Bumpy Road Brewing, Lilongwe

More Than Beer: A Brewery with a Holistic Vision

Ashlee and Liam welcomed us into their brewery—housed in what was once a neighbourhood supermarket in the north of Lilongwe. Both Australians, they share a lifelong love of beer and spent years backpacking the world in search of memorable breweries. Liam began as a home brewer and used the COVID period in Malawi to refine his skills and scale up production. After securing the right location for their combined brewery, bar, and safe-space concept, Bumpy Road began brewing in November 2024, with the venue opening to the public in February 2025.

Importing brewing equipment into Malawi is prohibitively expensive, so Liam—trained as a mechanical engineer—built much of the kit himself. He welded tanks, constructed a cold room using a radiator salvaged from an old truck, and experimented with non-stainless materials for fermenters, all with the aim of sourcing locally wherever possible. Even everyday brewery supplies can be hard to come by. With no local printer able to produce roll labels, Ashlee and Liam print labels on 1 × 1 m sheets, cut them by hand, and apply them to cans inside the cold room.

Sustainability sits at the heart of the operation. Beer is sold exclusively in aluminium cans, avoiding glass bottles altogether. When glass waste does occur—wine bottles, for example—it’s repurposed into handmade drinking glasses for guests rather than discarded.

Equally central is the idea of inclusivity and safety. Bumpy Road is a place where women can enjoy a drink on their own without harassment, and where parents can relax while children play safely on the on-site playground. This ethos extends to the team: the head brewer and head bartenders are women, and all staff are local, trained in-house by Ashlee and Liam.

Starting a brewery in Malawi brings its share of challenges—from regulation to load shedding—but Ashlee puts it simply: “Who wants their kids to be in daycare all day while both parents work in Australia, only seeing them in the evenings? That life wouldn’t be an alternative.” Their family-run model allows them to care for guests while keeping their children close, building a business rooted in community.

To draw a broad, diverse crowd, Bumpy Road hosts a lively calendar of events, including movie nights, board-game evenings, open-mic sessions, and pub quizzes—there’s usually something happening.

Tasting at the bar

Experimentation is central to Bumpy Road’s brewing philosophy. Small batches allow the team to test styles and flavours that resonate locally. The Malawian market tends to favour sweeter profiles and shies away from aggressive bitterness, so the brewery also explores mango beer, ginger beer, and a range of flavoured hard seltzers.

During our visit, we tasted the core range alongside a Double IPA and a festive seasonal beer with gingerbread notes.

• Paved Pilsner: An easy-drinking, hop-forward lager with a clean, crisp finish.
• Dusty Haze: Juicy and aromatic with restrained bitterness—an approachable pale ale.
• Earthy English: Our standout of the flight, with rich malt depth and classic earthy notes.
• Shortcut Stout: Clearly a stout, yet lighter and less heavy than a Guinness.
• Double IPA: Fruity aromatics with a warming 7.8% ABV.
• Festive seasonal: Gingerbread and clove on the nose, unmistakably celebratory.

Four Questions About Beer and Life

What’s the story behind the name Bumpy Road?

The name nods to Malawi itself, with the sun from the Malawian flag woven into the logo. Learning to run a brewery here meant teaching themselves every step and solving problems as they arose—the road was steep and often bumpy. Roads also matter quite literally when it comes to distributing kegs, which is why cans are currently the practical focus. Many beers echo this theme: Paved Pilsner is smooth and accessible, while Cautious Cruiser is a low-alcohol option.

Which beer best represents your house style?

While several beers are available year-round, Bumpy Road’s focus is on styles that suit the local palate. Right now, Paved Pilsner is the clear best-seller.

Your best brewing disaster story?

Less a disaster, more a lesson in communication. Training matters. Telling someone to “move the hose” wasn’t enough—it had to be “close the valve, then move the hose.” Clear steps make all the difference.

Advice for someone daydreaming about opening a brewery?

“Do it and learn by doing.” You don’t need a massive budget, but you do need to be willing to build things yourself and learn constantly. Open-source recipes, online courses, and shared knowledge go a long way. Above all, beer must be your passion—the hospitality business is no easy ride.

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