South African beer has had two main influences on its development. Firstly, European settlers who colonised the country brought expertise and know-how as the country was populated. Dutch immigrants from the 1650s onwards, and British, immigrants during the 18th and 19th centuries both contributed in different ways to the knowledge of alcohol production.

Another important but often overlooked influence has been indigenous knowledge. Local breweries, operated by the black population, especially groups such as the Sotho and Zulu, have been brewing forms of sorghum and maize beers long before any Europeans arrived