Johannesburg marked its 140th birthday on 4 October 2026, commemorating the gold-mining settlement that began in 1886 on the Witwatersrand. To celebrate the milestone, Jozi Gold Brewing Company is raising a glass to the city with The Golddigger, a commemorative pilsner launching at its Oct-Beer Fest on Saturday, 17 October.
Taking place at 81 De Korte Street in Braamfontein from noon to midnight, the celebration will bring together the new beer, live music and food specials in honour of Johannesburg’s 140 years. The celebration continues on Sunday, 18 October, with Blues in the Brewery from noon to 6pm.
“They don’t call it ‘Jozi’ for nothing,” reads the beer’s label, a nod to the precious metal that helped put Johannesburg on the map and the local flavour that gives the city its character.
Over 140 years, Johannesburg has grown from a mining settlement into a major urban centre. Its story continues through the people who live, work and create here.
For Jozi Gold, The Golddigger brings that milestone into the everyday life of the city: a beer brewed in Johannesburg, celebrating Johannesburg.
Behind The Golddigger is Jozi Gold’s Head Brewmaster, Thokozani “TK” Sithole, whose journey began with traditional beer making at home in Balgowan, KwaZulu-Natal.
Born and raised in the hills of the Natal Midlands, Sithole first learned the craft at home. His early working life took him through construction, security and gardening, experiences that helped shape his practical approach and determination.
His interest in fermentation deepened while working in the Natal Midlands, where he began making wine and mead. When the lead winemaker moved on, Sithole stepped into the role, developing his skills and an understanding of flavour, chemistry and process.
Years of experimentation and mentorship from experienced brewmasters followed. He earned a Brewing Certificate from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling and completed a course in sensory analysis, adding formal training to his practical experience.
Sithole joined Jozi Gold Brewing Company as Head Brewmaster in 2024. Today, he continues to refine the brewery’s recipes, bringing technical knowledge and creativity to the beers it produces. With The Golddigger, his craft forms part of Jozi Gold’s tribute to Johannesburg’s 140th anniversary.
The Golddigger is crisp and refreshing, balancing malt sweetness with floral, slightly spicy hop notes and a clean finish. It has an alcohol content of 5% ABV and a bitterness rating of 17 IBU. Its packaging brings together mining imagery, Johannesburg’s skyline and the anniversary dates, 1886 to 2026. The label carries the words: “Johannesburg. Our City. Our Beer.”
A weekend of birthday celebrations
Jozi Gold’s Oct-Beer Fest on Saturday, 17 October, will give visitors the opportunity to taste The Golddigger and celebrate the City of Gold, with live music and food specials running alongside the pilsner launch from noon to midnight.
The festivities continue on Sunday, 18 October, with Blues in the Brewery from noon to 6pm, extending the birthday celebrations across the weekend.
Following the launch, The Golddigger will be available exclusively at Jozi Gold.
