Matjiesfontein, a privately owned town in the Karoo, has produced its own craft beer.

Brewed in collaboration between Matjiesfontein and the award-winning, Kennel Brewery, Matjiesfontein Lager is a pale, crisp draft that reportedly goes down well in the heat of the Karoo summer.

Kennel Brewery is based in Durbanville and its Alesation India Pale Ale was voted one of South Africa’s best beers in 2019. Brewery owner Paul Freyson defines craft beer as “a beer made in a traditional or non-mechanised way by a small brewery”.

The Matjiesfontein Lager comes in a 450ml can. "We love the specially designed cans that Kennel Brewery made for us. As the saying goes, ‘beauty is in the eye of the beer holder’! We look forward to sharing our special brew with our guests and visitors,” said Werner Smit, Matjiesfontein General Manager.

Home to the famed Lord Milner Hotel, Matjiesfontein is a small town in the Karoo region of the Western Cape. "Matjiesfontein was originally founded in 1884 and the village established itself as a fashionable Victorian health spa at the time," said Smit.

Despite no longer featuring a spa, the town remains a popular stop for travellers on the N1 highway.