30 January 2025

The Rise of Craft Beer in Germany and South Africa: A Parallel Evolution

Submitted by: Thomas Henneke

The development of craft beer in Germany and South Africa follows an intriguing parallel, as both countries boast a rich brewing tradition while also experiencing a growing interest in creative and artisanal beers. Several key aspects connect these two markets.

The international beer market, particularly in North America and Europe, has traditionally been dominated by three global corporations that consolidated their power over decades through strategic mergers and acquisitions. A significant milestone in South Africa was the 2016 acquisition of SABMiller by the European-Belgian giant AB InBev. While these major players continue to control the global industry, a new wave of craft breweries has emerged in recent years. Originating in the United States in the 1960s as a response to the increasing standardisation of beer varieties, the movement later spread to the UK and beyond, reinvigorating a focus on tradition and innovation in artisanal brewing.

The Seven Largest Breweries Outside of China

(by million hectolitres in 2023, according to Wikipedia):

  1. Anheuser-Busch InBev NV/SA – Belgium – 506
  2. Heineken N.V. – Netherlands – 243
  3. Carlsberg A/S – Denmark – 101
  4. Molson Coors Brewing Company – Canada / USA – 84
  5. Asahi Beer – Japan – 65
  6. Société des Brasseries et Glacières Int. – France – 43
  7. Anadolu Efes – Turkey – 36

The Western beer market is thus dominated by two Western European companies from Belgium and the Netherlands. Interestingly, no German or Eastern European brewery ranks among the world’s seven largest, despite Germany’s centuries-old beer tradition and the high per capita beer consumption in Eastern Europe, particularly in the Czech Republic.

Craft Beer in Germany

This absence may be attributed to the decentralised structure of the German and Eastern European beer markets, which are characterised by a vast number of medium-sized breweries. Many of these focus on regional markets and specialised beer varieties, prioritising quality and tradition over aggressive expansion or mergers. Brands like Warsteiner from the Sauerland region in Western Germany, the author’s home area, are internationally recognised but do not reach the scale of the global giants.

Germany’s „Beer Purity Law“ (Reinheitsgebot), which restricts ingredients to just a few natural elements, has led many to perceive German beers as somewhat „boring“ or overly uniform in taste, further fuelling the rise of the craft beer movement.

Craft Beer in South Africa

South Africa, too, has a long brewing history, though in recent decades, the market has been dominated by mass-produced beers. Since the 2000s, however, the craft beer scene has gained traction. South Africa’s brewing traditions are influenced by European styles, yet local craft breweries increasingly experiment with indigenous ingredients such as sorghum, blending traditional European methods with innovative new recipes. The craft beer market is particularly strong in major cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg, where quality and variety are becoming key selling points. For further info about the craft beer market in South Africa, visit the interesting website CraftBru!

About the Author and the Cover Photo

Forged Valves, Boiler Parts, and Fittings of Stainless Steel

The cover photo shows the author during a public tour of a former branch of the US craft brewery Stone Brewing in Berlin, which was sold to the Scottish brewery BrewDog in 2019. This location highlights the challenges faced by international craft breweries in Germany, where traditional beer styles and long-established breweries continue to dominate the market.

In the background, you can see brewing kettles or fermentation tanks. While these were traditionally made of copper, modern breweries predominantly use stainless steel due to its durability, hygiene benefits, and resistance to corrosion. Additionally, stainless steel is more cost-effective, making it the preferred choice for large-scale and craft breweries alike.

Profile

Thomas Henneke is a graduate mathematician with a strong focus on physics and geometry. Since 2010, he has been the Technical Director and co-partner of the precision drop forge KB Schmiedetechnik GmbH in Western Germany. In addition to his engineering work, he occasionally writes popular science articles on fascinating applications of steel and forgings (PRESS).

KB Schmiedetechnik GmbH, a drop forge in Germany, boasts decades of experience as a trusted supplier of pressurised forgings, including valve bodies, fittings, and flanges for pressure applications in the chemical, food, and energy sectors, as well as forged components for high-pressure applications and industrial boilers. With extensive expertise in processing chromium-nickel steels such as F304, F316L, and duplex steels, the company specialises in forged components tailored for embrittling environments such as hydrogen, nitrogen, LNG, and demanding environments like seawater, and cryogenic cooling systems – including for Fish & Chips – and beer!

Total Words: 748
Published in Food & Beverages

Submitted on behalf of

  • Company: KB Schmiedetechnik GmbH – Precision Forgings from Germany
  • Contact #: 492331350855
  • Website

Press Release Submitted By

  • Agency/PR Company: KB Schmiedetechnik GmbH
  • Contact person: Thomas Henneke
  • Contact #: +492331350855
  • Website
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KB Schmiedetechnik GmbH - a German drop forge

KB Schmiedetechnik GmbH is a drop forge, located in Hagen (Westphalia) - between the historic "blade & metal" region Solingen and the "soccer city" Dortmund in Western Germany. ✴️Specializing in small series production of safety-relevant closed die forgings from 200g to 130Kg unit weight and 600mm length of European quality steel. ✴️Certified supplier parts for pressure equipment and nuclear industries: PED, KTA, RCC-M, and shipbuilding: ABS, BV, ClassNK, DNV, LR. The main customers are: ✴️Energy and Chemical Industry (pressurized parts and forgings for nuclear and hydrogen valves, boilers, piping, fittings, flanges, header cups for pressure vessels, non-embrittling components) ✴️Machine and Shipbuilding (hoists, mountings, eyebolts, chain links, forged lifting gear, fasteners, slings, hooks, conveyors, corrosion-resistant components for seawater, marine) ✴️Commercial and Special Vehicles (forged gearwheels/ blanks, pinions, rollers, hydraulic components, forgings for crawler track chains, military, defense). ✴️Forgings of all forgeable steel grades including duplex stainless steels, nickel based, titanium and superalloys like Hastelloy®, Incoloy®, Inconel® and Monel®.