Beer in Africa, especially lager, is produced commercially in most African countries, and indigenous people also make varieties of beer. Beer is served in various locales, from neighbourhood shebeens to upscale bars. Many countries have standardized beer bottle sizes, which are cleaned and re-used, so when buying beer at a store, people often must pay a deposit on the bottle and the price of the beer. Traditional beer brewing is a common practice among Africans in rural areas. Varieties and types of beer depend on local customs and resources.
The rise of Black-owned beer brands highlights the growing appreciation for diversity and innovation in the brewing industry. These breweries aren’t just about bold IPAs, smooth stouts, or crisp lagers-they’re about creating economic opportunities, uplifting communities, and showcasing the creativity that defines Black culture.
Assortment of beers
East Africa
Ethiopia
St. Beer has been widely consumed in Ethiopia for a while, and as a result, the country enjoys a variety of beer brands. The most popular of these brands is St. George Beer (named after the country's patron saint), the country's oldest brewery, established in 1922. More recently, introducing foreign beer brands like Heineken has created a lot of competition in the market, increasing investment in the farming sector. This influx of capital has led the country to be more self-sufficient in such areas as malt production. Heineken's parent company acquired and rebranded many traditional Ethiopian brands including Meta, Harar, and Bedele.
Kenya
Tusker, brewed by Kenya Breweries Limited, is Kenya's most popular beer. Popularly known as "Keroro" beer, Tusker is a source of Kenyan pride highlighted in the late 1990s when East African Breweries waged a marketing war against Castle Breweries, a subsidiary of international brewing giant SABMiller. In this media campaign, Castle, which had constructed a multimillion-dollar brewery in the industrial town of Thika, was depicted as foreign and uncommitted to Kenya. The prolonged marketing wars ended in 2002 when the two brewers reached a settlement in which they divided the beer market in East Africa among themselves.
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Tanzania
Beer (known as pombe in Swahili) is an integral part of Tanzanian society, and local brands hold a strong sense of national pride and economic value.
Rwanda
Rwanda has Primus Beer. Another brand is Virunga. The leading local brand is called Stella (not to be confused with the Belgian Stella Artois).
Southern Africa
South Africa
South Africa's craft beer revolution
Of South African beers, Castle Lager is the most famous, although South Africa produces a variety of brands that are exported. South African beer has had two main influences on its development. Firstly, European settlers who colonised the country brought expertise and know-how as the country was populated. On October 4, 1658, Jan van Riebeeck recorded in his diary that the first beer was brewed at the Cape on this day. Beer is today still held in high regard as a wholesome natural beverage. Another critical but often overlooked influence has been indigenous knowledge.
Today, South African Breweries (SAB) controls the vast majority of the South African beer market, and with the notable exception of imported brands such as Heineken, Guinness, and others, SAB owns and produces all the major brands in the country, as well as owning Miller's Genuine Draft (American) and long list of others which makes it the world's second-largest brewery. Their most popular and valuable brand is Carling Black Label, the most-awarded beer in the country with 20 prestigious international beer awards. They also produce Castle milk stout, Hansa Pilsner, Castle Lager, and Castle Lite.
Recent developments have seen an increase in South African Beer Tourism initiatives. Initiated by Beer Route, a collaboration of craft breweries in South Africa, other players have since come on board to help guide tourists to taprooms throughout the country.
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Botswana
In South Africa and Botswana, sorghum malt is an important ingredient. Chibuku Shake Shake, so-called by the need to shake the carton before drinking it, is a commercial umqombothi brewed by Chibuku and remains a popular beer in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi. Chibuku Shake Shake is made from a mix of sorghum and maize. Kgalagadi Breweries Limited, a subsidiary of SAB Miller, produces St Louis. The traditional St Louis Special Light has a 3.5% v/v alcohol content. Due to the popularity of the St Louis brand, KBL has recently introduced an alcohol-free St Louis 24 at 0% v/v and St Louis Premium Export lager 4.5% v/v.
Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe, Chibuku Shake Shake is known as "scud". It is sold in paper cartons or brown plastic containers with a wide blue lid. It is thought to be a drink for lower-class people. This thick brown millet beer costs less than a dollar and is shaken vigorously before drinking it because of its thick layer of sediment collected on the bottom of the carton. It has a robust yeast flavor that a lemony tang offsets. Zambezi is Zimbabwe's national beer, brewed by Delta Corporation on Manchester Road, Harare. It is made from malt, maize, hops, and water and is 4.7% abv.
Zambia
Zambia's leading beer is Mosi Lager, made by Zambian Breweries, named after the indigenous name for Victoria Falls (Mosi Oa Tunya).
Victoria Falls, source of inspiration for Mosi Lager
Malawi
Malawi has its own Carlsberg brewery. Officially opened on 14 December 1968, Carlsberg Malawi Brewery Limited (CMBL) was the first Carlsberg brewery outside Denmark.
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Mozambique
Mozambique produces two of the most-awarded beers in Africa: Laurentina Clara, a pale lager, and Laurentina Preta, a dark lager. Manica is a pale lager, and 2M (pronounced doish-emi), produced by the same brewery (CdM), is also popular.
Namibia
Namibia Breweries, the country's largest brewery, offers mainly lagers and a lager Draught (Hansa) on tap that is popularly served in every Restaurant. Other popular bottled beers are Tafel Lager, Windhoek Lager, and Windhoek Light.
Madagascar
Three Horses beer is the national beer in Madagascar. Brasserie Star brews it.
Mauritius
Phoenix Beverages (formerly Mauritius Breweries) produce a local lager called Phoenix Beer; one premium lager known as Gister (4.8%); two strong lagers - Phoenix Special Brew (6.5%) and Blue Marlin (6.0%); and a pale lager called Stella Pils. They are also licensed to brew Guinness (of the Foreign Extra Stout variety) and Warsteiner since 2003 (as of 2015, Warsteiner is no longer produced). They produce a local lager-style beer called Black Eagle and a strong lager called Black Eagle Xtra (7.0%).
West Africa
Congo
Ngok is a popular beer only available in Congo, which makes it a popular choice to sneak across the border to DRC.
Benin
La Béninoise is the national beer of Benin. Locally brewed millet beer, known as tchouk, is popular in the northern regions.
Burkina Faso
The most common beers in Burkina Faso are Brakina and So.B.Bra. Both beers are produced by the Castel Group. In 2017 the first craft brewery, Brasserie Artisanale De Ouagadougou, started to sell IPAs, porters, and other ales-some with locally grown sorghum. The second microbrewery opened in 2017 and sells imported Belgian and crafted Belgian-styled beers.
Ghana
Ghana's most famous brands are Star Beer and Club Premium Lager. A ban on imports of barley malt imposed in 1990 forced brewers to find ways to produce beer with locally available sorghum and maize.
Nigeria
Nigerian Breweries brews under license Star, Gulder, Heineken, and several local beer brands, both ales and stouts.
Togo
Eku Bavaria and Awooyo are two brands in Togo.
Popular Beer Brands in Africa
The most popular brands are Castel and 33 Export, and in larger cities, Beaufort, Beaufort Lite, Mützig Lager, Guinness, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, and Guinness Smooth can be found.
Guinness Foreign Extra Stout
Black-Owned Breweries
Entrepreneurs in the beer/spirits industry like Fawn Weaver, founder of Uncle Nearest, are leading the way by combining creativity, cultural significance, and a passion for quality. Uncle Nearest, now worth $1.1 billion just seven years after its launch, shows the incredible potential of honoring history while building opportunities for the future. Looking for the best Black-owned craft beers to try? These breweries offer a wide range of flavors, perfect for any beer enthusiast. Whether you prefer bold chocolatey stouts, crisp lagers, or fruity, refreshing sours, there's something for every palate. Ready to support Black-owned businesses and discover your next favorite beer?
Moor’s Brewing Company
Moor’s Brewing Company was born out of a bold vision shared by lifelong friends Jamhal Johnson, Damon Patton, and Anthony Bell. On Juneteenth 2021, they set out to create more than just a premium Black-owned beer brand-they aimed to craft a story, a movement, and a legacy. Their mission? To deliver exceptional beer while shining a spotlight on the often-overlooked contributions of African civilization to brewing and to bring much-needed representation. The name "Moor’s" pays homage to the Moors, a historical group celebrated for their innovation and craftsmanship.
Chula Vista Brewery
The idea for opening a Chula Vista Brewery came to Timothy during a run through his Chula Vista neighborhood in South San Diego. At the time, he was serving as an active-duty Navy Chief, reflecting on what life might look like after his military career. Back then, Chula Vista didn’t have a single brewery to its name. While San Diego has long been celebrated as the "Craft Beer Capital of the World," that thriving beer scene was a drive away in other parts of the city-not in his own community.
Brown Girl's Brew
Brown Girl's Brew was born from a passion for blending tradition with innovation. For Christina, it’s about breaking barriers, fostering diversity in craft beer, and proving that a Black woman can not only succeed in this industry, but also lead and thrive within it. When she entered the craft beer world, she noticed a significant gap: many pastry-inspired beers leaned heavily on artificial flavors, often overshadowing the integrity of the base beer.
Black Beauty Brewery
Sheldon Goins turned a challenging moment into an opportunity for success when he launched Black Beauty Brewery, a trailblazing Black-owned beer company in Bowie, Maryland. After losing his job in February 2020 during the pandemic, Sheldon found inspiration in his wife, Brittany, who encouraged him to pursue his passion for craft beer. Sheldon started by experimenting with homemade beer recipes and competing in homebrewing contests, where his efforts paid off with first and third place awards. Encouraged by Brittany and driven by his passion, Sheldon officially opened Black Beauty Brewery in August 2020. Today, the brewery stands as a testament to hard work, resilience, and the power of chasing your dreams. At Black Beauty Brewery we take pride in creating innovative beer.
Métier Brewing Company
Rodney spent years honing his craft as a devoted homebrewer, traveling the world to explore local pubs and breweries. Yet, one thing stood out to him-there were few spaces where he felt truly represented. The name “Métier” is derived from the French language and beautifully defined as a pursuit at which one excels-a calling or destiny. For Hines, it perfectly encapsulates his mission and reflects the values he strives to uphold.
Food Pairing Ideas
Pairing food with beer is a craft I love exploring, blending flavors to create the perfect harmony.
- Carrot Cake Amber Ale + Spicy Chicken Wings - The malty sweetness and gentle spice of the amber ale beautifully balance the heat of crispy, spicy wings.
- Lemon Pound Cake Lager + Lemon Pepper Shrimp Tacos - The crisp, zesty profile of the lager enhances the bright citrus flavors in lemon pepper shrimp while cutting through the richness of the taco’s sauce.
- Key Lime Pie Ale + Fried Calamari with Spicy Aioli - The tart, tangy notes of the ale pair wonderfully with the crispy, salty calamari, while its biscuity malt undertones add a pleasant contrast to the creamy richness of the spicy aioli.
