Windhoek Draught, now owned by Heineken Beverages, is one of my favourite Southern African ‘mainstream,’ mass-produced, beers. The name’s a bit confusing because it’s called Draught, even when it’s in a bottle. You can also get it from the tap, then it’s a Windhoek Draught draught…
The flavour is mid-body, mild bitterness and a distinctive hops flavour. It’s got a bit more taste than the Windhoek Lager and far better than most ‘SAB’ (AB/Inbev) beers.
It has a German heritage, originally brewed in 1920 by two immigrants, Carl List and Hermann Ohithaver Namibia’s capital Windhoek. Windhoek beers are still brewed according to the Germany Purity Law (Reinheitsgebot).
ABOUT THE BREWERY
Originally known as South West Brewery (Namibia’s original name was South West Africa), later became Namibian Breweries and was then bought by Distell. In 2023 Heineken South Africa bought Distell Group Holdings Limited (‘Distell’) and Namibia Breweries Limited (‘NBL’) to form Heineken Beverages.
South West Brewery was founded in 29 October 1920 Carl List and Hermann Ohithaver after they bought 4 local (Windhoek) breweries.