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Where to start with a micro-brewery

May 2017

“I’ve seen quite a number of micro-breweries popping up
around South Africa. If I wanted to start such a brewery, where
would I start?”

To operate a micro-brewery where you manufacture liquor (at or
below the threshold volume as prescribed by legislation) and sell it for Commercial
retail purposes, it requires that you obtain a micro-brewery or micro-
manufacturing liquor licence. In the Free State, the Free State Gambling
Liquor and Tourism Authority is the correct liquor authority that must be
approached for such a licence. This authority issues various registration
certificates for the sale and supply of liquor, which can be categorised
into two main types namely on-consumption licences (restaurant/
tavern) and off-consumption licences (micro-brewery/liquor store/
wine grocer).

An applicant for a micro-brewery licence may be a natural or juristic
person such as a company or trust. The applicant will need to ensure
that the premises are zoned for business use appropriate for the
running of a micro-brewery and that any building plans or renovations,
should such be required, are approved by the local government (after
considering recommendations by the local building control officer).
You don’t have to wait for your building work to be completed however,
and may submit your application before you commence with the
construction work.

From an equipment perspective, it is important that the correct
brewing equipment is obtained and that such meet the requirements
of applicable health and environmental specifications. Should your
brewery wish to cater for visitors, you will also need to look at aspects
such as sufficient parking and health and safety compliance in respect
of your potential patrons.
Your identified location is also important for your licence application.
Your brewery should be at least 500 metres away from places of
worship, educational institutions, schools and/or other similar facilities.
As the public interest is taken into account by the liquor authority when
considering licence applications, quite often licence applications are
unsuccessful because neighbours or members of the public object
to the issuing thereof. Factors such as contributing to tourism, creating
employment etc. on the other hand can be factors that weigh in favour
of an application.

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