Strongest Beers in South Africa — Ranked by ABV
Beer strength is measured as alcohol by volume (ABV). This is the top 100 highest-ABV beers in our database, ranked from strongest down. Leading the list is Opus Aeternum: The Neverending Boil by Soul Barrel Brewing Co. at 17.5%. Most everyday lagers sit between 4% and 5.5%, so anything above 7% counts as a strong beer.
100 beers · data verified against labels & brewery spec sheets, edited by BiBi.
| # | Beer | Brewery | Style | ABV | kcal / 330ml | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Opus Aeternum: The Neverending Boil | Soul Barrel Brewing Co.Western Cape | Barleywine | 17.5% | — | High confidence· official |
| 2 | Crazy Diamond – Belgian Strong Dark Ale | Triggerfish BrewingWestern Cape | Belgian Strong Dark Ale | 13.2% | — | High confidence· official |
| 3 | Old Cellar Barleywine | Soul Barrel Brewing Co.Western Cape | Barleywine | 12.3% | — | High confidence· official |
| 4 | Merry Imperial Irish Red | Friar’s Habit Craft BreweryGauteng | Red Ale - Irish | 12.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 5 | Grootslang Bottle | Afro Caribbean Brewing CompanyWestern Cape | Imperial Pastry Stout | 11.2% | — | High confidence· official |
| 6 | Loxtonia Blush MTC | Loxtonia CiderWestern Cape | MTC Cider | 11.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 7 | Loxtonia Brut MTC | Loxtonia CiderWestern Cape | MTC Cider | 11.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 8 | Monsterfish – Russian Imperial Stout | Triggerfish BrewingWestern Cape | Russian Imperial Stout (Vanilla Bourbon Infused) | 11.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 9 | The last Tsar 330ml bottle | Hazeldean Brewing Co.Gauteng | Russian Imperial Stout | 11.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 10 | StoneFish – American Barleywine | Triggerfish BrewingWestern Cape | American Barleywine | 10.6% | — | High confidence· official |
| 11 | Apocalypse – Wee Heavy | Triggerfish BrewingWestern Cape | Wee Heavy | 10.5% | — | High confidence· official |
| 12 | Chenin Saison 2025 | Starke BrewsWestern Cape | Farmhouse Ale - Saison | 10.5% | — | High confidence· official |
| 13 | QUAD | Honingklip BreweryWestern Cape | Quadrupel | 10.5% | — | High confidence· official |
| 14 | Super Power Anniversary Triple IPA | Soul Barrel Brewing Co.Western Cape | Triple IPA | 10.5% | — | High confidence· official |
| 15 | No Ris No Fun | Stellar BreweryFree State | Stout - Russian Imperial | 10.3% | — | High confidence· official |
| 16 | Black Marlin – Russian Imperial Stout | Triggerfish BrewingWestern Cape | Russian Imperial Stout | 10.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 17 | LOADED CANNON ALE | Boston BreweriesWestern Cape | Strong Ale | 10.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 18 | Ocean Aged Tripel | Drifter Brewing CompanyWestern Cape | Belgian Tripel | 10.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 19 | Ocean-Aged Tripel | Limited Edition | Shackleton Brewing CompanyWestern Cape | — | 10.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 20 | Sugarman Belgian Quad | Woodstock BreweryWestern Cape | Belgian Quad | 10.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 21 | Whaow Imperial Stout | Stellenbosch Brewing CompanyWestern Cape | Stout - Imperial / Double | 10.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 22 | Hazicus Maximus | LagunitasWestern Cape | Hazy Double IPA | 9.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 23 | LEFFE RITUEL 9° | LeffeN/A (Global Brand) | Abbey Beer | 9.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 24 | Maximus | LagunitasWestern Cape | Double IPA | 9.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 25 | MONKS TIPPLE TRIPLE | Optimum Craft BreweryGauteng | Belgian Triple | 9.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 26 | Sweet Mary Jane Tripel | Woodstock BreweryWestern Cape | Belgian Tripel | 9.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 27 | The Foreign Exchange Student | 1000 Hills Brewing CompanyKwaZulu-Natal | Belgian Ale | 9.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 28 | TRIPPEL | Honingklip BreweryWestern Cape | Tripel | 9.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 29 | Warlord - Imperial IPA | Darling BrewWestern Cape | Imperial IPA | 9.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 30 | Come To the Bark Side | The Kennel BreweryWestern Cape | Imperial Porter | 8.8% | — | High confidence· official |
| 31 | St Jasmin Tripel | Happy Days Brewery at NetherwoodKwaZulu-Natal | Belgian Tripel / Barley Wine | 8.6% | — | High confidence· official |
| 32 | Ale of Origin Gueuze, 2024 Best Beer in Africa | Soul Barrel Brewing Co.Western Cape | Gueuze | 8.5% | — | High confidence· official |
| 33 | LEFFE TRIPLE | LeffeN/A (Global Brand) | Blond Abbey Beer | 8.5% | — | High confidence· official |
| 34 | The Black Stag | Frontier Beer CompanyGauteng | Porter - Imperial / Double | 8.5% | — | High confidence· official |
| 35 | Agars “8” Belgian Dubbel | Agar's BreweryGauteng | Belgian Dubbel | 8.3% | — | High confidence· official |
| 36 | HAMMER OF THOR | Robson's Real BeerKwaZulu-Natal | Old Pale Ale | 8.3% | — | High confidence· official |
| 37 | Klipbock | Mountain Brewing CompanyWestern Cape | Bock - Doppelbock | 8.2% | — | High confidence· official |
| 38 | Wye Wit ? Twice As Hard | TNT BreweryGauteng | Wheat Beer - American Pale Wheat | 8.2% | — | High confidence· official |
| 39 | Arrowhead - Russian Imperial Stout | Darling BrewWestern Cape | Russian Imperial Stout | 8.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 40 | Craftwerk Hop Head 7 | Bitburger BrauereiRhineland-Palatinate | India Pale Ale | 8.0% | 214 | High confidence· official |
| 41 | Double IPA | Lilypatrick Craft BreweryWestern Cape | Imperial / Double IPA | 8.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 42 | Easy American Female Ale | Ale HouseNorth West | American IPA | 8.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 43 | Narwhal Imperial IPA | Stumpnose BreweryKwaZulu-Natal | Imperial IPA | 8.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 44 | SCREAMER DIPA | Optimum Craft BreweryGauteng | Double IPA | 8.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 45 | The Beast of Both Worlds | LagunitasWestern Cape | Bi-Coastal IPA | 8.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 46 | The Cuban | Frontier Beer CompanyGauteng | Stout - Imperial / Double | 8.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 47 | The Haymaker | Frontier Beer CompanyGauteng | Stout - Imperial / Double | 8.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 48 | Titan – Imperial IPA | Triggerfish BrewingWestern Cape | Imperial IPA | 8.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 49 | Uncharted Territory 6 Pack | Afro Caribbean Brewing CompanyWestern Cape | Hazy DIPA | 8.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 50 | Warrior IIPA | Agar's BreweryGauteng | Imperial IPA | 8.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 51 | Old Fashioned Strong Ale | Bottle | Shackleton Brewing CompanyWestern Cape | — | 7.9% | — | High confidence· official |
| 52 | Salvator | PaulanerBavaria, Germany | Doppelbock | 7.9% | — | High confidence· official |
| 53 | Lupulin Shift Disorder | That Brewing CompanyKwaZulu-Natal | Double (American) IPA | 7.8% | — | High confidence· official |
| 54 | A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' | LagunitasWestern Cape | Wheat IPA | 7.5% | — | High confidence· official |
| 55 | American Brown Ale | Lions River Craft BreweryKwaZulu-Natal | Brown Ale - American | 7.5% | — | High confidence· official |
| 56 | Giant Woody | Mad Giant BeerGauteng | Double IPA | 7.5% | — | High confidence· official |
| 57 | GUINNESS FOREIGN EXTRA STOUT | GuinnessSt. James's Gate, Dublin (Global HQ) | Stout | 7.5% | 211 | High confidence· official |
| 58 | Special Brew | CarlsbergN/A (International brand) | Very strong full bodied pilsner | 7.4% | 218 | High confidence· official |
| 59 | ERDINGER Pikantus | Erdinger WeissbierBavaria, Germany | Weizenbock | 7.3% | 208 | High confidence· official |
| 60 | Freestyle IPA | Friar’s Habit Craft BreweryGauteng | Lager - IPL (India Pale Lager) | 7.3% | — | High confidence· official |
| 61 | Garth Duvet x 2 (750ml Bottles) | Afro Caribbean Brewing CompanyWestern Cape | Bottle Fermented Belgian Blonde Ale | 7.3% | — | High confidence· official |
| 62 | OC’S AFRO | Optimum Craft BreweryGauteng | Hazy IPA | 7.3% | — | High confidence· official |
| 63 | Jungle Paradise 6 Pack | Afro Caribbean Brewing CompanyWestern Cape | Old School West Coast IPA | 7.2% | — | High confidence· official |
| 64 | Our City | Starke BrewsWestern Cape | IPA - New England / Hazy | 7.2% | — | High confidence· official |
| 65 | Baines Black Ale | Tsitsikamma MicrobreweryEastern Cape | Black Ale | 7.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 66 | Bed of Roses | The Kennel BreweryWestern Cape | Stout | 7.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 67 | Belgian Dubbel | Hey Joe Brewing CompanyWestern Cape | Belgian Dubbel | 7.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 68 | Belgian Stout | Hey Joe Brewing CompanyWestern Cape | Belgian Stout | 7.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 69 | Bitburger Winterbock | Bitburger BrauereiRhineland-Palatinate | Helles Bockbier | 7.0% | 208 | High confidence· official |
| 70 | Chester’s IPA | The Italian Job BreweryWestern Cape | English IPA | 7.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 71 | DUBBEL | Honingklip BreweryWestern Cape | Dubbel | 7.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 72 | Dungeons Stout Ale | Urban Brewing CompanyWestern Cape | Stout - Irish Dry | 7.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 73 | Forza IPA | The Italian Job BreweryWestern Cape | American IPA | 7.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 74 | Karaoke Duet: West Coast IPA | Soul Barrel Brewing Co.Western Cape | IPA | 7.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 75 | Karma Coma | Frontier Beer CompanyGauteng | IPA - Imperial / Double | 7.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 76 | Mass Hoppiness | Stellenbosch Brewing CompanyWestern Cape | IPA - American | 7.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 77 | SOUR BONA | Frontier Beer CompanyGauteng | Sour - Fruited | 7.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 78 | Suck the Power 330ml can | Aegir Project BreweryWestern Cape | DDH IPA | 7.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 79 | Tomahawk IPA | Agar's BreweryGauteng | IPA | 7.0% | — | High confidence· official |
| 80 | Better Judgment 6 Pack | Afro Caribbean Brewing CompanyWestern Cape | Hazy IPA | 6.8% | — | High confidence· official |
| 81 | Garden Club Mafia | Hogsback Brewing CompanyEastern Cape | IPA - New England / Hazy | 6.8% | — | High confidence· official |
| 82 | La Saison – Belgian Style | Franschhoek Beer CompanyWestern Cape | Belgian Style Saison | 6.8% | — | High confidence· official |
| 83 | Madala's Gold | Mountain Brewing CompanyWestern Cape | Belgian Strong Golden Ale | 6.8% | — | High confidence· official |
| 84 | Black IPA | Brewhogs Micro BreweryGauteng | Black IPA | 6.6% | — | Medium confidence· retailer |
| 85 | LEFFE AMBRÉE | LeffeN/A (Global Brand) | Double Malt Beer | 6.6% | — | High confidence· official |
| 86 | LEFFE BLONDE | LeffeN/A (Global Brand) | Blond Abbey Beer | 6.6% | — | High confidence· official |
| 87 | Bridge Street IPA | Bridge Street BreweryEastern Cape | IPA | 6.5% | — | High confidence· official |
| 88 | Californicator IPA | Woodstock BreweryWestern Cape | American IPA | 6.5% | — | High confidence· official |
| 89 | Friar's Rabbit IPA | Friar’s Habit Craft BreweryGauteng | IPA - American | 6.5% | — | High confidence· official |
| 90 | God Father - IPA | Darling BrewWestern Cape | IPA | 6.5% | — | High confidence· official |
| 91 | Hoenderhok Bock | Stellenbosch Brewing CompanyWestern Cape | Bock - Hell / Maibock / Lentebock | 6.5% | — | High confidence· official |
| 92 | Kiff Express | TNT BreweryGauteng | IPA - New England / Hazy | 6.5% | — | High confidence· official |
| 93 | Kumquat IPA | Highland Brew CompanyFree State | IPA - Fruited | 6.5% | — | High confidence· official |
| 94 | LEFFE BRUNE | LeffeN/A (Global Brand) | Abbey Beer | 6.5% | — | High confidence· official |
| 95 | New England IPA | Lions River Craft BreweryKwaZulu-Natal | IPA - New England / Hazy | 6.5% | — | High confidence· official |
| 96 | Sandstone IPA | Clarens BreweryFree State | IPA | 6.5% | — | High confidence· official |
| 97 | Silverback Stout | Saggy Stone Brewing CompanyWestern Cape | Stout | 6.5% | — | High confidence· official |
| 98 | The Stout – Stout | Franschhoek Beer CompanyWestern Cape | Stout | 6.5% | — | Medium confidence· official |
| 99 | Weekend Special | Zwakala BreweryLimpopo | White IPA | 6.5% | — | High confidence· official |
| 100 | WORTHOG IPA | Hoghouse Brewing CompanyWestern Cape | IPA | 6.5% | — | High confidence· official |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the strongest beer in South Africa?▾
In our database, the highest-ABV entry is Opus Aeternum: The Neverending Boil by Soul Barrel Brewing Co. at 17.5%. Breweries regularly release limited high-strength editions, so the top of the ranking shifts over time.
What ABV is considered a strong beer?▾
Standard lagers are around 4–5.5% ABV. Beers above 7% ABV are generally considered strong, and imperial stouts, barleywines and triples can exceed 9–12%.