Introduction
Bosheuvel Estate, De Vry Distillery and Loxtonia Cider are some of several farming operations that include craft brewing on the sidelines. Alongside Pinzgauer stud cattle, sorghum fields, vineyards and dairy, craft brewing is an additional revenue stream and attraction. We provide the reader with a short overview of this sector. As usual, we list sources and role players from which you can find out more.
Local business environment
Find statistics and the economic and social contribution of the South African beer industry at https://beersa.org.
Before the Covid-19 lockdowns and the ban on alcohol sales, the South African craft beer market had its value estimated at R1,4 billion (Botha, 2019), with a forecast to grow at more than 3% a year between 2019 and 2024 (Botha, 2019).
The growth in craft breweries had been attributed to, amongst other things, “localism (in terms of brewing setting and sourcing of ingredients)”, “naturalness and sustainable production methods”, and the “social context of consumption” e.g. festivals, sports events, craft beer tasting at brewpubs or local markets (BFAP, 2017). The bulk of craft breweries were in the Western Cape, followed by Gauteng.
In January 2021, the Craft Brewers Association South Africa (CBASA) reported that 60% of the staff of CBASA-affiliated businesses had been retrenched, and that 88% of craft brewers would not make it through the second lockdown (CBASA 2021). An entire industry would be in need of financial relief and support until the country was past coronavirus.
After four years, 2023 saw the return of Cape Town Festival of Beer, and the resumption of the awards given out at the South African National Beer Trophy (SANBT).
Find the latest South African craft beer news at https://brewmistress.co.za. Statistics and the economic and social contribution of the wider South African beer industry can be sourced at https://beersa.org.
Source: A Business for SA presentation “Alcohol Industry Value Chain” (2021); Farmer’s Weekly article by Lindi Botha and BFAP Baseline Agricultural Outlook 2017-2026 p 51.
Role players
Business Listings
Further reference:
Associations
- The National Liquor Traders Association (NLT) was set up to respond to Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. Now it focuses on issues related to the liquor industry, like illicit alcohol sales.
Training and research
- View beverage processing equipment sold by Cape Peninsular University of Technology (CPUT) on the AgriFood Technology Station’s pages.
Some craft beer breweries
https://craftbru.com and https://brewmistress.co.za and https://brewroutes.co.za list hundreds of craft beer breweries
Other craft brewing includes cider and also:
- De Vry Distillery Grain-based (sorghum) gin, vodka and brandy.
- Inverroche Distillery Craft gins made from fynbos.
- Jorgensen’s Distillery Locally grown juniper berries, fynbos and other local plants are used to make gin.
Other role players
- Albrecht Machinery
- The Brewmistress offers craft beer training. The website https://brewmistress.co.za contains a directory of homebrewing clubs, where you can source ingredients and equipment and more…
- Biozone Ozone sanitising and sterilising technologies
- Besides its other oferings, Craftbru organises Craft Beer Tours.
- Interfab The design, fabrication and installation of stainless steel process equipment
- South African National Beer Trophy (SANBT)
- ZA HOPS Infuse your beer with diverse flavours
Websites and publications
- Order online at www.arc.agric.za, call 012 842 4017 or send an email to stoltze [at] arc.agric.za for the following publications, available from the ARC Agricultural Engineering: (i) Agro-processing of fermented beverages –Beer (ii) Agro-processing of fermented beverages – Wine (iii) Agro-processing of distilled beverages –Whiskey & Brandy (iv) Agro-processing of regional and traditional fermented beverage.
- On Tap Magazine https://ontapmagazine.com
Directories of craft beers:
- Find role players, be it for raw materials, brewing equipment, services etc, at https://cbasa.org/directory
- https://brewroutes.co.za is a platform for craft breweries in South Africa. Select province and craft beer wished for and find the result.
- Find Craftbru’s directory of craft brews and craft beer festivals at https://craftbru.com
Some articles
- Reporter. 2026, May 29. “Woodstock Brewery’s Funky Monk’s wins Best Beer in Africa’.” Bizcommunity. Available at www.bizcommunity.com/article/woodstock-brewerys-funky-monks-wins-best-beer-in-africa-512020a
- Halile V. 2025, December 08. “How beer powers SA’s economy from farm to pint.” Food for Mzansi. Available at www.foodformzansi.co.za/how-beer-powers-sas-economy-from-farm-to-pint
- Lechman A. 2025, September 27. “South African brewers toast to a growing beer heritage.” IOL. Available at https://iol.co.za/business-report/economy/2025-09-26-south-african-brewers-toast-to-a-growing-beer-heritage/
- Reporter. 2025, September 10. “Inside the dangerous world of South Africa’s illicit alcohol trade.” Bizcommunity. Available at www.bizcommunity.com/article/inside-the-dangerous-world-of-south-africa-illicit-alcohol-trade-065655a
- Louw C. 2025, July 23. “SA’s beer industry calls for a policy change .” Bizcommunity. Available at www.bizcommunity.com/article/sas-beer-industry-calls-for-a-policy-change-034425a
- Reporter. 2025, July 10. “Darling Brew steps into the world of whisky.” Bizcommunity. Available at www.bizcommunity.com/article/darling-brew-steps-into-the-world-of-whisky-701382a
- Reporter. 2025, May 27. “All the African Beer Cup 2025 winners.” Bizcommunity. Available at www.bizcommunity.com/article/all-the-african-beer-cup-2025-winners-471769a
- Reporter. 2025, April 22. “Taverns and shebeens offer untapped potential for drinks brands”. Bizcommunity. Available at www.bizcommunity.com/article/taverns-and-shebeens-offer-untapped-potential-for-drinks-brands-140116a
- Louw C. 2025, January 23. “The Beer Association of South Africa shares priorities for 2025”. Bizcommunity. Available at www.bizcommunity.com/article/the-beer-association-of-south-africa-shares-priorities-for-2025-697861a
- Reporter. 2024, October 18. “Women turn the tide in South Africa’s beer industry”. Bizcommunity. Available at www.bizcommunity.com/article/women-turn-the-tide-in-south-africas-beer-industry-363708a
- Lisa Z. 2024, August 1. “The ‘sober curious’ movement sees the rise of non-alcoholic beer”. Bizcommunity. Available at www.bizcommunity.com/article/the-sober-curious-movement-sees-the-rise-of-non-alcoholic-beer-705632a
- Reporter. 2024, May 28. “Simondium Brewery scoops Best Beer In Africa Award”. Bizcommunity. Available at www.bizcommunity.com/article/simondium-brewery-scoops-best-beer-in-africa-award-239397a
- Lisa Z. 2024, February 12. “How the beer industry is shaping South Africa’s economic future”. Bizcommunity. Available at www.bizcommunity.com/article/how-the-beer-industry-is-shaping-south-africas-economic-future-456269a
