Quick Facts
- Location: Kampala, Uganda
- Founded: 2019
- Team: 15 staff, including 1 head brewer and 2 assistant brewers
- Brewing capacity: ±45,000 litres/month
- Website: http://banangebrewing.com/
Core Beers
- Golden Lager
- Pale Ale
- Belgian Witbier
- Amber
- IPA
Taproom hours
10:00–23:00 daily (served inside Yujo Izakaya restaurant)
A Tour of the Brewery to Start
We were welcomed by Joan, Banange’s sales manager, and Khaled, the head brewer. The word “Banange” is a popular Ugandan expression meaning “my goodness” or “wow”—an exclamation that perfectly captures the brewery’s ambition to surprise and delight.
Khaled guided us through the production space while brewing operations were in full swing. From washing returned bottles to filling cans and bottles, much of the work is still done by hand. Despite its artisanal touchpoints, Banange is one of the larger breweries we’ve encountered on this journey, reflected in its 45,000-litre monthly capacity and the impressive lineup of tanks for mashing, fermenting, conditioning, and cold storage.
Khaled’s enthusiasm was infectious. Every stage of the process was explained in detail, every question answered with patience.
A particularly inspiring initiative is the monthly “innovation brew.” Each month, a different team member develops a beer on a 30-litre pilot system, which is then tested at the restaurant. These experiments have yielded creative, locally inspired brews—some featuring Ugandan chocolate, vanilla, and fruit.
A milestone moment for Banange came when it was selected as the official beer supplier for Ugandan Airlines. For the airline, Banange produces a Golden Lager exclusively canned for in-flight service. Every week, curious travellers arrive at the brewery after tasting it at 30,000 feet, eager to see where it’s made.
Tasting in the restaurant garden
The tasting took place in the relaxed garden setting of Yujo Izakaya, where Banange beers are served fresh.
- Pale Ale: Fresh, smooth, and highly drinkable—an accessible entry into the range.
- Belgian Witbier: Gently sweet with notes of citrus and orange peel, balanced and refreshing.
- Amber: Malty and slightly sweet, with subtle caramel undertones.
- IPA: A West Coast-style IPA, dry-hopped with citrus, offering structure and balance without overwhelming bitterness.
- Golden Lager: Slightly stronger than a standard lager, yet crisp and refreshing with a clean finish.
Banange’s range reflects an understanding of its diverse audience—locals, expats, travellers, and returning Ugandans who’ve experienced craft beer abroad.
Four Questions About Beer and Life
What is the history of the brewery?
Banange’s story begins in 2014, when Adam, a Canadian mechanical engineer working in Uganda’s solar energy sector, met Pall, an Icelander, while hiking. The two began brewing together on a 30-litre home system, producing roughly 200 litres per week—about 400 cans—which sold out quickly among friends.
Recognising the growing appetite for craft beer in Kampala, they decided to scale up. When a local brewery closed, they attempted to purchase its equipment, but the investors sold it to Ethiopia. Undeterred, Adam and Pall raised capital and invested in their own professional setup.
The launch party confirmed their instincts, demand exceeded expectations, and they struggled to serve guests quickly enough. Initially targeting the expat market, Banange has since shifted focus toward Ugandan consumers as the craft segment gains momentum.
With limited space at the current location, plans are underway to relocate operations to Jinja, where a larger facility will allow for further expansion.
Which beer best represents your “house style”?
Banange does not define itself by a single house style. Instead, it embraces diversity.
The IPA is the best-seller, popular with Ugandans who have travelled abroad and with American customers. Amber and Golden Lager resonate strongly with the local market, while the Belgian Witbier tends to appeal to European drinkers.
Rather than pushing one signature flavour, Banange offers a spectrum—meeting customers where they are and allowing tastes to evolve naturally.
Your best brewing disaster story?
A few months after opening, electrical work outside the brewery caused a serious incident. When power was restored, the phases were accidentally reversed, causing the compressor and chiller to run backwards—eventually leading to an explosion.
The damage required significant repairs. Since then, Banange has installed a phase monitor to prevent similar incidents. It was a costly lesson, but one that strengthened operational resilience.
Advice for someone dreaming of opening a brewery?
Adam once read So You Want to Start a Brewery? and decided to do it anyway.
His advice: start small and test the market. Flexibility is key, especially in emerging craft markets. In Uganda, Banange had to build its distribution network from scratch, which later opened additional income streams beyond beer.
Uganda’s craft beer market is still developing, trailing countries like Kenya. Success requires passion, persistence, adaptability—and a willingness to seize every opportunity.
Banange Brewing Company embodies the spirit of its name. In a market still finding its craft beer identity, they continue to build something that makes visitors pause, take a sip, and say: Banange.
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