South African Breweries
Johannesburg, South Africa · Est. 1895
Tally's Take
Why this matters
Castle Lager's brewery became SABMiller and conquered the world — then was swallowed by the only brewer bigger than it.
The Museum
Timeline
- 1895Founded
South African Breweries begins brewing in Johannesburg.
- 2016Milestone
Brewer of Castle Lager and the historic core of SABMiller, which grew from Johannesburg into a global giant before being absorbed by AB InBev in 2016.
- 2016Absorbed in the SABMiller takeover
Passes to Anheuser-Busch InBev on 10 October 2016, when AB InBev completed its takeover of SABMiller — a roughly $79bn deal that reshaped brewing on four continents in a single transaction.
The Beer Library
Beers
Castle Lager
Year-RoundPale Lager
Brewed for thirsty gold miners in boomtown Johannesburg. The company it built, SAB, eventually grew into one of the largest brewers the world has ever seen.
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How it changed hands
2 recorded moves- 1895Founded
- 2016Milestone
Brewer of Castle Lager and the historic core of SABMiller, which grew from Johannesburg into a global giant before being absorbed by AB InBev in 2016.
- 2016Absorbed in the SABMiller takeover
Passes to Anheuser-Busch InBev on 10 October 2016, when AB InBev completed its takeover of SABMiller — a roughly $79bn deal that reshaped brewing on four continents in a single transaction.
Today the chain tops out at Anheuser-Busch InBev.
Show your working
Sources
- controlConfirmed
South African Breweries is controlled by Founder / family.
Anheuser-Busch InBev — SEC filing · U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission · 2026-02
PrimaryHigh reliabilityAccessed 2026-08-05Reviewed 2026-08-05
Only the claims above are sourced. Everything else on this page is the archive's own research and has not yet been tied to a document — which is worth knowing rather than hiding.
Straight answers
Common questions about South African Breweries
- Who owns South African Breweries?
- South African Breweries is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev. South African Breweries is based in Johannesburg, South Africa.
- Is South African Breweries still independent?
- No. South African Breweries is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev and is no longer independent.
- When was South African Breweries acquired?
- 2016. Brewer of Castle Lager and the historic core of SABMiller, which grew from Johannesburg into a global giant before being absorbed by AB InBev in 2016.
- When was South African Breweries founded?
- South African Breweries was founded in 1895 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
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