Local Namibian brews and distilleries

Craft spirits and beer have grown in popularity over the last couple of years due to a movement that saw people value authentic, locally produced products that are much more unique in taste and flavour than their mass-produced counterparts. In this regard, Namibia is no different and currently boasts a number of artisanal distilleries and breweries of its own.

STILLHOUSE ATLANTIC

Situated in the coastal town of Swakopmund, Stillhouse Atlantic is a small family distillery owned and run by Pierre and Sandy le Roux with help from their sons Jason and Danyon. The name of their small-batch artisanal distillery originated from their love of the Atlantic Ocean. Stillhouse was established in 2017 and immediately impressed with gin that goes by the same name. This Namibian dry gin is a perfect balance of traditional botanicals with the addition of the endemic !Nara melon, hand-harvested kelp and eight other locally found botanicals. The Umber Coffee Liqueur is the latest addition: fresh-roast cold brew coffee from local coffee roasters Two Beards and a Saint, infused with Stillhouse produced spirits

COPPER AND COAL DISTILLERY

Only 40 km to the south, in Walvis Bay, another small batch distillery called Copper & Coal Distillery was founded by husband and wife team, Andries and Marizaan van Schalkwyk. The company also opened its doors in 2017 and currently focuses on gin only. The range consists of Desolate Classic 7 Gin made from a selection of seven botanicals, the Crystal Clear Desolate Devils Claw Gin that uses the indigenous devil’s claw for its main flavour foundation and the Oak Rested Desolate Devils Claw Gin, which is slightly aged in French oak.

NAUTE KRISTALL DISTILLERY

About 500 km south of Windhoek, close to Naute Dam, Naute Kristall Distillery was set up by Michael Weder to create a range of fine spirits from the fruit varieties cultivated near the dam and in other parts of the country. Namgin is this distillery’s answer to the gin craze and it utilizes devils claw from the Kalahari to give it a Namibian flavour. Naute Kristall really excels in fruit schnapps. The Dandy is an elegant oak matured date brandy. The Matisa is known for its unique mature fruity taste from the finest Namibian prickly-pears. Furthermore, Naute Kristall produces a Namibian grappa named Nappa and a pomegranate schnapps called Granate.

ERONGO MOUNTAIN WINERY

Set on the banks of the Omaruru River, Erongo Mountain Winery is mainly a boutique winery, but also produces some interesting spirits. The wine-based products consist of the Jewel, a matured brandy, and the Gravino, a truly Namibian Apéritif. The fermentation of the Gravino is stopped by adding grappa. Then there is the Devil’s Claw, a herbal liqueur infused with the indigenous devil’s claw and selected herbs. Lastly, the Eembe Cream liqueur is made from the traditionally important Eembe fruit that is harvested in the north of the country

NAMIB DUNES CRAFT BREWERY

Namib Dunes Craft Brewery was founded in 2017 and calls Swakopmund home. This hands-on microbrewery is known for its weissbier, Irish red, blonde ale, pale ale and Belgian witbier.

ROOF BEERS

Roof of Africa is a hotel and restaurant that brews its own delicious selection of in-house beer. The beer taps in the restaurant bar are directly connected to storage tanks in its microbrewery for the freshest beer you’ll find in Namibia. The range consists of four types of beers: the Roof Draught, the Roof Unfiltered Draught, the Roof Pilsner and the Roof Dark Lager. Be aware that the only place where you can find these beers is the Roof of Africa restaurant.