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Top 10 Breweries in Johannesburg
South Africa has had a long history with beer and its production since the time of the earliest settlers in the country. From then on, local breweries have been perfecting their craft and churning out amazing beer and lager for us to enjoy.
Johannesburg has a number of these popular breweries that you can check out and know more about especially if you’re a big fan of their products. We have the top breweries in the city for you to visit and grab a drink at!
1. MAD GIANT Brewery
Address: 1 Fox St, FerreirasDorp, Johannesburg, 2048, South Africa
Website: http://www.madgiant.co.za/
Contact Number: +27114920901
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Closed on Saturday to Sunday
MAD GIANT Brewery crafts some of the most unique beers in South Africa, so it’s not surprising that they have such a huge following. Aside from the youthful appeal of their products, they also have great beer flavours!
These include their extra fresh lager, Urban Legend, Killer Hop, 3 PM beer, and pressed lemon-flavoured beer. If you want that alcoholic kick, we recommend Urban Legend with 5.5% ABV (alcohol by volume) or Killer Hop at 5% ABV!
| Pro Tip: The MAD GIANT Brewery also has a taproom located in Randburg where they showcase their different kinds of beers every first Thursday of the month. Check out their website to learn more about this monthly activity! |
2. SMACK! Republic Brewing Co.
Address: 241 Main St, City and Suburban, Johannesburg, 2094, South Africa
Website: https://www.smackrepublic.com/
Contact Number: +27 82 856 6852
Operating Hours:
- Sunday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Every first Thursday of the month, 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Closed from Monday to Wednesday and Friday to Saturday
SMACK! Republic Brewing Co. brings some really edgy beers and a ton of options that will surely make you do a second take. They have many core beers to choose from like Bree St. Belle, Maboneng Maverick, Hillbrow Honey, and Bloemfontein Brawler.
Most of these have an ABV of around 5.5%, which means they can give you that strong alcoholic kick you might be looking for in a beer. What’s great about these core beers, though, is their unique flavours with hints of chocolate, oats, and citrus.
| Pro Tip: SMACK! Republic Brewing Co also features Truck 69 – Beer Engine. It’s a truck that you can book (via their website) for an event to serve your guests some of the finest beers in South Africa. |
3. Agar’s Brewery
Address: Unit 2A, Kya North Park, 28 Bernie St, Kya Sand, Johannesburg, 2163, South Africa
Website: http://www.agarsbrewery.co.za/
Contact Number: +27836070747
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Closed on Saturday to Sunday
Agar’s Brewery is a purveyor of classy, unique, and great-tasting beers in Johannesburg and across South Africa. With flavoured and traditional beers that don’t hold back in their alcohol content, you’ll surely get a great-tasting beer with a kick!
Some of their most in-demand bottles include English ale (roasted toffee), Black Mamba Stout (dark chocolate), and wild berry ale (raspberries). If you want something stronger, you can go for Warrior IIPA (8% ABV) or Tomahawk IIPA (7% ABV).
| Pro Tip: Check out their website for any upcoming events. Agar’s Brewery sometimes features activities (e.g. concerts) and special promos (e.g. bottomless Heritage Day). |
4. Bond Society
Address: Victoria Yards, 16 Viljoen St, Lorentzville, Johannesburg, 2094, South Africa
Website: http://www.bondsociety.co.za/
Contact Number: +27836296892
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday, 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
The Bond Society isn’t just a brewery that crafts exceptional drinks like beers, gins, and cocktails. It’s an artsy and vibrant party venue where you can book events and have guests taste the various drinks offered by the brewery along with gourmet braai!
They have six different beers on tap for you to sample, and their crowd-favourite, Krystal Weiss CBC Premium Beer, is a must-try. It has a traditional lager taste with hints of lemon—perfect if paired with a light snack!
| Pro Tip: You can book an event via their website. |
5. Gilroy’s Brewery
Address: Achter Rd, Paulshof, Johannesburg, 2157, South Africa
Website: http://www.gilroysbrewery.co.za/
Contact Number: +27117963020
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday, 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday, 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Sunday, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Closed on Monday
Gilroy’s Brewery has been crafting and brewing fantastic beers that have become a staple drink in Johannesburg.
They only have 4 core beers on offer, but each one has a unique flavour, so we recommend you try each to find out which one is your favourite!
There’s the Gilroy Traditional with its classic and natural taste, the Gilroy Favourite with a dash of honey, and the Gilroy Lager with its old-school flavour. Most of these have a 4% ABV, and if you want something stronger, you can try their Gilroy series (5.5% ABV).
| Pro Tip: Stay updated regarding Gilroy’s Brewery’s events by checking their website. The brewery sometimes offers happy hours, cocktail variety sales, beer pong leagues, and pub quiz nights! |
6. Heineken Sedibeng Brewery
From b.ongz_r
Address: Klipriver Business Park 1 De Man Road, Johannesburg, 1871, South Africa
Website: http://www.heineken.com/za/agegate/
Contact Number: +27102161000
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday, Open 24 hours
Heineken Beers is a beer brand known the world over, and it’s not surprising why. They have some of the best-tasting beers paired with amazing branding.
Some of Heineken’s products for you to check out include their Original, Silver, and 0.0. What we like, though, is that these products come in different packaging such as bottled or canned.
| Pro Tip: If you’re a fan of draught beer, then you can also purchase their Blade dispenser. It’s a compact beer dispenser that will let you enjoy premium quality draught anywhere and anytime you want! |
7. Soweto Brewing Company
From sviry
Address: 11846 Sebakanyana St, Orlando West, Soweto, 1804, South Africa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SowetoBrewCo/
Contact Number: +27 80 002 6027
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
If you’re looking for a local craft beer to try out when in Johannesburg, then you might want to check out what Soweto Brewing Company has to offer. They have one beer on offer—the Soweto Gold—described as a superior golden lager—and we agree!
It’s a great-tasting beer with just the right amount of alcohol (5% ABV) and doesn’t have any artificial preservatives or additives.
You can also choose to buy Soweto Gold either bottled or canned, the latter being a better option if you plan on bringing it on your travels!
| Pro Tip: Check out Soweto Brewery’s Facebook if you want to see the brewery’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) posts. They remind their customers about being socially responsible drivers as well (don’t drink and drive!). |
8. Brewhogs Microbrewery
Address: Unit 50 Barbeque Corner, 25 Dytchley Rd, Barbeque Downs, Kyalami, 1684, South Africa
Website: http://www.brewhogs.co.za/
Contact Number: +27 11 466 0746
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Friday, 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Closed on Saturday and Sunday
Brewhogs Microbrewery offers some of the most unique beers not just in Johannesburg but in the entire country. Aside from their hand-crafted beer flavours, they also offer seasonal beers.
You can check out their beer flavours like their premium Pilsen (4% ABV), original red lager (4.5% ABV), black IPA (5.0% ABV), and real ginger beer (4.5% ABV).
If you’re lucky and you visit in season, you might be able to try their seasonal beers such as Santa’s Brew (cinnamon flavour) offered only during the Christmas holidays!
| Pro Tip: Aside from their beers, you can also try out their single malt whiskey called Dytchleys craft whiskey. You can place an order for this drink (along with their craft beers) through their online store. |
9. SA Breweries (ABInBev)
From joe_manchild
Address: 65 Park Ln, Sandown, Sandton, 2031, South Africa
Website: http://www.sab.co.za/
Contact Number: +27118818111
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Closed on Saturday and Sunday
SA Breweries (ABInBev) is a powerhouse brewery if ever there was one. It doesn’t just offer phenomenal local beverages but also handles the creation and distribution of some very popular global brands such as Budweiser, Corona Extra, and Michelob Ultra.
We recommend their more unique megabrands such as Aguila Cerveza, Carling Black Label Beer, and Stella Artois Fine Lager. You can also take this a step further and try their Beyond Beer line including Brutal Fruit and Cutwater (spritzers)
| Pro Tip: If you’re passionate about crafting amazing beers and beverages, maybe a career in the brewing business is for you! You can check out the different career opportunities at SA Breweries (ABInBev). Good luck! |
10. The Mutea Squid Brewing Co.
Address: 2 Rautenbach Ave, Wynberg, Sandton, 2090, South Africa
Distance from JO: 15 minutes
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MuteaSquidKombucha/
Contact Number: +27 82 922 9661
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Closed on Saturday and Sunday
If you’re looking for unique handcrafted kombucha when in South Africa, then The Mutea Squid Brewing Co. might be right up your alley! This isn’t an alcoholic drink per se, but it has a unique fermented flavour that will make you order a second serving.
They have rooibos kombucha tea and cranberry kombucha tea flavours that taste amazing but also have great health benefits such as improving gut health and your immune system. You can also give some to your kids if you order their fun-sized booch!
| Pro Tip: Check out their Facebook to learn more about any promos or discounts. They also sometimes have contests where customers can win 6 bottles of their delicious kombucha tea! |
