The Best Beers of South Africa

South Africa and beer simply go together. Maybe it's the sunny weather, the country's relaxed mood, or the fact that beer pairs so well with a braai.

Today, with microbreweries across the country, there's a huge choice of beers, and the art of brewing now gets the same attention that made South African wine world-famous.

But beer in South Africa also has a long and interesting history that reflects many of the cultural changes that have shaped the country over the centuries.

Umqombothi is the original beer of South Africa. The Xhosa made it from maize and sorghum malt. It has a low alcohol content and is known for its distinctive sour smell. It was brewed in homes and used in ceremonies. Peoples such as the Sotho and Zulu had their own fermented brews too.

Beer also played an important role in Bantu tribal life. There, too, it was brewed from sorghum malt, but the mash wasn't fully clarified, which is why the result is as much food as drink.

When the Dutch arrived in the 1650s, they brought their beer and European brewing methods with them. In 1658, Jan van Riebeeck of the Dutch East India Company wrote in his diary about the first beer produced in South Africa. Beer was considered a remedy for scurvy and so was especially important for the seafaring traders. This beer was a lager brewed from barley and hops. About 150 years later the British arrived and brought their own brewing know-how.

South Africa's first commercial brewery was founded in the 1890s. It produced Castle Lager, still popular today. Originally it was meant to quench the thirst of those the gold rush had drawn to Johannesburg.

Today South Africa alone accounts for a third of Africa's beer consumption. South African Breweries produces most of the country's lagers, apart from imported brands. If you'd like to taste South Africa's best beers, we've got some recommendations for you, from award-winners to the most popular brands.

• Castle Beer is still regarded as South Africa's national beer. There are several popular variants, such as Castle Milk Stout, Castle Lager and Castle Lite. Castle also sponsors South Africa's football, cricket and rugby teams.

• Originally from Canada, Carling Black Label has won several international awards and is a major beer brand in South Africa. It holds an interesting place in the country's history: the “Black” in its name was once adopted by the anti-apartheid movement. There was even a saying in Afrikaans – Black Label sê die bybel – meaning “The Bible says you should drink Black Label”.

• Lion Lager has been brewed in South Africa since the 1920s. This liquid bestseller is seen as a working-class drink and, with its low alcohol content and balanced taste between sweet and bitter, it's very easy to drink.

• South African breweries also brew Hansa Pilsner, originally from the Czech Republic. Widespread in the country since 1975, it has a particularly full flavour and aroma thanks to the Saaz hops it uses.

• Flying Fish isn't even ten years old, yet it's already one of the most popular beer brands in South Africa. These beers stand out for adding flavours such as lemon, apple or orange, which makes them incredibly refreshing.

• Windhoek Lager is a beer from Namibia that's popular in South Africa. It's notable for being brewed, in line with the 16th-century Bavarian Purity Law, using only barley, hops and water.

• For a truly South African beer experience, drink a bag of Leopard Sorghum Beer. Yes, a bag. Made in the traditional way from maize and soured milk, this beer has a low alcohol content and was brewed at home during apartheid by Black South Africans, who were forbidden alcohol. There are several similar versions of this traditional beer, such as Joburg, Chibuku, Tlokwe and iJuba.

• In recent years, microbreweries have sprung up in South Africa too, and there are now over 200 of them in the country. The first was Mitchell's, founded in 1983 in Knysna. It started small, originally serving just the neighbourhood, but demand grew so much that it now produces several varieties and has opened a second site.

• KZN Craft Revolution was also founded early in the microbrewery boom and organised the marketing of local producers in KwaZulu-Natal. It's still active and awards beers a seal when they meet certain quality standards. Almost 20 breweries in the region have joined this campaign to promote local craft beers.

• Another highlight among the microbreweries is Devil's Peak Brewing Company, founded in 2012 and named after the mountain that rises above its home in Cape Town. Its King Blockhouse IPA has already won several “best beer” awards.

• Also based in Cape Town, the Afro Caribbean Brewing Company has won multiple awards too. Its varieties, such as Jungle Paradise IPA and Space Llama Double IPA, not only sound refreshingly different but have also been voted best beer in recent years.

• The Cape Brewing Company (CBC) offers craft beers on a farm along the Spice Route at the foot of the Paarl mountains, including German-style ones such as a Bavaria IPA and a wheat beer.

• The South African craft-beer association (CBASA) has a beer route that, much like the wine and gourmet routes so popular with visitors to South Africa, leads to breweries across the country. You can search by beer type, place or brewery to put together your own route and taste each region's specialities. Compare the flavours and aromas – a hint of nectarine, a note of hazelnut, an undertone of cocoa – and get a feel for just how innovative and exciting beer can be.

• And if you want to see how much brewing matters in South Africa, visit the SouthYeasters Summerfest in Cape Town. This local home-brewers' association holds an annual competition where small brewers can compare their creations and truly pay homage to the amber nectar.

With so much choice, you're sure to find the perfect beer for your next South African meal, whether that's fish, ostrich steak or a hearty, delicious braai.

Feeling thirsty now? Which of these beers would you most like to try? Come to South Africa with us and we'll show you where to find it.