Beers are huge in African countries with almost all countries having their national brands (or brands popular in those countries). Here’s a look at 30 different African countries and their favorite drinks
1. Madagascar
Three Horses beer is the national beer in Madagascar. It is brewed by Brasserie Star. It is colloquially called “THB” (In French te-ash-be).
2. Malawi
Malawi has its own Carlsberg brewery. Officially opened on 14 December 1968, Carlsberg Malawi Brewery Limited (CMBL) was the first Carlsberg brewery outside Denmark. This brews beers such as “Green” – standard lager, a stout, Elephant – a strong lager and Kuche Kuche Malawi’s own beer (Mowa Wathu Wathu).
3. Mauritius
Mauritius Breweries produce a local lager called Phoenix Beer and a strong lager, Blue Marlin. They are also licensed to brew Guinness (of the Foreign Extra Stout variety) and Warsteiner since 2003. They also brew beer destined for Madagascar (Three Horses) under licence. Recently, Universal Breweries Ltd has begun operating. They produce a local lager style beer called Black Eagle.
4. Mozambique
Mozambique produces two of the most awarded beers in Africa: Laurentina Clara, a pale lager, and Laurentina Preta, a dark lager. Manica is a pale lager, and 2M (pronounced dosh-em), produced by the same brewery (CdM), is also popular. Laurentina is now exported to South Africa and the United Kingdom.
5. Namibia
Windhoek Lager, named for the country’s capital, is the largest brewer in Namibia. Other brands include Special, Export and Maibock. The country, a former German colony, has a long history of brewing and makes pale lagers.
6. South Africa
Of South African beers, Castle Lager is the most famous, although South Africa produces a variety of brands which are exported. South African Breweries became the world’s second-largest beer producer after merging with Miller Breweries of the US.
7. Zambia
Zambia’s main beer is Mosi Lager, named for the indigenous name for Victoria Falls (Mosi Oa Tunya). South African Breweries’ Castle is also found most places in Zambia.
8. Zimbabwe
Zambezi is Zimbabwe’s national beer, brewed by National Breweries on Manchester Road, Harare. It is made from malt, maize, hops and water, and is 4.7% abv. Other major beers include Bohlingers, Eagle and South African Breweries’ Carling Black Label, Lion Lager and Castle Lager.
9. Ethiopia
Ethiopia has several beer brands, the most popular being St. George Beer (named after the patron saint of Ethiopia) which has been brewed since 1925. Other popular brands include Meta, Harar, Bedele and Dashen.
10. Eritrea
Golden Star, brewed by the Golden Star Brewery, is the unique beer in Eritrea after the closing of Asmara Brewery (ex Menotti) which has been brewing beer since the colonial era.
11. Kenya
Tusker, brewed by EABL, is the most popular beer in Kenya.
12. Tanzania
Safari Lager, Kilimanjaro Lager and Serengeti Lager are predominant in Tanzania. Tanzabeer is a lager-like beer local to Tanzania which has now been introduced to the United Kingdom via Mkaka & Co in West London.
13. Rwanda
Rwanda has Primus Beer; Urwagwa, which is a beer made from fermented banana juice and sorghum flour.
14. Uganda
A southern Uganda beer is the Nile Special, produced in and distributed from Jinja, the source of the Nile at Lake Victoria. Others are Club, Bell Lager, Eagle the local beer made using sorghum, as well as Guinness and Tusker.
15. Benin
La Béninoise is the national beer of Benin. Flag and Castel are also widely available. Locally brewed millet beer, known as tchouk, is popular in the northern regions.
16. Cape Verde
In Cape Verde the main brand is the Strela beer.
17. Gambia
Gambia has Julbrew. Brewed by Banjul Breweries Ltd.
18. Ghana
Ghana’s most famous brands are Star beer and Club Premium Lager.
19. Guinea
Guiluxe, a favorite of expatriate Peace Corps Volunteers, is the only known locally brewed beer in Guinea.
20. Liberia
Club beer is domestically brewed by Monrovia Breweries.
21. Niger
Niger has Biere Niger.
22. Nigeria
Nigeria produces a version of Guinness Foreign Extra Stout that uses sorghum. A ban on imports of barley malt imposed in 1990 forced brewers to find ways to produce beer with locally available sorghum and maize. The Nigerian version is distinct from other Guinness FES’s found around the world.
Nigerian Breweries brews under license Star, Gulder, Heineken, Tiger Bock, Kronenbourg and several local beer brands, both ale and stout types. Mopa Breweries, Ltd. produces the popular One Lager.
Intafact Beverages Limited with a single brewery in Onitsha brews Hero Lager, Castle Milk Stout,and non-alcoholic beverages such as Grand Malt and Beta Malt.
International Breweries Plc in Ilesa brew Trophy Lager, Trophy Black and BETAMALT.
23. Sierra Leone
Star Beer is the most widely distributed domestically brewed beer by Sierra Leone Brewery Limited.
24. Togo
Eku Bavaria and Awooyo are two brands in Togo. Flag and Castel are also widely available.
25. Cameroon
The most popular beers are Castel and 33 Export, and in larger cities Beaufort, Beaufort Lite, Mützig Lager, Guinness, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, and Guinness Smooth can be found. Local brews include palm wine in the southern part of the country and millet beer called ‘bil-bil’ in the north.
26. Congo (Brazzaville)
Ngok is a popular beer only available in Congo, which makes it a popular choice to sneak across the border to DRC. Its logo is a crocodile.
27. Congo (DRC)
Most beers in Congo (DRC) are brewed by Heineken with the most popular being Primus.
28. Gabon
Régab is the most widely distributed domestically brewed beer in the country.
29. Egypt
The leading local brand is called Stella (not to be confused with the Belgian Stella Artois). Available in original, export, and premium varieties. Other brands on the market include Meister, Luxor and Sakara, and the non-alcoholic “Birell” and “Kaliber”.
30. Morocco
Popular beers include Spéciale Flag (pilsner) and Stork (light lager). The Moroccan premium beer is Casablanca (also a lager), which costs more than the other two.
(info via Wikipedia)