This year unfortunately due to the spread of the Covid-19 Coronavirus, the 2021 Craft Brewers Powwow event did not happen. The African Beer Cup 2021 Awards however took place and this year’s competition attracted 210 entries from 12 African countries: Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. A total of 67 medals were awarded in 31 categories, with winners hailing from eight different countries.
The 2021 African Beer Cup Awards evening was very different this year as we offered an alternative to stream the event and allow winners who could not attend to be featured from their different locations. We had 3 watch groups and close to 20 brewery representatives joining via zoom and close to 200 viewers streaming live on youtube.
The 2021 African Beer Cup Winner
A small brewery nestled in Cape Town won the title of Best Beer in Africa at the 2021 African Beer Cup. The Afro Caribbean Brewing Company is based in Kenilworth, and claimed the top spot with their Space Llama Double IPA.
The 16 finalists went head to head in a best-of-show round to determine the overall winner, with Cape Town’s Afro Caribbean Brewing Company taking the coveted top spot. “Being a relatively new brewer in the industry, it feels amazing to have won this prestigious award and I’m proud of us as a team,” said Afro Caribbean’s head brewer, Rochelle Dunlop. “I’d also like to send big congratulations to all of the other winners.” Honourable mention went to Hazeldean Brewing Company and Frontier Beer for their collaboration brew, The Haymaker Round 4. Winners of the Best Beer in Africa receive a once-off piece of art to commemorate their win. This year’s piece was designed by Thembisa artist Pappas Khoza.
BASA African Celebration Award
A special award was also added to the 2021 competition – the African Celebration Award, sponsored by the Beer Association of South Africa (Basa) to celebrate the outstanding use of African ingredients in beer. The award went to Nigeria’s Bature Brewery for their Black Gold Stout. The beer, which also won a gold medal, showcases sorghum and Nigerian coffee.“We created the African Celebration Award because we wanted to showcase the versatility and abundance of African ingredients that can be used in beer,” said Basa spokesperson Troye May. “We believe that our continent has so much to offer the wider beer culture.”
