Categories > Guides and Tips

best-beer-tasting-spots-johannesburg-banner

Get cosy and tipsy at the 10 best beer-tasting spots in Johannesburg!

Beer tasting took off in Johannesburg with the opening of SAB World of Beer in 1995. This interactive attraction offers a 90-minute tour, exploring the history of brewing, traditional sorghum beer, and the lively culture of township shebeens.

But we didn’t stop there, of course! Johannesburg is packed with spots offering innovative beer flavours. 

I wandered the city, tasting (and getting drunk) just to find the places where you can experience unique beer tasting. Here are the best ones that I found!

Brewhogs Micro-Brewery

Media From: brewhogs

Address: Unit 50 Barbeque Corner, 25 Dytchley Rd, Barbeque Downs, Kyalami
Phone: +27 114 660 746
Opening Hours: 

  • Monday to Thursday – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Friday – 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Website: http://www.brewhogs.co.za/
Price Range: R

Brewhogs Micro-Brewery is a well-known spot in Johannesburg for craft beer fans. They’ve been brewing since 1984 and offer a variety of beers like pilsner, red lager, and ginger beer.

I went on one of their tours recently. It was a fun way to learn about the brewing process. The tour ends with a tasting session in their cosy yard, which adds a nice touch to the experience.

My pick from the tasting was the Brewhogs Blonde. It’s a crisp blond ale with a light malt flavour and just a hint of hop bitterness. Sipping it in the peaceful yard was a perfect way to unwind.

Tip: Plan your visit on a Friday to catch their Fresco Fridays event. It features outdoor cooking paired with beer tasting, making it a great way to kick off the weekend.

Soweto Brewing Company

Media From: aayushp

Address: 11846 Senokoanyana St, Orlando West, Soweto
Phone: +27 798 908 321
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SowetoBrewCo/
Price Range: R

For a true taste of Soweto’s spirit, check out the Soweto Brewing Company. Since 2012, they’ve been crafting specialty beers like Gold Apple Ale, GoGo’s Ginger Ale, and Gold Cherry Ale.

Their beer-tasting sessions are a highlight. You’ll get to try a range of beers, including their gold stout, pilsner, wheat beer, honey ale, and marula ale. The beer garden adds to the vibe with live music and cultural events.

My favourite from the tasting was the Soweto Gold – Superior Golden Lager. It was smooth and rich, and the finish was clean and crisp—a refreshing beer that is easy to enjoy in any setting!

Tip: Pair your beer with their rooibos tea. Its sweet and earthy flavour provides a refreshing balance to the bold, rich taste of their beers.

Gilroy’s Brewery

Media From: gilroys_brewery

Address: Achter Rd, Paulshof
Phone: +27 117 963 020
Opening Hours: 

  • Monday to Thursday – 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Friday to Saturday – 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Sunday – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Website: http://www.gilroysbrewery.co.za/
Price Range: RR

If you’re into hand-crafted beers, Gilroy’s Brewery is worth a visit. Established in 2000, this spot has become well-known for beers like Gilroy Traditional, Gilroy Serious, Gilroy Favourite, and Gilroy Premium Lager.

The beer-tasting tour is both fun and informative. The staff walks you through how each beer is made and shares what makes them unique. After the tour, you can relax in the beer garden, sip your favourite brew, and enjoy some live music.

My favourite from the tasting was Gilroy Serious. It has rich coffee flavours with a hint of dark chocolate. The velvety texture and subtle caramel sweetness made it so smooth that I almost forgot it packs a 5.5% alcohol punch!

Tip: Try pairing Gilroy Serious with the barbecue pork ribs from their restaurant. The bold flavours of the ribs go perfectly with the dark ale’s rich notes.

TNT Brewery

Media From: tntbrewery

Address: Elmot Rd, Industria North, Randburg
Phone: +27 824 963 259
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Website: https://www.tntbrewery.co.za/
Price Range: RR

Try unique and tasty beers at TNT Brewery! They have a good selection, including summer ale, autumn IPA, phat panther stout, Rand Parker, pilsner, and more. There are also events like guided tastings and food pairings.

I went to one of their guided tastings and learned how they make their autumn IPA. It’s brewed with pale malt, crystal malt, and hops. The beer had floral notes and a balanced bitterness—perfect for the autumn vibe!

Their Lounge Lizard Lager is a popular choice. It has a light malt sweetness, a slight dryness, and a crisp, clean finish.

Tip: Try the Lounge Lizard Lager with grilled chicken. The beer’s light sweetness and dry finish complement the savoury flavours of the chicken really well!

Tolokazi Beer

Media From: tolokazi_thebrewster

Address: Unit 10, Wynberg Works, 40 5th St, Wynberg, Sandton
Phone: +27 725 842 449
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Website: http://www.tolokazibeer.co.za/
Price Range: RR

Tolokazi is a 100% black-female-owned brewery in South Africa. It’s inspired by the brewing history of the Tolo Kingdom and focuses on sorghum pilsners and marula farmhouse ales.

During the tasting session, you get a peek into their brewing process. For example, I discovered they mix sorghum malt, barley malt, and marula puree to make their marula farmhouse ale. Then, they ferment it with a yeast that brings out fruity and spicy notes.

But the real standout was the sorghum pilsner. It has a crisp, rich malty flavour with a slight herbal and earthy kick. The traditional brewing method gives it a smooth, refreshing finish with just a hint of malt that sticks around for a bit.

Tip: Grab a bottle of the rooibos and berry cider to take home. It’s packed with sweet berry notes and a hint of rooibos, giving you a refreshing and unique cider experience.

Just Brewing Company

Media From: justbrewingco

Address: Unit 4 Great North Industrial Park, 20 Van Wyk Rd, Brentwood Park
Phone: +27 832 285 879
Opening Hours: 

  • Tuesday to Friday – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Saturday – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Website: https://www.justbrewing.co.za/
Price Range: R

Want to try different unfiltered beers? Head to Just Brewing Company, a family-owned microbrewery. They focus on craft beers made with natural ingredients and use eco-friendly methods, like energy-efficient tech, to reduce their carbon footprint.

Their tasting events include options like chocolate coffee stout, pale ale, red steam, and Just Jozi, among others.

What I like most about this microbrewery is their inclusion of seasonal specials in their beer-tasting events. I went to their “Christmas in July” event and tried the Festive Cheer Ale. It had festive spices, hints of cinnamon, and a touch of vanilla. It was like holiday cheer in the middle of summer!

Tip: If you’re heading home after a long drive and want to take it easy on the alcohol, try their Just Jozi. It has around 4% ABV and is smooth, with hints of caramel and malt.

Dynamite Distilling Co.

Media From: dynamitedistillingco

Address: House 3, 31 High Street Founders Hill, Modderfontein
Phone: +27 824 149 838
Opening Hours: 

  • Monday to Friday – 9 a.m. to  6 p.m.
  • Saturday – 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Website: https://dynamitedistilling.co.za/
Price Range: RR

Dynamite Distilling Co. is a cool family-run distillery making waves in South Africa’s craft alcohol scene. It all started in 2017 when Jedd Cameron set out to give his dad, Ian, the kind of local alcohol he’d always wanted. Now, they’re making gin, vodka, whisky, and more.

I got lucky and met Ian during my visit last summer. He took us on a tour of the distillery and shared some behind-the-scenes details about how their drinks are made.

The best part? Getting to sample three to four different gins and beers. The Drysdale craft beer stood out—smooth, with a touch of malt sweetness and a crisp, refreshing finish.

Tip: Visit on the last Saturday of December for their Modderfontein Market Day. It’s a fun event with artisanal beer and gin tastings, local food, and a chance to tour the distillery.

Copper Lake Breweries

Media From: copperlakebreweries

Address: Main Rd, Lanseria, 2189 Sunrella AH, Lanseria
Phone: +27 836 331 706
Opening Hours: 

  • Thursday – 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Friday – 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Saturday – 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Sunday – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Website: https://copperlakebreweries.co.za/
Price Range: R

Check out Copper Lake Breweries for some unique beer flavours! They’ve got a great selection, including light and dark lagers, Hefe Weiss, and a zesty citrus cooler.

One of the best things here is the food. Their wood-fired pizzas, burgers, and pub grub go perfectly with the beers. They also have fun activities like beer pong, giant Jenga, and battle shots to keep you entertained.

I tried the Starry Eyed Blonde beer. It was light and refreshing! The hint of malt sweetness and crisp finish made it even better while playing a round of giant Jenga.

Tip: Try something different with their Brew Your Own package. You’ll spend a day at the brewery working with a master brewer to create your own beer. After four weeks, you’ll get 30 litres of your custom brew to enjoy—and it even gets featured on their guest brew menu!

Mad Giant

Media From: ti_the_potions_master

Address: 1 Fox St, Ferreiras Dorp
Phone: +27 114 920 901
Operating Hours: 

  • Monday to Thursday – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Friday – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Website: http://www.madgiant.co.za/
Price Range: R

Visit Mad Giant Brewery for fresh, bold beers with a creative twist! Owned by chemical engineer Eben Uys, this brewery is all about experimenting with unique flavours.

The tasting venue is a must-see. It’s decked out with oversized toy-inspired furniture and a massive yeti installation that adds to the fun vibe. 

I tried their electric light weiss beer, which had subtle hints of banana and clove—light and easy to enjoy.

Don’t miss their killer hop pale ale, a 2018 African Beer Awards winner. It’s loaded with tropical fruit flavours, balanced with four aromatic hops and a touch of malt. The citrus and floral notes finish with just the right amount of bitterness.

Tip: Join their Mad Giant Tasting Hero program to sample and rate different beers. You’ll earn badges and rewards as you explore their unique brews!

Related topics