The Singapore Craft Beer Scene: A Tasting Journey for Beer Enthusiasts

Are you really a beer enthusiast if you haven’t crossed over to the craft beer side?

We’re not here to start a war, so we’ll refrain from answering–but what we will say is: if you haven’t tried it, you really should!

That’s not to say you should give up your favourite Budweisers, Guinesses, Heinekens, Changs or Tigers. But maybe you’ll discover a new love?

What is Craft Beer?

The beauty of craft beer is that there’s something for everyone. Brewed by an independent brewery (also known as a microbrewery), craft beers are known for their flavour, quality, and purity of ingredients. Craft beers are also made in much smaller batches, with some varieties crafted in limited quantities and made available only at certain times or seasons of the year.

And that’s really the spirit of embracing craft beer isn’t it–keeping a curious and open palette whilst in search of your next favourite brew.

Key Differences Between Craft Beer and Commercial Beer

A beer is a beer is a beer, right?

We often hear that beers taste malty, somewhat sweet with a lingering yeasty bread-like flavour, with a subtle bitter aftertaste, and refreshing pops of fizz on your tongue, with darker-coloured beers tasting more robust and lighter-coloured beers tasting more watery.

Well, the craft beer industry definitely says otherwise.

Here’re the key differences that set craft beers apart from commercial beers. They say the devil is in the details, and we couldn’t agree more, really.

1. Flavour and Variety

In general, craft beers are known to taste more vibrant and complex, offering an infinite universe of flavour profiles and styles.

That’s because craft breweries are able to experiment with different ingredients in various concentrations, and can also try new brewing processes.

This freedom to experiment has yielded more than 100 different types of craft beer worldwide today, including lagers, pale ales, Indian Pale Ales (IPAs), cream ales, blonde ales, red ales, rye beers, and wheat beers.

There are also country-specific variations, which is exciting if you love to travel because you get to discover new types of craft beers wherever you go!

2. Batch Size

Craft beers are made in significantly smaller batches than their commercial counterparts, because the focus is on experimentation and on discovering new flavours. Commercially produced beer, on the other hand, is brewed in big batches, to meet widespread demand.

3. Consistency

Because craft beers are brewed in such small batches, often using innovative brewing methods, it’s inevitable that every batch of beer produced will have some differences. These differences are, in fact, part of the charm of enjoying craft beer–just ask any craft beer enthusiast!

The mass production of commercial beer uses automated and standardised brewing technology, and results in great consistency between batches. This is important for commercially brewed beer available globally, because people want it to taste exactly the same wherever in the world they drink it.

4. Ingredients

There is a high variation in ingredients used in brewing craft beers, especially for seasonal or exclusive flavours. Local produce is often used to make craft beers, for authenticity and in the spirit of supporting local. Hops and malt obtained locally will have slight differences in flavour, according to growing conditions.

Since the quality of commercial beers must remain the same across batches, the ingredients used to brew commercial beers also tend to be from standardised suppliers and kept strictly uniform even in different countries.

5. Marketing and Stocking

Craft beers generally rely on word-of-mouth, personal recommendations, beer festivals and events, and social media to gain attention. That tends to work well for it, since they’re often produced in such small batches.

Oftentime, the best way to enjoy craft beer is on the tap, onsite at the pubs and breweries. There, you can sample what’s available, because craft beers are usually available on rotation.

Some craft beers are also bottled and canned, and sold directly on the breweries websites.

Commercial beers are readily available in supermarkets, convenience stores, petrol kiosks and most restaurants in Singapore.

Introduction to Singapore’s Craft Beer Scene

Singapore’s beer history dates back to the 1930s, when the Malayan Breweries Limited (known today as Asia-Pacific Breweries) first created Singapore’s flagship beer, Tiger Beer.

The beer scene before the early 2000s was dominated by just these few commercial beer brands: Tiger Beer, Anchor Beer, Heineken, Carlsberg, ABC Stout, and Guinness. As more commercial international brands were introduced to Singapore and gained popularity, the beer landscape started to evolve.

Smaller, local breweries began to brew commercial beers and craft beers in earnest in the 2000s, with Brewerkz and RedDot Brewhouse leading the initial charge.

Today, there are more than 50 active breweries in Singapore, including microbreweries, nanobreweries, and brewpubs–making for a vibrant and exciting beer scene in Singapore.

Every brewery has its unique identity, brewing different types of beer. Red Dot Brewhouse, for instance, is known for its green beers; Off Day Beer Company offers a fine selection of refreshing and easy-to-drink IPAs; while The 1925 Brewing Co makes beers with a strong Asian flavour profile that go exceptionally well with local cuisine.

And yet some others specialise in brewing up hyper-local and uniquely Singaporean flavours of craft beer such as durian ale, pulut hitam stout, kueh salat rice lager, chrysanthemum lager, and lychee pale lager.

While the craft beer scene is still reeling from the recent closure of the second oldest brewery in Singapore, Archipelago, it’s not all doom and gloom on the craft beer front. Beer lovers can still look forward to the upcoming Brewnanza Fest, Singapore’s largest craft beer festival, which will feature over 100 beers from renowned breweries from all over the world.

Curious to try some craft beers in Singapore? You could shop for some online from this great list here. However, there’s something really special about drinking beer straight from the tap. Here are five craft beer breweries in Singapore you should absolutely start with.

5 Must-Try Craft Beer Breweries in Singapore

1. Locality

This gem of a pub is a must-visit if you are in search of craft beers with a strong local flavour. So strong, that you’ll only find locally-brewed craft beers here. Housed in the humble basement of a mall in Changi, Locality has 10 unique local beers on rotation for you to quaff down. Past flavours include pulut hitam, haw berry, pandan, and coconut.

2. Smith Street Taps

Tucked in a row of hawker stalls in Chinatown Complex, Smith Street Taps is as Singaporean as it gets. Choose from 20 different beers from Singapore and all over the world, poured fresh and especially refreshing in the tropical heat. We hear these pours usually pair well with the neighbouring stalls’ dishes, so give it a try!

3. Yeastside

This trendy bakery taproom with outlets at King Albert Park, Orchard, and Farrer, serves some awesome brunch, sourdough pizza as well as fresh craft beers on rotation. Think delicious tropical stouts with hints of chocolate and caramel, refreshing sparkling stouts, and a unique hibiscus and hawthorn gose reminiscent of island life on Singapore.

4. LeVeL 33

Everyone knows LeVeL 33 as the world’s highest microbrewery, but did you know that all their brews are based on heritage recipes with years and years of tradition? Pick from staple ales and stouts, or try their exclusive seasonal craft brews if you’re in search for something new. If anything, beer certainly tastes better from the 33rd floor of the Marina Bay Financial Centre, with stunning views of the city at night to accompany your pints.

5. Druggists

Looking for a craft beer you’ll fall in love with but haven’t found it yet? Hop over the Druggists and you won’t be disappointed. With 23 craft beers on rotation at any one time, you’ll definitely find something you like at your next visit. Known for bringing one-of-a-kind and rare brews to Singapore, this casual pub at Farrer Road will be your next favourite hangout this weekend.