Recently, the City of Tshwane, with the Beer Association of South Africa (BASA), launched a new beer tourist trail in Pretoria to mark the beginning of Tourism Month (September). This route includes tours of six breweries spread out over various areas in Tshwane.
The City of Tshwane is tapping into the fast-growing craft beer tourism business, which directs tourists to more than 150 craft breweries across South Africa, along with other excellent tourist sites.
Beer tours are an authentic way to introduce visitors to the melting pot of cultures and the culinary experiences that are found in Tshwane. Six breweries in Tshwane are included on the route map, which may be downloaded from www.brewroutes.co.za.
- Hazeldean Brewing Company in Pretoria East, known for its Vienna Lager, which achieved a Top 15 spot in the 2015 SAB Craft Beer Championships. The brewery opened its taproom, which also offers pizzas, burgers and coffee, in early August 2022.
- Drayman’s Brewery in Silverton, which has been recorded as an official South African Craft Brewery since 1997. In addition to various craft beers, Drayman’s also distils its own Highveld Single Malt Whisky and Hakkiesdraad Mampoer.
- Capital Craft Beer Academy in Menlo Park not only brews beer, but also offers meals and a menu of over 120 beers at its award-winning restaurant.
- Bernie’s Brewery in Doornkloof prides itself on ale made from pure mountain spring water found nearby and slow brewed with imported malts, hops and yeast.
- Arlington Brewery in the Dinokeng Big 5 Game Reserve is located 60 km north of Pretoria. The brewery makes four types of beer: The Red Hartebeest Ale, Bushveld Bliksem Lager, Boris the Buffalo Stout and Bushpig Bugger Pilsner. It also experiments with ciders, and the brewery also serves as a restaurant.
- Other breweries include Grain & Able, Friar’s Habit and Bullcook
The beer tourism collaboration with BASA is helping us to expand our tourism options, consequently adding jobs and direct spend in the local economy by visitors from local areas and neighbouring cities.
We look forward to greeting beer tourists as we prepare for “Oktoberfest” and the summer season, when Tshwane will host several beer activities.