South Africa is a country with a rich beer culture, and its best-known and most popular beer is Castle Lager. This warm and intoxicating beer has been brewed in the country for more than 300 years, and it is still the favorite among many South Africans. Other popular beers in the country include Black Label, Amstel, Carlsberg, and Castle Lite. Black Label is especially popular among the black population, while Castle Lite is the go-to choice for the younger generation.
This week we asked our Twitter followers to tell us what their favorite beer is, and Castle was the clear winner with more than 40% of the votes. It is not clear if this percentage prefers Castle Lite or Castle Lager. Personally, I like a Black Label when I drink a strange beer, while my colleague Gabi prefers CBC Amber Weiss. Earlier this month, the best beer in Africa was crowned in the African Beer Cup.
Drifter Brewing Company from Cape Town won with their Stormy Smoked Porter. South African Breweries (SAB) controls most of the South African beer market, and they produce Lion Lager and Castle Lager, which are the country's most popular mass-produced beer brands. In addition to these large breweries, there are now over 200 craft breweries operating in South Africa. These craft breweries offer a huge variety of good quality beers, such as Umqombothi from the Nguni languages (Xhosa and Zulu).
This traditional beer is brewed in the Transkei from corn malt, sorghum malt, yeast, and water. South Africans are very dedicated to drinking lager beer, and Hansa Pilsner is one of the largest lagers in the country. This medium-bodied beer has a mild carbonation and a traditional malty flavor that makes it a favorite among many South Africans. With so many different beers available in South Africa, it can be difficult to choose just one favorite.
However, Castle Lager remains the most popular beer in the country due to its warm flavor and long history of brewing excellence.
