Our History

Brewhogs History

Explore the Brewhogs history, from humble beginnings to becoming a celebrated craft brewery in Johannesburg. Founded on a respect for traditional brewing values and a passion for quality, Brewhogs has grown through dedication, community, and a love for well-crafted beer. Our award-winning beers honour this journey, delivering character, balance, and true repeatdrinkability in every pint. Below, you can explore the Brewhogs history and journey with us through the milestones that shaped our brewery.

Our brewery starts its story in 1984 when Robert Morton Limited from Burton upon Trent, United Kingdom, were commissioned to design and supply a classic, showpiece brewery for Gold Reef City, Johannesburg, capable of accommodating complex stepped mashing, and capable of brewing all beer styles. The brewery was manufactured, shipped to South Africa, and established in Barney’s Tavern in 1985, where it stood on show as a working brewery for 9 years. Then, in 1993 the brewery was relocated to The World of Beer in Newtown, Johannesburg, as a working showpiece pub brewery. Due to liquor licensing issues, the brewery was ‘mothballed’ indefinitely in Garankuwa. The derelict brewery was then purchased by Brewhogs and completely refurbished in 2013, and re-established in Kyalami, where it stands today. With our current expansion, the 3000 liter brewery now has the capacity to produce in excess of 40 000 liters per month, and even further expansion plans on the table. Watch this space!

The brewery, as supplied by Robert Morton Ltd from Burton on Trent, UK, in its original home in 1985 in Barney’s, Gold Reef City, Joburg, where it ran as a successful brewery for many years under the watchful eye of Bill Higgins, a development brewer for SAB. A special thank-you to Angela Frost of Briggs of Burton PLC, Burton on Trent, UK, for providing us with these photos. We believe there to be no other pics of the original brewery as all current pics were unfortunately destroyed in a recent fire at Gold Reef City.

The very sad state in which we found the mothballed brewery in a warehouse in Garankuwa. Thanks Mike Williams for finding this brewery for us. We had no idea how much work lay ahead of us…

The brewery was trucked to Kyalami to an empty mini-factory where it underwent its transformation back to the beautiful showpiece brewery it once was.

Our brewery under construction. Special thanks to Bruce Kirchmann & Fritz Schultz for putting in the extra effort in ensuring that the building was handed over to us timeously.

Every part was stripped and either serviced, overhauled or replaced. It was important that this was done so that once we started to brew we would have no service related issues. Sufficient oak cladding was salvaged from all of the tanks to re-clad the MDV & Lauter Tun (Brewhouse), and restore them to their original glory. Fermenters were clad in new timber planks.

We required the services of a 7 ton forklift to move the equipment into our new factory. All parties were there to merely oversee the move, but ended up rolling up their sleeves and getting physically involved. Even pulled in Doug’s 4×4 to assist in positioning some of the vessels with his vehicles winch. Thanks Mike M, Paddy, Apiwe, Mike W, Simon, Doug & Brett. We ended the day with a well deserved beer…

Everyone lent a hand! (we pay in beer…) Despite a few minor plant failures, we managed to get the brew into the fermentation tank. Can’t wait to taste it!!!