Banjul Breweries

The lager Jul brew is brewed by Banjul Breweries Ltd., The Gambia’s only brewery. One of the oldest companies in The Gambia, it sells four varieties of Jul brew beer, each with different alcohol content and corresponding symbols on the label.

(Note that Jul brew Strong is a seasonal beer, produced only during the festive Christmas season). The export beer is darker and stronger than the regular which is sold wholesale locally and exported to the alcoholic drinks market in West Africa. Their bottling factory, located near West field Junction at Kanifing, offers free tours—call to make arrangements. Banjul Breweries Ltd. also makes non-alcoholic beverages under the name Jul pearl. The drinks company also bottle and sell the pricier Guinness. Banjul Breweries have won the Monte Selection, Brussels, Gold Award at least 4 times: 1979, 1987, 1990 & 1999.

Jul pearl:
Made and bottled by the makers of Jul brew, provides a variety of non-alcoholic soft drinks: Vimto (berry-flavored, like a Popsicle from childhood), Malta, Vita malt, Bitter Lemon, Cocktail es Fruits (citrus-flavored punch), tonic water, and soda water.

The company started construction of its bottling plant in 1975 and began producing the Gambia’s only locally produced beer in 1977. The largest shareholders are the Hamburg based companies DAH and Brauhaase International Management GMBH. The minority shares are owned the the Government of Gambia.