There’s still a chance we won’t actually be able to buy beer in time for this year’s #SANBeerDay on 06 February, so we’d like to furnish you with enough knowledge to brew your own! Some people are put off by the cost, the equipment required or the science behind the brewing process, but there are a number of local products designed to make homebrewing as easy as possible.

Get learning
Check out our #SANBeerDay pale ale recipe here – courtesy of homebrewer Clint Breen
Q&A on how to get started in homebrewing
Simply Brewing by Bevplus – make beer using equipment you have at home (video)
The Easy Guide to Making Beer (video)
Get shopping
Brew in a box from Bevplus
This is just about the easiest way to make a beer. The brewing is all done – all you need to do is ferment the ready made wort. You’ll need a fermenter (or plastic bucket) and airlock which can also be bought from Bevplus
Price: from R412
Grain Bucket
If you want to brew from scratch but don’t want to invest in lots of equipment, this mini kit has been designed with you in mind. You’ll need a large saucepan and can make 4 litres of pale ale, IPA or coffee stout.
Price: from R120
The Comrade from BeerGuevara
Again designed as a one-stop shop beer making kit, The Comrade contains everything you need to brew 15 litres of beer. It comes in three different versions and is designed for someone looking to start homebrewing as a long-term hobby.
Price: R1995
Get ready made wort from your local brewery
School of Hops, Noordhoek
School of Hops owner Charlie completes a brewday and sells wort in 25-litre buckets for you to ferment at home, meaning you can support a local brewery while also producing tasty beer.
Price: R500
Richmond Hill Brewing, Port Elizabeth
If you’re based in PE, local brewery Richmond Hill has you covered.
Order ahead and arrive with your sanitised bucket and they’ll fill it with wort. They can also sell yeast, so you’re all set.
Price: R330
Hopman Brewery, Cape Town
Be sure to book ahead on Hopman’s Facebook page to secure your portion of wort.
You get 20 litres and the price includes the necessary yeast.
Price: R400
Featherstone Brewery, Grahamstown
Featherstone’s wort sales are very popular so book ahead. As well as wort, Grahamstown’s only brewery also sells homebrew kits.
Get social
The best place to get help and advice is from the local homebrewing clubs. Their Facebook pages tend to be pretty sociable and friendly places to hang out. You might start out just wanting to brew a quick beer for #SANBeerDay but you might just get sucked in by the hobby. Happy brewing!
Gauteng and the North West: Wort Hog Brewers Club
Durban: Durban Home Brewers and East Coast Brewers
Cape Town: SouthYeasters Homebrewers Club
Winelands: Helderberg Homebrewers Club and Wijnland Homebrewers Club
Garden Route: Eden Brewers Club
Port Elizabeth: Yeastern Cape Brew Club