The local brewery scene has seen an emergence of independent craft brewers over the years, and some of which have made a name for themselves in the industry. Whether it’s veterans embarking on their own venture, or beer enthusiasts turning their passion for brewing into a full-fledged business, these nine craft breweries are absolutely killing the game and putting Singapore craft beers on the world map. In the spirit of Oktoberfest, we thought you could give these local craft beers a try.
Brewlander
In 2017, John Wei, founder of Brewlander, gave up his day job to start the brewery with the mission to challenge the status quo of Asia’s beer scene while putting Singaporean brews on the world beer map. They are very involved in the entire beer making process, even choosing to work as close to the source as possible in order to ensure control and consistency over the quality and freshness of their ingredients. No beer is ever rushed, filtered or pasteurised, and they only release the beers when it passes the stringent standards that they set for themselves. Other than their range of IPAs and pale ales, Brewlander also has a number of unique flavours including Cherry Sundae Pastry Stout, a dessert-like stout with hints of cherry and chocolate and has a rich and velvety mouthfeel.
More information: Brewlander
Brewerkz
The winner of the best brewery in Singapore and the oldest brewery in the country—what more do we need to say? After years of expansion and growing the brand since its beginnings as a brewpub in 1997, Brewerkz now operates restaurants, a brewery, brews its own craft beer and caters at large-scale outdoor events. Their best-selling beer is Golden Ale—a clean, crisp, richly golden-hued ale made with premium British malts and specially selected varieties of hops. Its balanced biscuit maltiness is accented by a smooth bitterness, with a mild floral and citrus flavour.
More information: Brewerkz
Restaurants: One Fullerton, Riverside Point, Orchard Rendezvous Hotel, Singapore Indoor Stadium
RedDot BrewHouse
RedDot BrewHouse is run by father-and-daughter duo Ernest Ng and Crystalla Huang, who is also the first female Singaporean certified brewmaster. Crystalla redefines the Singapore beer experience by experimenting with eccentric and original beer flavours that recounts stories of her life. One of which is Monster Green Lager, a green spirulina-infused lager beer with its colour naturally deriving from the chlorophyll content of spirulina. It is clean and crisp with hints of malt. RedDot started this beer off as a seasonal traffic light inspiration, but it was such a hit that they couldn’t take it off the menu.
More information: RedDot BrewHouse
Address: 25A Dempsey Rd, #01-01, Singapore 247691
Rye & Pint
From being a hobby for three Singaporean brothers, the passion for crafting beers on a large scale has evolved from a dream to reality with the establishment of Rye & Pint, striving to push boundaries of the perception of local beers and aiming to create beers worthy for Singaporeans and the international stage. Punchin’ Rye, one of their signature beers, is a smooth, moderately hoppy pale ale with aromas of passionfruit and a light touch of spiciness from rye malt.
More information: Rye & Pint
Address: 27 Tuas Bay Walk, Westview Food Factory, #03-09 Singapore 637127
Off Day Beer Company
Off Day Beer Company was created in 2020 by a team of industry veterans to make beers that are perfect for celebrating life’s ups and downs with. The name came about as the term ‘Off Day’ holds dual meaning—a day off from work, or a bad day with less success or happiness. They believe that beer is more than just a drink; it is a way to bring people together and a reminder to be present and to be kinder to ourselves. Their flagship beer, Off Day Beer, is bright and has the crispness of a Pilsner melded with aromatic fruity American hops. A great all-purpose beer that is easy on the palate.
More information: Off Day Beer Company
The 1925 Brewing Co.
The 1925 Brewing Co. was founded in 2013 by three members of the Yeo family, brothers Ivan and Eng Kuang, and their uncle, Yeo King Joey. They believe strongly in preserving their Singaporean Teochew heritage and culture, with the hope of building a business that would transcend generations. “1925” is the birth year of the brothers’ grandfather, Yeo Kim Ho, who was a dry goods grocer. Despite it being just a small run down stall in the wet market, he ran his business with the belief of providing his customers with only quality produce and openly shared his recipes, experience and knowledge with others. Holding on to the very same ideals, his birth year was used both as a tribute and a reminder of how businesses in The 1925 Brewing Co. should be conducted. Yellow Van, a pale ale, offers a balance between both hops and malt. It brings familiarity, yet has subtle bursts of Citra, and is The 1925 Brewing Co.’s most versatile beer that pairs well with any food.
More information: The 1925 Brewing Co.
Address: 261 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427515
Lion City Meadery
Lion City Meadery was founded by two Singaporean friends, Sanjay Jegatheesan and Justin Herson. Frustrated by the lack of quality meads in Singapore, Sanjay started brewing his own mead at home. He then teamed up with Justin, a fellow mead lover and his friend of more than 10 years, to create their own meadery in August 2018. Lion City Meadery’s flagship mead, Classic, is their interpretation of a beer-style mead at 5.5% ABV. It is refreshing, crisp and tart with prominent notes from the custom blend of eucalyptus honey that they’ve developed in conjunction with Australian apiaries.
More information: Lion City Meadery
Sunbird Brewing Company
Named after the national bird of Singapore, Sunbird Brewing Company was founded by influential brewer Clive Tan in 2020 with a passion to produce bold flavours with an innovative edge for consumers of the future. Besides their core collection of craft beer styles including Pale Ale ‘Fly in Light’, White IPA ‘Birds of Paradise’ and Scottish Ale ‘Eclipse of the Sun’, Sunbird Brewing Company also has original local-inspired concoctions like their Ondeh Ondeh Porter—Gula Melaka combined with aromatic coconut and pandan, producing distinct roasted, caramel flavours.
More information: Sunbird Brewing Company
Address: 7 Ang Mo Kio Street 66 #01-06
Alive Brewing Co.
Alive Brewing Co. is a modern Singapore brewery established in 2020 by two friends from school—a financial analyst fascinated with craft beer and home brewing, and a chemical engineer inspired by art. The brewery was born out of a desire to showcase a myriad of craft beer styles with characterful design. With no particular beer styles in mind, they created Relax Juice, made of soft malts with a burst of juicy tropical flavours. And as the name suggests, it’s a perfect companion for relaxing times.
More information: Alive Brewing Co.
Address: 27 Tuas Bay Walk #04-08 Singapore 637127
