BiBi

My Story

I've spent 35 years working in the South African beer industry. For most of that time I've been a client of one of the country's biggest beverage manufacturers — giving me direct access to brewmaster insights, product launch data, and an inside view of how beer gets made, marketed, and distributed across South Africa.

That background is what makes Beer in South Africa different from a typical content site. When I write about Castle Lager's heritage, I'm drawing on decades of industry knowledge, not just web research. When I review a craft beer, I bring the perspective of someone who understands the commercial realities behind the brew.

Outside of beer, I keep bees — yes, bees and beers. It gives me a particular appreciation for the botanical ingredients that make South African brewing unique: fynbos, honeybush, rooibos, and the wild yeasts that thrive in the Cape.

I'm based in Cape Town, and I created this site because I couldn't find a single resource that covered our beer scene the way it deserves — from umqombothi in the Eastern Cape to barrel-aged fynbos ales in Stellenbosch, from Castle Lager's 140-year legacy to the experimental microbreweries popping up in Joburg's industrial districts.