OnTap Magazine

56 | Summer 2025 | ontapmag.co.za AFRICA BREW A  frica Brew 2025 marked the tenth anniversary of South Africa’s only travelling, brewer-driven conference. Over the decade, Africa Brew has rolled into ten different towns across eight provinces. We’ve discovered new breweries, new places, new friends; we’ve hauled kegs across the country, argued about water chemistry at 1:00 am, and picked up the odd hangover along the way. HOW IT STARTED A decade ago, Elbie Louw and I noticed a frustrating pattern: nearly all brewing conferences were held in the Western Cape or Gauteng. These provinces were the industry hubs, yes, but far from accessible to the rest of the country. Brewing knowledge was flowing, but it wasn’t flowing to everyone. Africa Brew began as a simple idea: a gathering of homebrewers and commercial brewers where everyone could learn, experiment, collaborate, and, most importantly, grow the South African brewing community together. But it was the decision to move the conference to a different brewery and town every year that gave Africa Brew its heartbeat. Each host brewery becomes the centre of the South African beer world for a weekend, showcasing not just its beers, but its people, culture, food, and local identity. Over time, it has grown into a rolling classroom, acatalyst forbeer tourism, and an annual pilgrimage that encourages brewers and enthusiasts to explore new breweries and the communities that host them. By rotating the event through different towns and breweries, each year opens the door for a new group of brewers. The result? Faster knowledge sharing, broader participation, and a brewing community strengthened through genuine inclusivity. Unlike traditional conferences, the learning here is immersive. It happens in workshops, yes, but also around braais, during brewery tours, over late-night beer tastings, and in the moments where brewers compare notes, swap stories, and share mistakes with honesty. THE AFRICA BREW IPA: A UNIQUE TRADITION Every host brewery has one special responsibility: they must brew the official Africa Brew IPA. The base recipe stays mostly the same, but each brewery adds their own flair: Zwakala Brewery added buchu, and Clockwork Brewhouse added Marulas. But most importantly, a portion of the IPA’s proceeds goes to a local charity chosen by the host brewery. It means every Africa Brew leaves a mark on the community— beyond the spike in craft- beer sales and the confused stares from locals wondering why people in hop- covered shirts have suddenly taken over their town. LOOKING AHEAD The next decade promises even more adventures, perhaps some cross- border participation from other African breweries, deeper exploration of indigenous ingredients, new breweries joining the fold as hosts, and stronger ties to beer tourism and regional beer routes. But at its heart, Africa Brew will remain what it has always been: a community that learns together, travels together, brews together, and lifts each other up—one town, one brewery, and one unforgettable weekend at a time. A DECADE OF BEER, LEARNING AND LOCAL ADVENTURE: AFRICA BREW TURNS 10 MEGAN GEMMELL A F R I C A B R E W 2 0 1 6 A F R I C A B R E W 2 0 1 7 A F R I C A B R E W 2 0 1 8 A F R I C A B R E W 2 0 1 9 A F R I C A B R E W 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 1 A F R I C A B R E W A F R I C A B R E W 2 0 2 3 A A F R I C B R E W 2 0 2 4 A A F R I C B R E W 2 0 2 5