By Madame de Wyn 
Soul Barrel Brewing’s Wild African Soul, a groundbreaking collaboration with Tolokazi Beer, has been crowned Best Beer in Africa at the 2025 African Beer Cup, beating out 260 entries from 14 countries.
This unique brew fuses traditional sorghum umqombothi with a farmhouse ale aged in wine barrels for two years, exemplifying a fusion of ancient African brewing heritage and contemporary craft innovation.
Founded by UC Davis-trained brewmaster Nick Smith, Soul Barrel is dedicated to capturing the essence of South Africa’s rich beer culture, having won the prestigious title three times (2022, 2024, and 2025), and stands as the only brewery to achieve this feat, highlighting the country’s vibrant and evolving craft beer scene.
Nxusani-Mawela, founder and brewmaster of Tolokazi Beer, celebrated her accolade for Wild African Soul, a collaborative brew honoring African heritage and indigenous brewing traditions, which has earned her a gold award and Best Beer in Africa.
Soul Barrel Brewing also garnered multiple medals, including gold for its Ale of Origin and silver for Live Culture, highlighting its excellence in African craft brewing.
Instead of traditional trophies, winners receive culturally significant art pieces, such as a custom Ukhamba, aligning with the celebration of African brewing heritage.
The 2024 African Beer Cup introduced a new Speciality African Beer category emphasizing traditional ingredients like sorghum and fonio, reflecting the growing regional craft beer scene, with winners from South Africa, Botswana, and Rwanda.
Other notable winners include Afro Caribbean Brewing Company, with nine medals, and Richmond Hill Brewing Company, with five, marking a record number of collaboration brews medaling, while the African Celebration Award recognized Okavango Craft Brewery’s commitment to local ingredients and conservation.