Craft Breweries and Gin on the West Rand and in the Cradle: Where to Find a Taproom
By Heléne Geyser, 2 November 2026, 7 minute read
If you’re skimming
- Freely Craft in Factoria, Krugersdorp, brews beer on site and runs a taproom with a kitchen, open Wednesday to Sunday.
- Copperlake Breweries in Lanseria, just outside the West Rand, runs a taproom on Fridays, weekends and public holidays.
- Gilroy’s Brewery has moved from Muldersdrift to Rivonia Crossing Shopping Centre in Paulshof, outside the West Rand, according to its own website.
- For gin, Black Horse Estate in Magaliesburg (outside the West Rand) runs brewery and distillery tours that end with a gin tasting. Alcohol is for over-18s only; arrange a designated driver.
Looking for craft breweries on the West Rand? The ones we could confirm with a taproom open to visitors right now are Freely Craft in Krugersdorp and Copperlake in Lanseria, just outside the West Rand, with Black Horse Estate a drive further west in Magaliesburg for beer and gin. If you searched for Gilroy’s, it has moved out of Muldersdrift to Paulshof, outside the West Rand. Details below.
This page is for adults (18+ only) planning a relaxed afternoon, a birthday lunch or a weekend outing. We haven’t visited any of these places, so descriptions come from the venues themselves or a named source. And before anyone pours anything: sort out a designated driver or a lift home. Some of these are long country drives, and nobody needs that kind of story.
Which Breweries and Distilleries Can You Visit?
Listed by area. This isn’t a ranking.
| Venue | Area | What it offers | Open (as published) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freely Craft | 21 Wright Street, Factoria, Krugersdorp | Beer brewed on site, taproom and kitchen (Freely Craft) | Wednesday to Saturday 11:00 to 00:00, Sunday 11:00 to 17:00, closed Monday and Tuesday (Freely Craft) |
| Copperlake Breweries (just outside the area) | Main Road, 2189 Sunrella AH, Lanseria | Taproom with craft beer and pub-style food (Copperlake) | Friday and Saturday 10:00 to 22:00, Sunday 10:00 to 18:00, public holidays 10:00 to 22:00, closed Monday to Thursday (Copperlake) |
| Black Horse Estate (outside the area) | 32 Seekoeihoek / Bekker Schools Road, Magaliesburg | Brewery, distillery, restaurant and cottages (Black Horse) | Tasting rooms 11:00 to 15:00, closed Tuesdays (Black Horse) |
Hours were checked on each venue’s own website on 7 November 2026. Confirm before you go.
Freely Craft, Krugersdorp
Freely Craft is in Factoria, Krugersdorp, “just off Voortrekker Road”. It lists four beers brewed on site (an amber, a pilsner, a blonde and one called Ninkasi) and says the board changes as kegs run out. Food comes from Sachy’s kitchen, which closes at 21:00, with burgers, toasties, salads and steaks. There’s also a kids’ menu for under-12s. The site says its beer isn’t for sale to anyone under 18 (Freely Craft).
Time Out included it in its 2025 round-up of Joburg craft beer taprooms. Its site lists live music nights, so check what’s on if you’d rather have a quiet lunch.
Copperlake Breweries, Lanseria (Just Outside the West Rand)
Copperlake is in Sunrella, Lanseria, just outside the West Rand. It describes “freshly-brewed craft beers” and “hearty pub-style fare”, and says it suits friends, families or a special occasion (Copperlake). Time Out describes “a relaxed rustic setting” with craft beers, coolers and gins, a menu of wood-fired pizzas, snack baskets and burgers, and a “Brew Your Own” package for groups brewing with the in-house brewmaster. It’s closed from Monday to Thursday. Phone +27 83 633 1706 (Copperlake).
Black Horse Estate, Magaliesburg (Outside the West Rand)
Black Horse Estate is in Magaliesburg, outside the area we cover, but it’s the one place near the area we could confirm that both brews beer and distils gin for visitors to taste. It says it has been brewing and distilling there since 2012. It runs a Brewery and Distillery tour that ends with a gin tasting in the Cardinal Bar. The main restaurant opens Friday to Sunday and the Stables Café Monday to Thursday. There are play areas for kids and a few cottages if you’d rather stay the night. Black Horse asks you to book a table on weekends, and to phone 082 453 5295 with questions about opening times.
Combining it with the Cradle? Our day trip to the Cradle of Humankind and weekend getaway on the West Rand pages help you plan the route.
Where Is Gilroy’s Brewery Now?
Gilroy’s has a long West Rand history. Stephen Gilroy founded the brewery in 2000 at his printing company in Roodepoort, and moved it to Ngwenya Glass Village, Muldersdrift, in 2008 (Wikipedia). According to its own site, Gil decided to close during the Covid-19 lockdown, and Hannes Greyling bought the brewery and rebuilt it at Rivonia Crossing (Gilroy’s).
Its website now gives the address as Rivonia Crossing Shopping Centre, 5 Achter Road, Paulshof, Johannesburg, open Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Mondays (Gilroy’s). Time Out’s 2025 round-up lists it at the same address. Paulshof is outside the West Rand. Older listings, such as Gauteng Tourism’s, still place it at Ngwenya Glass Village, so go by the brewery’s own site.
What About Gin in the Cradle?
Flowstone Gin’s tasting room, the Cradle Gin Garden, is in the Cradle of Humankind. Its website now says “PRIVATE EVENTS ONLY”, with bookings handled through a separate events company (Cradle Gin Garden). So it isn’t somewhere to drop in for a tasting. For a gin tasting you can book as a visitor, Black Horse (above) is the option we could confirm.
How to Plan a Brewery Visit: What to Ask
- Are you open today? Copperlake is closed Monday to Thursday, Freely Craft on Mondays and Tuesdays, and Black Horse’s tasting rooms on Tuesdays (sources above).
- Do I need to book? Black Horse asks for weekend restaurant bookings. For groups, phone ahead anywhere.
- Is there food, and until when? Freely Craft’s kitchen closes at 21:00. Ask the others when food stops.
- Can the kids come? Freely Craft has an under-12 menu, and Black Horse has play areas. Ask about any age rules in the bar or tasting areas.
- How are we getting home? Agree on a designated driver before you leave, or book a lift. Settle this one first.
Alcohol is for over-18s only. Please drink responsibly, and never drink and drive.
Breweries and Gin: FAQs
Where is Gilroy’s Brewery now?
It has moved to Paulshof, outside the West Rand. Gilroy’s website gives its address as Rivonia Crossing Shopping Centre, 5 Achter Road, Paulshof, Johannesburg. It was at Ngwenya Glass Village in Muldersdrift from 2008 (Wikipedia), and its site says Hannes Greyling bought it after Gil decided to close during the Covid-19 lockdown, then rebuilt it at Rivonia Crossing (Gilroy’s).
Is there a craft brewery in Krugersdorp?
Yes. Freely Craft at 21 Wright Street, Factoria, brews beer on site and runs a taproom open Wednesday to Sunday. It’s for over-18s; pick a designated driver.
Can you do a gin tasting near the Cradle of Humankind?
Black Horse Estate in Magaliesburg runs Brewery and Distillery tours that end with a gin tasting in its Cardinal Bar. The Cradle Gin Garden’s website currently says private events only.
Which West Rand breweries are open on a Friday?
Freely Craft and Copperlake are both open on Fridays, according to their websites. Black Horse’s tasting rooms (in Magaliesburg, outside the West Rand) are also open on Fridays from 11:00 to 15:00.
Are children allowed at breweries?
Some venues cater for families: Freely Craft has a kids’ menu for under-12s and Black Horse has play areas. Alcohol is only sold to over-18s, so ask each venue about its rules for children.
More on the Area
See our Krugersdorp guide, Muldersdrift guide and Cradle of Humankind guide. For a full day out, try things to do in Muldersdrift, things to do in the Cradle of Humankind or breakfast in Muldersdrift to start the day.
Listings and details on My West Rand can go out of date. Please confirm hours, prices and availability with the business before you visit. Spotted something wrong? Let us know, we’d genuinely love the help.