Johannesburg
South Africa's craft brewing scene exploded out of Cape Town and worked its way north. Johannesburg has now built its own identity in the category: hop-forward ales built for the Highveld altitude, sessionable lagers designed for the brutal summer heat, and a taproom culture that has taken hold in Braamfontein, Milpark, and the northern suburbs.
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The best craft beer bar in Johannesburg by reputation and execution. 12 rotating taps, all South African craft and import selections. The pale ale from a Stellenbosch brewery is a permanent fixture; everything else rotates monthly. The food is legitimate bar food done well. The Saturday afternoon courtyard session is a ritual for the Braamfontein crowd.
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A community-focused brewery that brews with local ingredients including sorghum, marula, and morula berry. The beers are distinctive and deeply local. The taproom is simple, concrete floors, wooden tables, and a chalkboard of six to eight house beers. The marula wheat beer is the one to start with.
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The Johannesburg outpost of a national craft beer chain that earns its place through selection rather than branding. 99 beers on tap; no, that is not a typo. The guide on the menu is well written, use it. Start with the South African flight (6 tasters) and build from there.
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One of Jo'burg's most respected independent breweries, with a taproom attached to the brewing facility in Newtown. Seven core beers brewed on site and four seasonals rotating. The lager wins awards for good reason; the stout is among the best brewed in South Africa. Tours of the brewery run on Saturdays.
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An outdoor beer garden in the Milpark warehouse district that sources from 15 South African craft breweries. The rotating guest taps change every two weeks. Simple food, pretzels, biltong boards, wood-fired pizza, keeps the focus on the beer. Popular with the neighbouring tech and creative offices on Fridays.
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Johannesburg's best German beer hall is technically a franchise, but the execution justifies its place here. The Paulaner lager is served at the correct temperature and in the correct glass. The Bavarian food menu is extensive. Go for the Stammtisch (long communal tables) on a Friday evening when the office crowd packs it.
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The Johannesburg outpost of Cape Town's most respected craft brewery. The Woodhead Amber Ale is the one to start with; the King's Blockhouse IPA is the one to finish on. A smaller range than the Cape Town original but the quality is consistent. The terrace in Rosebank is excellent in the late afternoon.
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A small-batch brewery and taproom in the Braamfontein creative district. Eight beers brewed weekly, sold direct from the counter. The session IPA is the flagship. Limited seating, this is standing room, counter culture. The head brewer does a free tasting most Friday evenings from 6pm.
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A northern suburbs taproom that has built a loyal local following through consistency. Eight taps: six house, two rotating guests. The honey ale uses local Highveld honey; the stout is roasted over Acacia wood chips. Family-friendly until 7pm; properly adults-only after that.
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A bottle shop and taproom hybrid in Greenside. Eight taps of rotating South African craft, a fridge of 140 bottles and cans to drink in or take away, and a staff that genuinely knows the stock. The pairing suggestion cards at each tap are more useful than they sound. Go on a Sunday afternoon when it is relaxed enough to actually taste what you are drinking.
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The best craft beer bar in Johannesburg by reputation and execution. 12 rotating taps, all South African craft and import selections. The pale ale from a Stellenbosch brewery is a permanent fixture; everything else rotates monthly. The food is legitimate bar food done well. The Saturday afternoon courtyard session is a ritual for the Braamfontein crowd.
A community-focused brewery that brews with local ingredients including sorghum, marula, and morula berry. The beers are distinctive and deeply local. The taproom is simple, concrete floors, wooden tables, and a chalkboard of six to eight house beers. The marula wheat beer is the one to start with.
The Johannesburg outpost of a national craft beer chain that earns its place through selection rather than branding. 99 beers on tap; no, that is not a typo. The guide on the menu is well written, use it. Start with the South African flight (6 tasters) and build from there.
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