Craft brews offer tasty alternatives

“WE’VE got plans to export to the United States,” grinned Luca Tooley, who co-owns the Zwakala craft brewery in Limpopo.

“Hopefully, within the next two to three weeks we’ll be sending a full pallet of beer over,” he said as he stood outside his brewhouse, overlooking the river that provides the crystal-clear water for his ales.

South Africa is renowned worldwide for its wine exports but has fallen far behind the craze for craft beers that came of age in the United States before exploding in Britain, Germany and elsewhere.

The beer market is dominated by SA Breweries (SAB), known for its popular and affordable lagers.

More than four out of five beers sold in South Africa are made by SAB, but a growing number of craft brewers are pushing to put their creations into the hands of drinkers in the country and beyond.

Craft ales are distinguished from mass-market lagers by their more artisanal manufacturing process, smaller production runs and innovative flavours.

Market analysts Grand View Research estimate the global craft ale market could be worth $500billion (R7.18-trillion) by 2025 – six times more than in 2015.

Zwakala is finalising a deal with South African-run spicy chicken giant Nando’s to provide its US restaurants with hoppy hand-made brews – a major breakthrough for its fledgling operation.

“We’re also looking to export our beer to Zimbabwe and to Zambia and China,” said Tooley, 28.

As South African craft beer takes the first steps to establish itself abroad, hand-made ales are surging in popularity at home, becoming a niche premium market.

Currently just 3% of beers sold come from craft brewers, but that figure has more than tripled since 2013 and is expected to grow to 10% by 2022, according to statistics.

One key to securing domestic success will be tapping into the booming black middle class.

“The industry is still very white, bearded hipster guys,” said Tsikwe Molobye, 32, who runs the Stimela craft brand.

Despite the challenges, his dream is to develop a beer that will appeal to black professionals like himself who have been aggressively marketed premium products like champagne but have had little exposure to craft ale.

Local brewers are also seeking to attract beer aficionados and tourists with their quirky brewery concepts.

Johannesburg is home to Africa’s first airport brewery, run by the Skosana family, which opened its doors to passengers in 2015.

The on-site brewery makes 3 000 litres of craft beers a month which includes porters, IPAs, blondes and pilsners.

“Even the landlord was excited ahead of the opening,” brewery chairman Brian Skosana, 57, said.

The Zwakala brewery in Limpopo is also a tourist hotspot.

“We get quite a lot of Americans coming through here and quite a lot of Dutch tourists,” said Tooley.

Major brewers are also muscling in on the untapped market.

Dutch giant Heineken snapped up one of South Africa’s most iconic craft brands, Soweto Gold.

Not to be outdone, SAB has developed its own range of craft beers and brewmaster Warren Wiese prides himself of his trio of craft beers. — AFP