African beer
Encyclopedia
Beer in Africa, especially lager, is produced commercially in most African countries, and varieties of beer are also made by indigenous tribes. Beer is served in a range of locales, from neighbourhood shebeens to upscale bars. Many countries have standardized beer bottle sizes, which are cleaned and re-used, and so when buying beer at a store often people must pay a deposit on the bottle as well as the price of the beer. South Africa consumes the most beer of any African country, with an average of 59.2 litres of beer consumed per person annually.
s.
A typical alternative to glass-bottle beers is local beer sold in tetra-pak style paper cartons. United National Breweries amongst others, produces Johannesburg beer, and the popular, if stigmatized, Chibuku beer is popular throughout Southern African countries partly owned and managed by subsidiary companies of SABMiller PLC operating in Botswana,Zambia,Malawi and Zimbabwe. In South Africa and Botswana, sorghum malt is used as an important ingredient whereas elsewhere less to no sorghum is used (maily maize) and the beer is more commonly known as opaque beer
Of South African beers, Castle Lager is the most famous, although South Africa produces a variety of brands which are exported. South African Breweries
became the world's second-largest beer producer after merging with Miller Breweries of the US.
Three Horses beer
is the national beer in Madagascar. It is brewed by Brasserie Star.
Malawi
has its own Carlsberg
brewery. Officially opened on 14 December 1968 , Carlsberg Malawi Brewery Limited (CMBL) was the first Carlsberg brewery outside Denmark. This brews beers such as "Green" - standard larger, a stout, Elephant - a strong larger and Kuche Kuche Malawi's own beer (Mowa Wathu Wathu).
Mauritius Breweries produce a local lager called Phoenix Beer and a strong lager. Blue Marlin. They are also licensed to brew Guinness (of the Foreign Extra Stout variety) and Warsteiner since 2003. They also brew beer destined for Madagascar (Three Horses) under licence.
Recently, Universal Breweries Ltd has begun operating. They produce a local lager style beer called Black Eagle.
Mozambique produces two of the most awarded beers in Africa: Laurentina Clara, a pale lager
, and Preta, a dark lager. Manica is a pale lager, and 2M , produced by the same brewery (CdM), is also popular. Laurentina is now exported to South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Windhoek Lager, named for the country's capital, is the largest brewer in Namibia. The country, a former German colony, has a long history of brewing and makes pale lagers.
Zambia's main beer is Mosi Lager, named for the indigenous name for Victoria Falls
(Mosi Oa Tunya). South African Breweries
' Castle is also found most places in Zambia.
Zambezi is Zimbabwe's national beer, brewed by National Breweries on Manchester Road, Harare
. It is made from malt, maize, hops and water, and is 4.7% abv
. Other major beers include Bohlingers, Lion, Eagle and South African Breweries
' Carling Black Label and Castle.
Chibuku Shake Shake, so called by the need to shake the carton before drinking it, is brewed by Chibuku, and remains a popular beer in Botswana
, Zimbabwe
, Zambia
, and Malawi
. Chibuku Shake Shake is made from a mix of sorghum and maize. In Zimbabwe it is known as "scud". It is sold in paper cartons or brown plastic containers with a wide blue lid. It is thought to be a drink for lower class people. This thick brown millet beer costs less than a dollar and it is shaken vigorously before drinking it because of its thick Layer of sediment collected on the bottom of the carton. It has a powerful yeast flavor that is offset by a lemony tang, surprising given the color. When the liquid has been consumed and you reach the bottom of the carton, standard practice is to slurp up the pile of sludge that remains.
Safari Lager, Kilimanjaro Lager and Serengeti Lager are predominant in Tanzania. Tanzabeer is a lager-like beer local to Tanzania which has now been introduced to the United Kingdom via Mkaka & Co in West London.
Golden Star, brewed by the Golden Star Brewery
, is the unique beer in Eritrea after the closing of Asmara Brewery (ex Menotti) which has been brewing beer since the colonial era.
Rwanda
has Primus Beer; Urwagwa, made from fermented banana juice and sorghum flour.
Uganda
has Club, Nile Special, Bell Lager, Eagle the local beer made using sorghum, as well as Guinness and Tusker.
. Flag and Castel are also widely available. Locally brewed millet beer, known as tchouk, is popular in the northern regions.
Breweries Ltd.
.
Foreign Extra Stout that uses sorghum
.
A ban on imports of barley malt
imposed in 1990 forced brewers to find ways to produce beer with locally available sorghum
and maize
. The Nigerian version is distinct from other Guinness FES's found around the world.
Nigerian Breweries
brews under license Star, Gulder, Heineken, Tiger Bock, Kronenbourg and several local beer brands, both ale and stout types. Mopa Breweries, Ltd.
produces the popular One Lager.
. Flag and Castel are also widely available.
: The most popular beers are Castel and 33 Export, and in larger cities Beaufort, Beaufort Lite, Mutzig, Guinness, Guinness Milk Stout, and Guinness Smooth can be found. Local brews include palm wine in the southern part of the country and millet beer called 'bil-bil' in the north.
Congo (Brazzaville): Ngok is a popular beer only available in Congo, which makes it a popular choice to sneak across the border to DRC. Its logo is a crocodile.
Most beers in Congo (DRC) are brewed by Heineken
with the most popular being Primus.
). Available in original, export, and premium varieties. Other brands on the market include Meister , Luxor and Sakara, and the non-alcoholic "Birell" and "Kaliber".
beer is the Nile Special, produced in and distributed from Jinja
, the source of the Nile
at Lake Victoria
.
Indigenous beers
The brewing of traditional beer is a common practice among Africans in rural areas. Varieties and types of beer depend on local customs and resources. Among various beers brewed locally are honey beers and ginger beerGinger beer
Ginger beer is a carbonated drink that is flavored primarily with ginger and sweetened with sugar or artificial sweeteners.-History:Brewed ginger beer originated in England in the mid-18th century and became popular in Britain, the United States, and Canada, reaching a peak of popularity in the...
s.
A typical alternative to glass-bottle beers is local beer sold in tetra-pak style paper cartons. United National Breweries amongst others, produces Johannesburg beer, and the popular, if stigmatized, Chibuku beer is popular throughout Southern African countries partly owned and managed by subsidiary companies of SABMiller PLC operating in Botswana,Zambia,Malawi and Zimbabwe. In South Africa and Botswana, sorghum malt is used as an important ingredient whereas elsewhere less to no sorghum is used (maily maize) and the beer is more commonly known as opaque beer
Southern Africa
Kgalagadi Breweries Limited, a subsidiary of SAB Miller, produces St Louis. The traditional St Louis Special Light has a 3.5% v/v alcohol content. Due to the popularity of the St Louis brand, KBL has recently introduced an alcohol free St Louis 24 at 0% v/v and St Louis Premium Export lager 4.5% v/v.Of South African beers, Castle Lager is the most famous, although South Africa produces a variety of brands which are exported. South African Breweries
South African Breweries
The South African Breweries , then called Castle Breweries, was founded in 1895 specifically to serve a new market of miners and prospectors in and around Johannesburg. Two years later, it became the first industrial company to list on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange...
became the world's second-largest beer producer after merging with Miller Breweries of the US.
Three Horses beer
Three Horses Beer
Three Horses Beer is a 5.4% abv pale lager brewed by the Star Brewery of Madagascar.It is sold in a small size bottles and large size bottles throughout Madagascar, normally in brown bottles which are used over and over. It can be purchased at grocery stores, petrol stations, restaurants, and...
is the national beer in Madagascar. It is brewed by Brasserie Star.
Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
has its own Carlsberg
Carlsberg
The Carlsberg Group is a Danish brewing company founded in 1847 by J. C. Jacobsen after the name of his son Carl. The headquarters are in Copenhagen, Denmark...
brewery. Officially opened on 14 December 1968 , Carlsberg Malawi Brewery Limited (CMBL) was the first Carlsberg brewery outside Denmark. This brews beers such as "Green" - standard larger, a stout, Elephant - a strong larger and Kuche Kuche Malawi's own beer (Mowa Wathu Wathu).
Mauritius Breweries produce a local lager called Phoenix Beer and a strong lager. Blue Marlin. They are also licensed to brew Guinness (of the Foreign Extra Stout variety) and Warsteiner since 2003. They also brew beer destined for Madagascar (Three Horses) under licence.
Recently, Universal Breweries Ltd has begun operating. They produce a local lager style beer called Black Eagle.
Mozambique produces two of the most awarded beers in Africa: Laurentina Clara, a pale lager
Pale lager
Pale lager is a very pale to golden-coloured beer with a well attenuated body and a varying degree of noble hop bitterness. The brewing process for this beer developed in the mid 19th century when Gabriel Sedlmayr took pale ale brewing techniques back to the Spaten Brewery in Germany and applied it...
, and Preta, a dark lager. Manica is a pale lager, and 2M , produced by the same brewery (CdM), is also popular. Laurentina is now exported to South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Windhoek Lager, named for the country's capital, is the largest brewer in Namibia. The country, a former German colony, has a long history of brewing and makes pale lagers.
Zambia's main beer is Mosi Lager, named for the indigenous name for Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls
The Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya is a waterfall located in southern Africa on the Zambezi River between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe.-Introduction:...
(Mosi Oa Tunya). South African Breweries
South African Breweries
The South African Breweries , then called Castle Breweries, was founded in 1895 specifically to serve a new market of miners and prospectors in and around Johannesburg. Two years later, it became the first industrial company to list on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange...
' Castle is also found most places in Zambia.
Zambezi is Zimbabwe's national beer, brewed by National Breweries on Manchester Road, Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
. It is made from malt, maize, hops and water, and is 4.7% abv
Alcohol by volume
Alcohol by volume is a standard measure of how much alcohol is contained in an alcoholic beverage .The ABV standard is used worldwide....
. Other major beers include Bohlingers, Lion, Eagle and South African Breweries
South African Breweries
The South African Breweries , then called Castle Breweries, was founded in 1895 specifically to serve a new market of miners and prospectors in and around Johannesburg. Two years later, it became the first industrial company to list on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange...
' Carling Black Label and Castle.
Chibuku Shake Shake, so called by the need to shake the carton before drinking it, is brewed by Chibuku, and remains a popular beer in Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
, and Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
. Chibuku Shake Shake is made from a mix of sorghum and maize. In Zimbabwe it is known as "scud". It is sold in paper cartons or brown plastic containers with a wide blue lid. It is thought to be a drink for lower class people. This thick brown millet beer costs less than a dollar and it is shaken vigorously before drinking it because of its thick Layer of sediment collected on the bottom of the carton. It has a powerful yeast flavor that is offset by a lemony tang, surprising given the color. When the liquid has been consumed and you reach the bottom of the carton, standard practice is to slurp up the pile of sludge that remains.
Eastern Africa
Golden Star, brewed by the Golden Star Brewery
Golden Star Brewery
Golden Star Brewery is a local competitor to the more pervasive Asmara Brewery which has been brewing beer since the colonial era....
, is the unique beer in Eritrea after the closing of Asmara Brewery (ex Menotti) which has been brewing beer since the colonial era.
Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
has Primus Beer; Urwagwa, made from fermented banana juice and sorghum flour.
Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
has Club, Nile Special, Bell Lager, Eagle the local beer made using sorghum, as well as Guinness and Tusker.
Kenya
Tusker, brewed by the Kenya Breweries Limited, is the most popular beer in Kenya. Popularly known as "Keroro" beer, Tusker is a source of Kenyan pride highlighted in the late 1990s, where East African Breweries played the patriotic card to win a marketing war against Castle Breweries, a subsidiary of international brewing giant SABMiller. In the nasty media campaign that followed Castle, which had constructed a multi-million dollar brewery in the industrial town of Thika, was depicted as foreign and uncommitted to Kenya. The prolonged marketing wars came to an end in 2002, when the two brewers reached a settlement in which they carved out the beer market in East Africa among themselves. Castle agreed to exit Kenya, and EABL decided to leave the Tanzanian market to the SABMiller subsidiary.Benin
La Béninoise is the national beer of BeninBenin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
. Flag and Castel are also widely available. Locally brewed millet beer, known as tchouk, is popular in the northern regions.
Gambia
Gambia has Julbrew. Brewed by BanjulBanjul
-Transport:Ferries sail from Banjul to Barra. The city is served by the Banjul International Airport. Banjul is on the Trans–West African Coastal Highway connecting it to Dakar and Bissau, and will eventually provide a paved highway link to 11 other nations of ECOWAS.Banjul International Airport...
Breweries Ltd.
Guinea
Guiluxe, a favorite of expatriate Peace Corps Volunteers, is the only known locally brewed beer in GuineaGuinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
.
Nigeria
Nigeria produces a version of GuinnessGuinness Nigeria
Guinness Nigeria, a subsidiary of the prestigious Diageo Plc of the United Kingdom, was incorporated in 1962 with the building of a brewery in Ikeja, the heart of Lagos. The brewery was the first outside of Ireland and Great Britain...
Foreign Extra Stout that uses sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
.
A ban on imports of barley malt
Malt
Malt is germinated cereal grains that have been dried in a process known as "malting". The grains are made to germinate by soaking in water, and are then halted from germinating further by drying with hot air...
imposed in 1990 forced brewers to find ways to produce beer with locally available sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
and maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
. The Nigerian version is distinct from other Guinness FES's found around the world.
Nigerian Breweries
Nigerian Breweries
Nigerian Breweries Plc, incorporated in 1946, is the pioneer and largest brewing company in Nigeria. Its first bottle of beer, STAR Lager, rolled off the bottling lines of its Lagos Brewery in June 1949. Other breweries were subsequently commissioned by the company, including Aba Brewery in 1957,...
brews under license Star, Gulder, Heineken, Tiger Bock, Kronenbourg and several local beer brands, both ale and stout types. Mopa Breweries, Ltd.
Mopa Breweries, Ltd.
Mopa Breweries, Ltd. is an African brewery founded in 1980 by Chief J. Adewale Bello in Kogi State, Nigeria.The brewery is based in the town of Mopa in the Mopa-Muro Local Government Area. In 2005, the Canadian company Alexus-NextGen bought a controlling interest.-Beers:The company produces One...
produces the popular One Lager.
Togo
Eku Bavaria and Awooyo are two brands in TogoTogo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
. Flag and Castel are also widely available.
Central Africa
CameroonCameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
: The most popular beers are Castel and 33 Export, and in larger cities Beaufort, Beaufort Lite, Mutzig, Guinness, Guinness Milk Stout, and Guinness Smooth can be found. Local brews include palm wine in the southern part of the country and millet beer called 'bil-bil' in the north.
Congo (Brazzaville): Ngok is a popular beer only available in Congo, which makes it a popular choice to sneak across the border to DRC. Its logo is a crocodile.
Most beers in Congo (DRC) are brewed by Heineken
Heineken
Heineken is a Dutch beer which has been brewed by Heineken International since 1873. It is available in a 4.6% alcohol variety in countries such as Ireland. It is the flagship product of the Heineken company and is made of purified water, malted barley, hops, and yeast. In 1886 H...
with the most popular being Primus.
Egypt
The leading local brand is called Stella (not to be confused with the Belgian Stella ArtoisStella Artois
Stella Artois is a 5% ABV lager brewed in Leuven, Belgium since 1926. In the UK, Canada and New Zealand a 4% ABV version is also available.-Production:...
). Available in original, export, and premium varieties. Other brands on the market include Meister , Luxor and Sakara, and the non-alcoholic "Birell" and "Kaliber".
Uganda
A southern UgandaUganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
beer is the Nile Special, produced in and distributed from Jinja
Jinja, Uganda
Jinja is the largest town in Uganda, Africa. It is the second busiest commercial center in the country, after Kampala, Uganda's capital and only city. Jinja was established in 1907.-Location:...
, the source of the Nile
Nile
The Nile is a major north-flowing river in North Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. It is long. It runs through the ten countries of Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Egypt.The Nile has two major...
at Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes. The lake was named for Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, by John Hanning Speke, the first European to discover this lake....
.