Overview
- Jack Black Brewery in Cape Town
- First impressions in Diep River
- Meeting the team behind the brand
- Guided tasting with brewmaster Anthony de Beer
- Brewery tour and production insights
- Jack Black, Heineken, and National Reach
- Food at the taproom
- Pint for a Purpose and support for VWS
- Final thoughts on visiting Jack Black
Jack Black Brewery in Cape Town
Whenever you are in Cape Town and into craft beer, you will hardly miss Jack Black. Over the years, the brewery has built a strong reputation and become one of the most visible and recognisable craft beer brands in the Western Cape.
That alone made it more than worth paying the brewery and its team a visit during our stay in Cape Town.
Located in Diep River, the brewery sits in an industrial area, but you will spot it easily. The bold black branding, the large logo on the gate, and the unmistakable entrance already make a strong first impression before you even step inside.
First Impressions in Diep River
Once inside, you walk through the beer garden and straight into the merchandise and bottle shop area before reaching the taproom. The atmosphere is relaxed, welcoming, and exactly what you hope for from a modern craft brewery: unpretentious, lively, and built around great beer.
This is where we met the first team members, starting with Nwabisa, who gave us a warm welcome and made us feel at home straight away. After a first look around the taproom, we were introduced to Anthony, the brewmaster at Jack Black.
And yes — his full name really is Anthony de Beer. No joke. A perfect name for a brewer.
Meeting the Team Behind the Brand
Anthony’s story is one of the nicest parts of the visit. He started his career at Jack Black in the taproom as a waiter and worked his way up to become a brewer. That kind of journey says a lot about dedication, passion, and commitment to the craft.
After spending some time in the UK with Beavertown Brewery, he returned to Cape Town and to Jack Black — bringing both experience and genuine enthusiasm back with him.
That passion was obvious throughout the entire tasting and brewery tour.
Guided Tasting with Brewmaster Anthony de Beer
Anthony led us through a full tasting of the core range, and here is a summary of the beers we tried.
Brewer’s Lager // 5% ABV & 22 IBU
This is Jack Black’s flagship and, as we were told, its best-selling beer. Lager remains the most widely consumed beer style in South Africa, and this one shows why. It is crisp, clean, approachable, and carries subtle citrus notes that make it an ideal easy-drinking lager.
Lite Lager // 4% ABV & 12 IBU
This was one of the most surprising beers of the tasting. At first, I assumed this would be just another marketing-led “light” lager — but I was wrong. At Jack Black, LITE stands for “low in total energy”, meaning the beer comes in at below 90 calories.
What makes it stand out is that this lower-calorie approach does not come at the expense of flavour or body. Instead of tasting thin or boring, it is fresh, satisfying, and properly rounded. Jack Black achieves this by using low-sugar malts and a yeast strain that consumes those sugars especially efficiently. The result is a beer that feels crisp, full of character, and far more substantial than many beers positioned in the same category.
CPA – Cape Pale Ale // 4% ABV & 35 IBU
Since we are in the Western Cape, “Cape Pale Ale” feels like the right name. This is a solid pale ale with a pleasant bitterness and enough hop character to keep things interesting, while still remaining highly drinkable. A good choice when you want something a little more expressive than a lager, but not as intense as an IPA.
Atlantic Weiss // 4.7% ABV & 16 IBU
A very well-executed Weissbier and proof that this classic style has found a loyal audience far beyond Germany. Expect the familiar banana notes, a creamy mouthfeel, and a soft, rounded body. If you enjoy wheat beer from time to time, this one is definitely worth trying.
Butcher Block // 5.4% ABV & 35 IBU
Butcher Block carries a bold name and a fitting backstory, inspired by hardworking blue-collar craft and trade culture. Anthony explained that while the beer is labelled as a pale ale, it also has some characteristics reminiscent of a British bitter, only with a richer malt backbone.
That extra malt presence is immediately noticeable and gives the beer real depth. It is flavourful, satisfying, and one of the more characterful beers in the range.
Skeleton Coast IPA // 6.5% ABV & 55 IBU
This one delivers exactly what IPA fans are hoping for. Bold, hoppy, punchy, and full of presence. I had actually enjoyed this beer several times before in Cape Town bars and had bought it more than once for the fridge at our place. If you enjoy hop-forward craft beer, this is an easy recommendation.
Grapefruit Radler // 3% ABV & 40 IBU
I have to admit that I am generally not the biggest fan of beer mixers, so I approached this one with some scepticism. But credit where credit is due: this works surprisingly well.
The grapefruit character is bright and refreshing without becoming overly sweet or artificial. A very enjoyable option for warmer days and a good example of how this category can be done properly.
Cherry Crush // 4.5% ABV & 30 IBU
This one was also better than expected. The cherry note is clearly at the centre of the profile, but the beer does not become cloying or unbalanced. It is definitely aimed at drinkers looking for something more playful and fruit-forward rather than intense bitterness, but within that style it is well done.
Brewery Tour and Production Insights
After the tasting, it was time to put on the high-visibility vests and head into the brewery itself.
As soon as you move beyond the taproom, you are greeted by the large stainless-steel tanks that define the production space. Anthony walked us through the facility and explained both the brewing process and some of the technical features of the German-made brewing equipment.
One particularly satisfying detail: the cleaning process is fully automated — surely every brewer’s dream.
At the time of our visit, we learned that the brewery operates at a significant scale, with an annual production capacity of around 1.6 million litres of beer. According to our tour, this is supported by a continuous production rhythm running in two 12-hour shifts with two brewers per team.
The bottling and kegging are done on site, and what is especially impressive is how much hands-on work is still involved despite the size of the operation.
Jack Black, Heineken, and National Reach
Another interesting point during the visit was Jack Black’s relationship with Heineken. Through this joint venture structure, Jack Black benefits from wider distribution access across South Africa.
At the same time, the impression we got was that the brewery still retains its own identity and creative freedom, especially when it comes to limited and seasonal brews.
Seasonal releases mentioned during our visit included beers such as Fresh Hop, Lumberjack, Wolves of Winter, and Jack and The Giant. And yes — if you ever get the chance to try Lumberjack, do it. It is a fantastic red ale.
Food at the Taproom
Of course, a proper brewery visit should also include food, and Jack Black delivers here as well.
We went for the Korean Fried Chicken Burger with sweet potato fries, and that is an easy recommendation. A real comfort-food winner and exactly the kind of dish that works perfectly with a fresh pint.
If you are visiting with company, the combo platters are also worth a look. We tried Combo #2 with bao buns, poppers, and chicken strips — absolute comfort food and ideal for sharing over a few beers.
Pint for a Purpose and Support for VWS
One of the most likeable details at Jack Black was a special tap labelled “Pint for a Purpose”
This initiative supports Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS), the volunteer firefighting organisation helping tackle wildfires across the Western Cape. The beer on that tap changes from time to time, and during our visit Brewer’s Lager was pouring.
Naturally, we were more than happy to support the initiative by enjoying two pints.
It is always great to see breweries connecting their product with real local impact, and this is exactly the kind of idea that deserves attention.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Jack Black Brewery
Our visit to Jack Black was far more than just a brewery stop. It was a chance to experience one of Cape Town’s best-known craft beer brands from the inside, meet the people behind it, and get a better understanding of the passion, technical know-how, and personality that drive the brewery forward.
A big thank you goes to Nwabisa for making the visit happen and, of course, to Anthony for taking the time to guide us through the beers, the brewery, and the philosophy behind it all — even while busy with a brew day.
What stood out most was not just the beer quality, but the dedication behind it. Anthony’s enthusiasm was present from start to finish, and that made the whole experience even better.
If you are in Cape Town and interested in craft beer, Jack Black is absolutely a brewery you should put on your list.
