Celebrating the women of South African beer

It’s Women’s Month in South Africa, and after a quick look through my blog I realise I have never actually written a post celebrating the women that work in the South African beer industry. So I’m here to remedy that.

I have written elsewhere about some of our beer scene’s legends – such as Clockwork Brewhouse founder and brewer Megan Gemmell, educator, brewmaster and guardian of traditional beer Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela, Clarens Brewery and Beer Fest founder Natalie Meyer, former chair of CBASA and founder of Beer Boot Camp Wendy Pienaar, and Brauhaus Afrika brewer/world class hugger Imke Pape. So today I wanted to shine a spotlight on a few of the women that often work in the background, or who are so new to the industry you might not know their names.

Here are ten women to raise a pint to ahead of Women’s Day on 9 August.

The driving force behind Beerworks in Salt River, Cape Town, Hester brings massive energy to her little brewery, currently nominated for the KFM Best of the Cape Awards.
Avid brewer, beer enthusiast and organiser of the Ales for Tails festival in KZN, Anelda placed second overall in the 2025 Fools & Fans homebrewing competition
Head brewer at Darling Brew, Angelique went from homebrewing to winning awards in international beer competitions. She also just passed the exam to become a qualified beer judge.
You won't find a photo of her anywhere on the brewery's website, but Jackie is the ever-smiling driving force behind Saggy Stone Brewing Company based in Robertson.
Although Chantell no longer runs Beerfly, a small craft brewery in Cape Town, she is still deeply involved in the scene, judging in competitions, and supporting all manner of festivals and events.
Reitumetse is the founder and director of Kwela Brews, a social enterprise that promotes and preserves the brewing of traditional African beer, supporting the women homebrewers that have always made umqombothi.
An industry veteran, Analize ran the Southyeasters Homebrew Club for many years. In 2012, she opened Honingklip Brewery in Botrivier with her husband, Mark.
Olga is a biochemist with a deep passion for beer. She is best known for heading up Intervarsity Brew, a pioneering conference and competition aimed at getting students to understand the science of beer.
A mentor of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology Intervarsity Brewing Team, Lamla has a strong connection to traditional brewing and is inspiring CPUT students to showcase African brewing heritage in their beers.
As well as working in sales and distribution, Tracey is a staunch promoter of the industry, always supporting industry events and sharing the latest beer news.