The Woodstock Brewery team celebrate with their custom painting created by Maggie Murray of Carvel.
Image: Supplied
Cape Town’s craft beer scene has just earned serious bragging rights after Woodstock Brewery walked away with the biggest title at the 2026 African Beer Cup, claiming Best Beer in Africa for its barrel-aged sour ale, Funky Monk’s.
For beer lovers who have watched South Africa’s craft brewing industry grow from a niche movement into a powerhouse of experimentation and quality, the win feels like a major moment not just for one brewery, but for the country’s brewing reputation as a whole.
The African Beer Cup is regarded as the continent’s biggest and most respected beer competition, attracting entries from breweries across Africa.
This year’s contest featured 244 beers from 16 countries, with judges tasting everything from crisp lagers and hop-forward IPAs to inventive African-inspired brews featuring local grains, hops and fruit.
Standing above them all was Funky Monk’s, a beer that took years to come together. The sour ale is blended from beers of different ages and matured in oak barrels, resulting in a layered, tart and deeply complex brew that impressed the competition’s international judging panel.
For Woodstock Brewery head brewer Tinus Lottering, the award came as both a surprise and a validation of years spent refining the brewery’s craft.
“Winning Best Beer in Africa was something I started to feel was unachievable for us, purely due to how amazing the beer in South Africa and the entire continent has become,” he said.
“An incredibly high standard has been set and I am honoured that Woodstock has met that expectation. A lot of what I learned from others throughout the years went into this creation and I say thank you to the brewers I often interact with. Doing this takes a village and I'm damn proud of the entire Woodstock Brewery team.”
Tinus Lottering celebrates one of three gold medals at the 2026 African Beer Cup.
Image: Marla Burger
The brewery didn’t stop there. Woodstock Brewery collected six medals in total, including three golds and two silvers, cementing its position as one of South Africa’s top craft beer producers.
The results also highlighted how African brewing is evolving beyond simply replicating European or American styles.
According to competition director and beer journalist Lucy Corne, this year’s entries revealed an industry becoming more confident in its own identity.
“We received more entries than ever in the categories that celebrate African ingredients, which shows that African brewers are forging their own beer identity,” she said.
She also pointed to a growing number of non-alcoholic beers and collaborative brews entered into the competition, reflecting broader global drinking trends as well as the increasingly experimental nature of African craft brewing.
Another South African brewery also made waves at the awards.
Soul Barrel Brewing won the African Celebration Award for Live Culture, a mixed fermentation ale made with 100% South African hops. The special award recognises beers that showcase African ingredients and innovation.
Beer Association of South Africa communications and stakeholder relations manager Archy Hlahla said the awards play an important role in recognising the creativity emerging from African breweries.
“Beer has always been about more than just brewing; it’s about people, culture, creativity, and connection,” he said.
Archy Hlahla of BASA presents the African Celebration Award to Devin Hendricks of Soul Barrel Brewing.
Image: Marla Burger
The judging process itself is notoriously rigorous. Every beer is tasted twice by separate judging panels to eliminate bias and inconsistency.
This year, 58 judges from around the world took part, including certified beer experts and industry professionals.