The province of KwaZulu-Natal, fondly known as the Zulu Kingdom

The Brew or Beer route of KwaZulu Natal provides a showcase for a number of breweries small and large.

Congella - United National Breweries - Durban

This is the original house of the Sorghum Brewery in Dundee. This is also the world's largest sorghum brewery with a production of seven to nine million liters annually. Sorghum is the basis of a very viable, nourishing drink for the mass market. There is also a small pub with snacks and beer tasting.

South African Breweries

Prospecton Breweries in Durban is one of the most modern breweries in the southern hemisphere and there are daily guided tours. SAB Ltd is the South African arm of the SAB Miller group, the second largest brewer in the world, and Prospecton benefits from the expertise that being part of such a successful company brings. Prospecton brews more than 400- million liters of Castle Lager, Castle Draught, Castle Lite, Castle Milk Stout, Hansa Pilsener, Amstel Lager and Redd's Premium Dry and Cold annually.

Firkin Hophouse Micro Brewery and Pub

They are located at the Pavilion Shopping Centre in the Durban suburb of Westville. The alcohol level of Firkin's Beer is between 3-5 % and it is tenable for between six to eight weeks. Some 30-40 % of the malt is bought from SAB (South African Breweries), with the rest from England; the hops come from George in the Western Cape. They brew four types of beer monthly.

• Oscar's Hophouse Larger is mild in taste.
• Pale Ale is a lighter beer with a malty taste and is one third bitterer than the larger.
• Bishop's Bitter - the name says it all. And for special occasions,
• St Patrick's Porter is a dark beer just like Guinness, but not as heavy.

There is a 15 minute tour with snacks and beer tasting.

The Nottingham Road Brewing Company

On the Rawdons estate in the KwaZulu Natal midlands. Marketed as Midlands to the Mountains Ale Trail, it rates as one of the most well liked self-regulating breweries in the country. The success of Rawdon's beer lies in the ingredients. They use only their own spring water and no chemicals, and stay strictly to the traditional German brew-master technique. Once bottled, the beer is drinkable for up to 6 weeks.

Wartburger Brauhaus

In the Kwazulu Natal Midlands 30km outside Pietermaritzburg. The small brewery, the plant of which was imported from Germany, is located in the cellar of the hotel next-door to the pub. The brewery lives up to its name with only 200 liters of pure beer brewed per week. All the ingredients are imported from Germany with only the water being from the local area. The larter