OnTap Magazine

For the third time in the competition’s history, Soul Barrel Brewing wins Best Beer in Africa, this time with its Wild African Soul. The beer, a boundary-breaking collaboration with Johannesburg-based Tolokazi Beer, blends a traditional sorghum umqombothi with a farmhouse ale, aged for two years in wine barrels. This complex, soulful beer beat out 259 entries from 14 countries to claim Africa’s top prize. “We’re a small team with a big mission: to brew beer that expresses the soul of South Africa,” said Soul Barrel founder and brewmaster Nick Smith. “Winning Best Beer in Africa three times shows the world just how exciting African beer can be.” Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela, founder and brewmaster at Tolokazi Beer said: “This award is a true reflection of our dedication to crafting distinctly African beers— celebrating our heritage and embracing the richness of indigenous knowledge.” In 2024 the competition added a new category for “Specialty African Beers.” According to competition co-founder and Director, Lucy Corne, “These are beers that use traditional African brewing ingredients such as sorghum, millet and fonio rather than malted barley. We want the African Beer Cup to be a competition that celebrates our wonderful continent. It was great to see a beer from this unique category taking the top spot in the competition this year.” A huge congratulations is in order to all those who took home an award, as well as the organizers of the event, and the many who made the competition possible, from sponsors to beer judges. See a complete list of winners below! RESULTS FROM THE AFRICAN BEER CUP 2025 2025 BEST BEER IN AFRICA Soul Barrel Brewing x Tolokazi Beer – Wild African Soul (South Africa) WINNER OF THE BASA AFRICAN CELEBRATION AWARD Okavango Craft Brewery – Okavango Craft Brewery (Botswana) MEAD GOLD: Mellivora Meadery – Golden Rhino Acacia Mead (South Africa) SILVER: Mellivora Meadery – Mantidea – Bushveld Amormel (South Africa) NON-ALCOHOLIC BEER BRONZE : Heineken Beverages - Sedibeng Brewery – Heineken 0.0 (South Africa) FRUIT FLAVOURED BEERS GOLD: Heritage Brewery – Sobolo Ale (Ghana) SILVER: Heritage Brewery – Mango Tropical Ale (Ghana) BRONZE : Jack Black's Brewing Company – Super Crush Cherry Ale (South Africa) STANDARD AMERICAN BEER SILVER: Brewhogs – Platinum Light Lager (South Africa) BRONZE : Heineken Beverages - Sedibeng Brewery – Sol (South Africa) INTERNATIONAL LAGER SILVER: Rebel Brewery – Rebel Dark Lager (Zambia) BRONZE : Heineken Beverages - Sedibeng Brewery – Amstel (South Africa) CZECH LAGER GOLD: Afro Caribbean Brewing Company – Velvet Moth (South Africa) SILVER: Rebel Brewery – Rebel Dark Lager (Zambia) BRONZE : Woodstock Brewery – Happy Pills (South Africa) PALE MALTY EUROPEAN LAGER SILVER: AB-InBev – Castle Double Malt (South Africa) BRONZE: Heineken Beverages - Sedibeng Brewery – Windhoek Lager (Namibia) PALE BITTER EUROPEAN BEER GOLD: Shackleton Brewing Company – Shackleton Kölsch (South Africa) SILVER: Roof of Africa Craft Brewery – Roof Draught (Namibia) BRONZE: Swiss African Premium Beverage – ROX (Cameroon) AMBER MALTY EUROPEAN LAGER SILVER: de Beer Brew x Afro Caribbean Brewing Co. – de Beer Brew Red Lager (South Africa) AMBER BITTER EUROPEAN BEER SILVER: Roof of Africa Craft Brewery – Roof Dark Lager (Namibia) BRONZE : Whale Coast Brewing Co – WCBC Lager (South Africa) DARK EUROPEAN LAGER SILVER: WCBC Dark Lager – WCBC Dark Lager (South Africa) BRONZE : Clockwork Brewhouse – Schwarzbier Dark Lager (South Africa) GERMAN WHEAT BEER GOLD: Newlands Spring Brewing Company – Mountain Weiss (South Africa) SILVER: Barrington's Brewery – Dulcy's Weiss (South Africa) BRONZE : Jack Black's Brewing Company – Atlantic Weiss (South Africa) BRITISH BITTER GOLD: Newlands Spring Brewing Company – Jacob's Pale Ale (South Africa) SILVER: Jack Black's Brewing Company – Butcher Block Pale Ale (South Africa) BRONZE: Barrington's Brewery – The Newdigate (South Africa) PALE COMMONWEALTH BEER SILVER: Jack Black's Brewing Company – Cape Pale Ale (South Africa) BRONZE: Boet Beer Brewery – English IPA (South Africa) BROWN BRITISH BEER GOLD: Afro Caribbean Brewing Company – Pirate Porter (South Africa) SILVER: Darling Brew – Break Free Ale (South Africa) BRONZE: AB-InBev – Laurentina Preta (Mozambique) IRISH BEER SILVER: Outeniqua Brew Co – Liquid AMBER ALE (SOUTH AFRICA) BRONZE: Darling Brew – Gypsy Mask (South Africa) DARK BRITISH BEER SILVER: Hopsmith – Kenyan Coffee Milk STOUT (KENYA) BRONZE: AB-InBev – Castle Milk Stout (South Africa) Strong British Ale BRONZE: 1000 Hills Brew Co – The FES (South Africa) BLONDE ALE BRONZE: ABInBev – Safari Lager (Tanzania) AMERICAN PALE ALE GOLD: Woodstock Brewery – Moose Hammer (South Africa) SILVER: Starke Brews – WINNERS 14 | Winter 2025 | ontapmag.co.za