Out & About SA · Free State

Free State Craft Beer, Cherry & Cellars

Not wine country — the Free State's drinks story is craft beer and cherries. Clarens is the craft-beer hub, led by the Clarens Brewery, while Ficksburg's cherry orchards yield cherry liqueur, joined by a handful of gin and rum distilleries around Bloemfontein and the Vaal. Filter by region and type.

Region

Type

📍 Where in the Free StateAll areas

Full list

Clarens Brewery — Clarens. The anchor of Clarens' craft-beer scene, brewing seven signature ales plus ciders, apple brandy, whiskey and Red Stone…
Constantia Cherry Farm Stall — Ficksburg. A farm stall (est. 1953) on the R26 between Ficksburg and Clocolan selling cherries preserved in liqueur and brandy…
De Vry Distillery — Oranjeville. An award-winning craft distillery near the Vaal Dam at Oranjeville, known for its Die Soet Rooinek cherry gin and Xwai…
Highland Brew — Clarens. A farm micro-brewery and kitchen on the R712 just outside Clarens, brewing eight beers and ciders (plus seasonal gin)…
Ionia Cherry Farm — Ficksburg. A cherry farm between Ficksburg and Fouriesburg on the R26 that offers picking tours and produces its own cherry…
Red Stone Craft — Clarens. A Clarens small-batch producer of craft beers, ciders, infused gin-and-tonics and canned wines under the Red Stone brand
The Block and Cellar — Bloemfontein. A restaurant and wine cellar in the Brandwag area of Bloemfontein offering wine-paired dining and tastings
The Dog and Fig Brewery — Parys. A micro-brewery founded in 2008 at Kopjeskraal in the Vredefort Dome near Parys, making six unfiltered, unpasteurised…
The Famous Brew & Still — Bloemfontein. A city-centre brewery and distillery producing Kaya Craft Beers alongside small-batch rum, gin, whiskey and vodka
Whistler Rum — Ventersburg. An African-style craft rum distillery at Ventersburg whose spirit has been rated among the best in the country