Tours has “Gin Jive,” a route that takes you to several distilleries around the Cape.
- The Gin Voyage in Cape Town offers a 1-hour yacht cruise with local gin tastings on the water.
- Garden Route Craft Hopping is a 4 to 8 day trip covering breweries and distilleries along the coast.
- BeerEx Africa in Cape Town is a yearly event that brings together brewers from across the country.
Tips for Planning Your Trip
Try beer or gin with local foods like biltong and braai meals for full flavour pairings. South Africa’s craft scene is lively all year but summer from November to March makes outdoor tastings more fun. Look out for awards from the African Beer Cup and the Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards. These help you find products that stand out for quality.
Craft beer and gin in Southern Africa is more than a trend. It’s a reason to plan a trip and meet passionate makers along the way.
