Gauteng Craft Breweries: Joburg, Pretoria & the Magaliesberg
South Africa's economic heartland is also its second-largest craft beer province. Gauteng's 25+ breweries range from Johannesburg's award-winning industrial taprooms to Pretoria's German-influenced beer gardens and countryside estate breweries in the Magaliesberg mountains.
Hours verified against official sources in early 2025. Always confirm directly before visiting.
Johannesburg Central & South
Jozi's inner city and southern suburbs are where South African craft beer flexes its most experimental muscle. The Maboneng precinct, Ferreiras Dorp, and Blairgowrie host the heaviest concentration of taprooms.
SMACK! Republic Brewing Co
Watch the brew process at the Arts on Main complex. Popular with Sunday Market on Main crowd. Food-and-beer pairing evenings.
Signature beers: Artisanal ales, seasonal experiments
Frontier Beer Co
Bold, experimental approach with daring flavour combinations and urban-loft aesthetic.
Signature beers: Citrusy Pale Ale, Coffee Stout
Airport Craft Brewers
Convenient for travellers landing in Gauteng.
Signature beers: Session ales and lagers
Keghouse Brewery
Small-batch specialist focused on fresh, unfiltered beer.
Signature beers: Keg-conditioned ales
Tolokazi Beer
Featured in AllAboutBeer 2025 for bridging heritage brewing with modern craft.
Signature beers: African-heritage inspired lager
Signal Hill Products
Newer Gauteng entrant profiled in Business Report 2026.
Signature beers: Craft lager and lifestyle brands
Johannesburg North & Randburg
The northern suburbs from Randburg to Kyalami offer a more suburban craft experience, with breweries often attached to markets, country-style pubs, or industrial estates.
Copperlake Breweries
Spacious beer garden with on-site minibrewery visitors can see. Laid-back weekend destination.
Signature beers: Copperlake Weiss, lagers, and stouts
Brewhogs Microbrewery
Refurbished a derelict brewery in 2013. Precision brewing and consistent quality in a sleek tasting room.
Signature beers: Brewhogs Lager, experimental seasonals
Leaky Tap Brewery
Neighbourhood micro with approachable everyday styles.
Signature beers: Session ales
The RedRock Brewing Company
Tradition-meets-innovation approach; vibrant taproom.
Signature beers: African Pale Ale with herbal notes
Oakes Brew House
Heritage village setting in Modderfontein.
Signature beers: Small-batch ales
Randpark Club
Club setting with on-site brewing.
Signature beers: House-brewed ales
Irish Ale House
Traditional Irish pub brewing.
Signature beers: Irish-style ales and stouts
Pretoria & East
Pretoria’s craft scene blends Afrikaans braai-garden culture with German-influenced brewing. Drayman’s in Silverton has been operating since 1997, making it one of the oldest craft operations in the country.
Drayman’s Brewery & Distillery
Operating since 1997. Also distils single malt whisky and Hakkiesdraad mampoer. Sold in 1-litre bottles.
Signature beers: Altstadt Weissbier, Emperor IPA, Jolly Monk Belgian Ale, Berghof Pilsner
Hazeldean Brewing Co
Farm brewery with multiple SANBT and Africa Beer Cup medals. Find them at the Cowhouse Market.
Signature beers: Vienna Lager (award-winning), Premium Pilsner, Milk Stout, Amber Weiss
Zeppelin
WWII underground-bunker theme. Drink craft under the trees.
Signature beers: Blonde Ale, Red Irish Ale, IPA, Stout
Legends Brewery
Cozy space with friendly staff. Enduring, well-crafted styles.
Signature beers: Legends Amber Ale with caramel notes, classic lagers, IPAs
Agar’s Brewery
Family-run, long-standing favourite of the Highveld beer community.
Signature beers: Micro-batch ales
Muldersdrift, Magaliesburg & Surrounds
West of Joburg, the Magaliesberg mountains and Crocodile River valley host country breweries that double as weekend getaways. Gilroy’s in Muldersdrift is one of SA’s original craft breweries.
Gilroy’s Brewery
One of SA’s original craft breweries. Irish charm meets South African hospitality. Beer garden, guided tours, and beer-pairing meals.
Signature beers: Serious Dark Ale, English Ale, Favourite Lager
Black Horse Brewery
Country estate with Friesian horses, restaurant (Fri–Sun), distillery tours, and accommodation. Brewery est. 2012.
Signature beers: Golden Draught Lager, Witching Hour Pale Ale, Night Shift Dark Ale, Radler
The Cockpit Brewhouse
Aviation-themed brewpub. Beef and stout pie on the menu. Full restaurant.
Signature beers: Ales named after famous aircraft: Spitfire, Mustang, Black Widow
Mogallywood (Boozah)
Countryside micro in the Magalies foothills.
Signature beers: Artisanal ales
Ale House
Traditional ale house on the Harties road.
Signature beers: Pub ales
Lazy Lizard Brew House
Laid-back setting near Hartbeespoort Dam.
Signature beers: Relaxed session ales
De Garve Brewery
Micro-brewery with adjacent tasting room and tours.
Signature beers: Tasting room ales and lagers
Humanbrew (Loxton Lager)
Independent brand making waves in the Gauteng market.
Signature beers: Loxton Lager
Bosheuwel Country Estate
Country estate brewing.
Signature beers: Estate-brewed ales
What Makes Gauteng Beer Culture Unique
Gauteng's craft scene is shaped by urbanisation and diversity. Johannesburg's brewers tend toward bold, high-impact styles \u2014 punchy IPAs, dark stouts, and experimental one-offs \u2014 reflecting the city's fast-paced energy.
Pretoria adds a German and continental European influence. Drayman's has brewed Altbier and Weissbier since 1997, and Hazeldean's Vienna Lager has won multiple medals. This creates a distinctly different palate from the Western Cape's wine-barrel experimentation.
The province is also home to a growing movement of African-heritage brewing. Read our complete Joburg craft beer guide for deep-dive neighbourhood recommendations.
Planning a Gauteng Brewery Tour
🏙\ufe0f Joburg Urban Crawl
SMACK! Republic (Maboneng, Sundays) \u2192 Frontier Beer Co \u2192 The Foundry (Parktown North) for tap variety. Uber between stops.
🌾 Country Escape (self-drive)
Joburg \u2192 Gilroy\u2019s (Muldersdrift) \u2192 Black Horse (Magaliesburg) \u2192 Cockpit Brewhouse (Cullinan). Full day, ~200 km loop.
🍺 Pretoria Heritage Trail
Drayman\u2019s (Silverton) \u2192 Hazeldean (Cowhouse Market) \u2192 Zeppelin. Capital Craft for curated multi-tap finish.
🏠 Northern Suburbs
Copperlake (Broadacres) \u2192 Brewhogs (Kyalami) \u2192 Oakes (Modderfontein). Family-friendly, weekend-afternoon pace.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many craft breweries are in Gauteng?
Gauteng has over 25 active craft breweries as of 2025, spread across Johannesburg, Pretoria, Muldersdrift, and the Magaliesburg countryside. It is the second-largest craft beer province after the Western Cape.
What is the best craft brewery in Johannesburg?
Johannesburg has several excellent craft breweries. SMACK! Republic at Arts on Main is a favourite for experimental ales, Frontier Beer Co is known for bold flavours, and Tolokazi is bridging African heritage brewing with modern craft. In greater Gauteng, Gilroy (Muldersdrift) and Legends Brewery (Pretoria) are well-established names.
Can I do a brewery tour in Pretoria?
Yes. Drayman's Brewery in Silverton has offered guided tours since 1997 and also distils whisky. Hazeldean Brewing Co hosts visitors at their farm brewery, particularly at the Cowhouse Market on weekends.
Which Gauteng brewery is best for families?
Black Horse Brewery in Magaliesburg offers a full country estate with a restaurant, Friesian horses, and accommodation. Copperlake Breweries has a spacious beer garden. Gilroy's in Muldersdrift features a family-friendly beer garden.
What beer styles is Gauteng known for?
Gauteng brewers lean toward bold, urban styles: dark ales (Gilroy's Serious Dark), German-influenced lagers and weissbiers (Drayman's, Hazeldean), punchy IPAs, and experimental one-offs. The province also has a growing interest in African-heritage inspired beers (Tolokazi) and Pretoria's Legends Brewery is known for well-crafted ambers and IPAs.
Is there a craft beer route in Gauteng?
There is no single marked route, but a popular self-drive loop runs from Johannesburg west to Muldersdrift (Gilroy's) and Magaliesburg (Black Horse), or east to Cullinan (Cockpit Brewhouse). In the city, the Maboneng–Ferreiras Dorp corridor can be walked between taprooms.