Metro area

Best breweries in Johannesburg, South Africa

Within 16 miles of Johannesburg we track 31 breweries. None currently rate Great or better. Agar's Brewery in Johannesburg leads the list at 3.71 (Fine).

The scale

Exceptional
A short list of extraordinary breweries worth planning a trip around.
Great
Consistently produce world-class beer.
Fine
Make genuinely good beer, if not the pint you will still be talking about next year.
Poor
Not bad beer so much as unremarkable beer.
Limited
Most craft beer drinkers pass these by.

1
Agar's Brewery
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Agar’s Brewery opened its doors on 1st August 2014. The Agar family has a long tradition of brewing, dating back to 1852 when Charles Agar brewed pineapple beer in Durban. Mike Agar, the Brewmaster, has been brewing for over 20 years, and developed this passion whilst watching his grandfather brew. Agar’s Brewery only uses the finest ingredients sourced from around the world to craft a family of distinctive beers, including its Jozi Blonde, Red Ale, White Dog Saison and American Pale Ale.
Rating
3.71Fine
Popularity
Barely rated
2
Mad Giant
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Mad Giant produce's good quality beer and is ranked #3 in South Africa. They are most well known for "Killer Hop", which is an American Pale Ale and "Urban Legend", which is an American IPA. Their primary focus is brewing Pale Ales and IPAs.
Rating
3.70Fine
Popularity
Barely rated
3
Three Stags Brewery (TSB)
Boksburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Three Stags Brewery (TSB) produce's unproven beer and is ranked #42 in South Africa. They are most well known for "Red Deer", which is an American Pale Ale and "Moose Oatmeal Stout", which is an Oatmeal Stout. Their primary focus is brewing Pale Ales and Dark Beers.
Rating
3.33Poor
Popularity
Barely rated
4
Inmind Brewing Company
Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa
The Inmind Brewing Company was established in the early summer of 2014 after 2 years of many test batches of different styles of beers between my father and I. Some of those batches were really great and some of them not so great. We started reading several books, went out seeking advice and brewing tips from many other brewers and this truly has aided us to be who we are today.
Rating
3.24Poor
Popularity
Barely rated
5
Sharpeville Breweries
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Sharpeville Breweries produce's unproven beer and is ranked #45 in South Africa. They are most well known for "Sharpeville Superior Lager", which is a Lager. Their primary focus is brewing Amber Lagers.
Rating
3.19Poor
Popularity
Barely rated
6
Untamed Brewing Company
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Untamed Brewing Company produce's unproven beer and chooses to limit their brewing to a select few. They are most well known for "Painted Pale", which is an Other Pale Ale and "African Amber Sky", which is a Brown Ale. Their primary focus is brewing Pale Ales and Brown Ales.
Rating
3.09Poor
Popularity
Barely rated
7
Equator Breweries
Sandton, Gauteng, South Africa
Rating
3.06Poor
Popularity
Barely rated
8
Frigid Isles Brewing
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Rating
3.05Poor
Popularity
Barely rated
9
Mohope Brew
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Rating
2.94Poor
Popularity
Barely rated
10
Impi Brewing Co
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Impi Brewing Co was molded around the image of the brave African Warrior; the Impi (pronounced “eem-pee”). The principles of our brewery are infused with innovation, and the strategy at our core lies in the values of being bold and fearless. Our vision is to create a brewery where the consumer will be able to sample our year-round lines – Impi Homestead Lager and Impi Warrior Pilsner – as well as a selection of up to 15 handcrafted artisanal beers that will rotate on a regular basis. Impi Brewing Co is a destination brewery, located on a historic site known as Victoria Yards. This exceptional venue will be an arts and crafts precinct dedicated to local talent and artisanal creations, with an emphasis on community development and upliftment. It is the origin of the Jukskei River and boasts urban farming systems as well as re-purposed industrial improvements resonating in age and aesthetics. The brewery and bar is housed in a triple-volume building with an iconic 50,000 litre water tank suspended on old rustic steel beams.
Rating
2.87Poor
Popularity
Barely rated
11
Three Skulls Brew Works
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
One was a Painter. One played the electric guitar. The other was a rebel who carried the sword that pierced the balloon that held aloft the notion that quiet politeness is a virtue. This band of merry men with the souls of heroes and the bones of warriors inspire this brewery.
Rating
2.72Poor
Popularity
Barely rated
12
Optimum Craft Brewery
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Optimum Craft Brewery produce's unproven beer and has a limited variety of different ones to choose from. They are most well known for "The Dictator", which is an American IPA and "Headless Huntsman", which is an American Red Ale. Their primary focus is brewing IPAs and Pale Lagers.
Rating
3.04Limited
Popularity
Barely rated
13
No 3 Fransen Street Brewery
Krugersdorp, Gauteng, South Africa
Owned by SAB. The Fransen Street Brewery was opened 16 years ago as a special development brewery, testing new products and raw materials and producing small scale runs of special interest beers. Four products were taken to market – a wheat beer, ginger beer, winter, and India pale ales – but were ahead of their time. “In the early 2000s, the Kingswood brand of speciality beers was launched – a brandy flavoured beer in a bottle and a nitrogenated ale on tap - but once again, we had created a product which the market was not yet ready for. In 2012, SAB recognised the global and local growth in speciality and craft beers and redeveloped the Fransen Street Brewery, taking it back to its original intentions.
Rating
3.00Limited
Popularity
Barely rated
14
The 400 Brewing Company
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
The 400 Brewing Company produce's unproven beer and is ranked #9 in South Africa. They are most well known for "Harambe 2: the Resurrection", which is an Imperial Black IPA and "Frost Hammer", which is an Other. Their primary focus is brewing IPAs and Amber Ales.
Rating
2.96Limited
Popularity
Barely rated
15
BrewHogs
Kyalami, Gauteng, South Africa
BrewHogs produce's unproven beer and has a decent variety of ones to choose from. They are most well known for "No. 2 - Original Red Lager", which is an American Lager and "No. 4 - India Pale Lager", which is an India Pale Lager. Their primary focus is brewing IPAs and Amber Lagers.
Rating
2.85Limited
Popularity
Barely rated
16
SMACK! Republic Brewing Co.
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Smack Republic is a small batch craft brewery with big dreams. With a desire to create artisan beer, a need to drink, be curious and smash boundaries, together with an intense love for the inner city, Smack Republic Brewing Co. was born!
Rating
2.80Limited
Popularity
Barely rated
17
The Redrock Brewing Co.
Midrand, Gauteng, South Africa
Taking inspiration from rock legends and songs, the RedRock range celebrates life, music and great times. For many, Rock is not merely about the music; it’s a way of life that symbolizes freedom, rebelliousness, creativity and non-conformity – a universally shared history. Celebrating the best in life, under African skies. The perfect amalgamation of beautiful red African sunsets, vibrant people and cultures with a little bit of the American dream and rock music added to the brew, RedRock’s range of beers celebrates the open freedom of our country and the endless roads that need to be explored.
Rating
2.79Limited
Popularity
Barely rated
18
Tolokazi
Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Tolokazi is a women owned brand offering a range of award winning premium beers and ciders. The brand pays homage to the female African brewer, past present and future inspired by the Tolo clan rich history of brewing. We take pride in using indeginous African ingredients in our brews, such as sorghum,Rooibos, Marula and more. Celebrating Africa Through Beer ??????
Rating
2.78Limited
Popularity
Barely rated
19
Two Okes Brewery
Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Here at Two Okes, we have two goals - to make the best tasting beer possible and to use the finest, natural ingredients in order to make that great taste happen. Whether it is the locally grown hops for the Republican South Africa Pale Ale or the roasted malts of our addictive Daybreak Stout, you will know with the first taste that our beers are made with love and care while adhering to the classic methods of brewing fine beers that brewmasters all over the world have respected for hundreds of years.
Rating
2.78Limited
Popularity
Barely rated
20
Gilroy's Brewery
Krugersdorp, Gauteng, South Africa
One of South Africa's oldest micro breweries, and Joburg's favourite brew pub. Gilroy's is an award winning restaurant and pub, with the brewery that brews James Bond beer of choice - the Gilroy Serious. It's true - just ask Jeffery Deaver!
Rating
2.76Limited
Popularity
Barely rated
21
Soweto Brewing Company
Soweto, Gauteng, South Africa
Soweto Brewing Company produce's unproven beer and chooses to limit their brewing to a select few. They are most well known for "Cherry Ale", which is a Fruit Beer and "Master’s Brew", which is an Amber Lager. Their primary focus is brewing Sours and Amber Lagers.
Rating
2.74Limited
Popularity
Barely rated
22
Human Brew
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Human Brew produce's unproven beer and is ranked #49 in South Africa. They are most well known for "Loxton Lager", which is a Spiced / Herbed Beer and "Loxton Pilsner", which is an Other Pilsner. Their primary focus is brewing Spiced Beers.
Rating
2.71Limited
Popularity
Barely rated
23
TNT Brewery
Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa
TNT Brewery produce's unproven beer and has a limited variety of different ones to choose from. They are most well known for "Dipsomaniac IPA", which is an English IPA and "The Rand Parker", which is an Other Pilsner. Their primary focus is brewing IPAs and Amber Ales.
Rating
2.70Limited
Popularity
Barely rated
24
Ubuntu Kraal Brewery
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
MadMead Brewing Co. owns and operates the Ubuntu Kraal Brewery - Home of Soweto Gold and is set to usher in a new era in the South African liquor industry – producing the first regional township-branded clear craft beer targeting the aspiring black middle class. In the shadow of the brewing giants, we have found an opportunity and a regional premium thirst never before quenched. Ubuntu Kraal Brewery will brew a number of proprietary regional craft beers under the name “Soweto Gold” - ready for distribution in Soweto, Johannesburg in early 2014. In 2015 we will add an additional range of unique and distinctively regional, yet universally quaffable and playful craft beers under catchy and appropriate proprietary brands.
Rating
2.70Limited
Popularity
Barely rated
25
New Brixton Brewing
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
New Brixton Brewing produce's unproven beer and chooses to limit their brewing to a select few. They are most well known for "Brixton Bitter", which is an English Bitter and "The Death of Summer", which is an American Stout. Their primary focus is brewing Amber Ales and Dark Beers.
Rating
2.69Limited
Popularity
Barely rated
26
Aces Brew Worx
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Our story started with two brothers who are proudly passionate about carefully brewed craft beer. Our willingness and need to bring a great craft lager to South Africans pushed us to create something we believe embodies everything we feel is important about craft beer! We believe that the recipe of life is sometimes simple, it takes a lot of hard work, some good friends and an ice cold draught brewed with pure enjoyment in mind. We believe at Aces we have achieved this and we hope that through our products you can feel the heart and soul that we put into creating them everyday! We hope that we can share a cold beer with each of you because we truly believe that is what the business of beer is about! We hope you enjoy Aces wherever in this great country you may be, whatever the circumstance and whoever the company, we raise our glasses to you from our home, Cheers!
Rating
2.62Limited
Popularity
Barely rated
27
Naked Face
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Rating
2.61Limited
Popularity
Barely rated
28
The Keghouse Brewery
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
The Keghouse brewery started many years ago as an idea. Evolving from home brew shop to commercial brewery. The brewery started in 2013 and after many changes is Re opening as a brewpub in the jewel of the Lowveld, Barberton. watch this space for more info.
Rating
2.57Limited
Popularity
Barely rated
29
South African Breweries
Sandton, Gauteng, South Africa
South African Breweries produce's not great quality beer and are regularly brewing different ones. They are most well known for "Castle Lager", which is a Pale Lager and "Carling Black Label", which is a Pale Lager. Their primary focus is brewing Pale Lagers and Dark Beers.
Rating
2.49Limited
Popularity
Well rated
30
Swagga Breweries
Alberton, Gauteng, South Africa
Swagga Breweries produce's not great quality beer and has a limited variety of different ones to choose from. They are most well known for "Swagga Blonde", which is a Blonde Ale and "Swagga IPA ", which is an English IPA. Their primary focus is brewing Pale Ales and IPAs.
Rating
2.47Limited
Popularity
Barely rated
31
Airport Craft Brewers
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Airport Craft Brewers was founded in 2014 and is the first restaurant with an on-site brewing plant in an airport on the African continent. The ethos of the brand is to create a unique experience for patrons whilst affording travellers the opportunity to gain some insight into South African lifestyle upon landing at O. R. Tambo International Airport.
Rating
2.46Limited
Popularity
Lightly rated