Considering Singapore’s size, you’d be surprised as to how many local microbreweries there are. The answer: More than you can count.
Microbreweries distinguish themselves by producing house-brewed beer in limited quantities. That ensures that the ice-cold beer you’re sipping on is of the highest quality and freshness, and it also gives microbreweries the opportunity to experiment and come up with unique flavours. Cue ondeh ondeh porter, liang teh beer and more.
Get ready to crack open a pint, because here are 10 Singaporean microbreweries for unique homegrown brews.
1. Thirty-Six Brewlab and Smokehouse, from Lion Brewery Co.
If Lion Brewery Co. had an experimental child, it’d be Thirty Six Brewlab and Smokehouse.
Located at 36 Club Street (yes, thus the name Thirty Six), this microbrewery, smokehouse and restaurant features a state-of-the-art 500 litre microbrewery, which is visible behind the line of 23 taps at the bar.
Thanks to the presence of an actual microbrewery situated inside their restaurant, Thirty Six takes the opportunity to experiment with styles, techniques, ingredients and flavours.
The team shared that they once used oh-so Singaporean ingredients such as coriander, tangerine peel and osmanthus to brew some of their beers. When I asked what was the most local ingredient they’ve experimented with, they joked: “We haven’t tried durian yet, but who knows?”
Their 23 taps house beers from Thirty Six, Lion Brewery Co. and local and international craft breweries. The next time you’re around for a meal, be sure to try Lion Brewery Co.’s Straits Pale Ale (S$16.50/pint), which is brewed with ingredients such as lychee and passionfruit, or Thirty Six’s popular Lah-ger (S$16.50/pint), a refreshing beer that was brewed specifically with Singapore’s humid weather in mind.
If you’re not a fan of beer due to its carbonation, go for Thirty Six’s Nectaron (S$16/pint), which is poured using a traditional anagram pump and pure air, resulting in a smooth and non-gassy pint of beer.
36 Club Street, Singapore 069469
+65 6239 0350
Daily: 11.30am – 10.30pm
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2. Little Island Brewing Co.
Tucked away in Changi Village, Little Island Brewing Co. is where you’d want to be on a chill Friday night. With the Changi coast in the background, fairy lights strung along the alfresco roof and a line of close to 30 self-pour taps, this Singaporean brewery and restaurant is an experience you wouldn’t want to miss.
Little Island Brewing Co. prides itself on serving fresh beer that has been brewed in-house, so you can expect to enjoy a mix of traditional and innovative flavours, such as Stars & Bars, an Indian pale ale, and Black Milk, a nitro chocolate milk stout.
And yes, this place allows you to pour your own beer! You’d need to get a Little Island Brewing Co. bar card first, but it’s pretty straightforward after that. Tap, pour and enjoy.
6 Changi Village Road, #01-01, Singapore 509907
+65 6543 9100
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 10.30pm
Sat to Sun: 11am – 10.30pm
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3. RedDot BrewHouse
RedDot BrewHouse is a true blue Singaporean company. It was founded in 1997 by Singaporean Ernest Ng, who turned his fondness for homebrewed beer into a business.
His daughter, Crystalla, went on to become Singapore’s first female certified brewmaster, and the father-daughter power duo has been hard at work at RedDot, churning out authentic hand-crafted beers right out from their microbrewery at Dempsey Road.
While their restaurant sports a selection of resident brews, such as its Czech Pilsner (S$15/pint) or Summer Ale (S$15/pint), I learned that RedDot also brews seasonal beer, which is bottled and sold for takeaway once the season is over.
For example, its Chrysanthemum Rum Lager (S$7 per bottle) was brewed specifically for Chinese New Year. More interestingly, its Heartlander Lager (S$7 per bottle) was inspired by oolong tea. With fruity and floral fragrances, the team at RedDot shared that it was made to go hand-in-hand with tze char dishes.
25A Dempsey Road, #01-01, Singapore 247691
+65 6475 0500
Mon: 11.30am – 10pm
Tues to Sun: 11.30am – 10.15pm
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4. Sunbird Brewing Co.
Sunbird Brewing Co. has been making waves in the microbrewery scene. Since its inception in 2020, Sunbird Brewing Co. has gone on to win multiple awards for its craft beers, snagging prestigious titles such as Brew King Singapore 2021 and Asia Beer Championship 2020 and 2021.
Its main brewery is based at Mandai, so if you’d like to get one of its bold beers, you can take a look at its online store. You can expect intriguing flavours such as Ondeh Ondeh Porter (S$8.50 per can, S$49.90 for a pack of 6), which incorporates familiar ingredients such as coconut and gula melaka, and Snow Daisy Gose (S$9.10 per can, $49.90 for a pack of 6), which uses snow chrysanthemum flowers in its brewing process.
Fancy trying its beers in a restaurant instead? Visit its new restaurant at Ang Mo Kio — Crimson by Sunbird, which houses 10 taps ranging from craft beer to kombucha.
Sunbird Brewing Co.: 5 Mandai Link, #05-05, Mandai Foodlink, 728654
Crimson by Sunbird: 7 Ang Mo Kio Street 66, #01-06, Singapore 567708
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5. Alive Brewing Co.
A modern Singaporean microbrewery, Alive Brewing Co. was established in March 2021 with the aim of showcasing a myriad of craft beer styles. Its brewery is located at Tuas Bay Walk, so you’d have to buy its beers online.
It currently has around 10 brews on its website. Try its False Sense of Security (from S$7.80), which uses tropical fruit for a mildly bitter but refreshing brew, or its Regular Stranger (from S$8.50), a New England IPA with tropical stone fruit, berries, pine and flowers.
27 Tuas Bay Walk, #04-08, Singapore 637127
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6. LeVeL33
Award-winning LeVeL33 is the world’s highest urban microbrewery, so dining here is no regular affair.
Sporting a stunning view of Marina Bay, this craft-brewery restaurant and lounge is located on the 33rd floor of Marina Bay Financial Centre (so yes, thus the name), with its own dedicated lift tucked away at a corner of the spacious lift lobby.
Stepping out of the lift and into the restaurant, you’re immediately greeted by a line of six giant brewing vats, which store the house-brewed beer. The impressive sight aside, LeVeL33 offers a variety of freshly brewed craft beer, which are served unfiltered and unpasteurised.
Depending on your preference, you can try the 33.1 Blond Lager, a refreshing and light-bodied brew, or the bold 33.3 Stout, which has intensely roasted and malty flavours. All its craft beers go for S$9.50/half pint or S$14.50/pint from opening to 8pm. After 8pm, the beers go for S$12.50/half pint or S$17.50/pint.
8 Marina Boulevard #33-01, Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1, Singapore 018981
+65 6834 3133
Daily: 11.30am – 10.30pm
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7. Pink Blossoms Brewing Co.
Pink Blossoms Brewing Co.’s inspiring story is quite the tale. Its founder, Hong Han, was an accountant and tax advisor by training. Work brought him to the U.S. and that’s where he fell in love with craft beer. Eventually, Hong Han left his cushy corporate job to start Pink Blossoms Brewing Co. in early 2018.
It has five flagship brews including Lean on Me (S$57.90 for a pack of 6) and Hundred Years (S$55.90 for a pack of 6), and constantly rotates its seasonal beers to feature unique flavours such as Centennial Lemongrass, Sake Ale and Nice (Biscuit Stout).
Get its beers from its online store, or visit its tasting and taprooms at Ubi and Tampines if you’d like to try their brews in person.
50 Ubi Ave 3, #01-12, Singapore 408866
+65 6612 0215
Mon to Fri: 5pm – 10.30pm
Sat to Sun: 2pm – 10.30pm
18 Tampines Industrial Crescent #01-16 Singapore 528605
Fri to Sun: 5pm – 10pm
Closed from Mon to Thurs
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8. The 1925 Brewing Co.
The 1925 Brewing Co. started out as a family business, with three members of the Yeo family, brothers Ivan and Eng Kuang, and their uncle, Yeo King Joey, spearheading the venture in late 2013.
Since then, the microbrewery has expanded massively. They have their own dedicated beer distribution company, 9 Degrees Beer, which helps to supply a number of hotels, restaurants and bars with their beer. While their current taproom and restaurant is situated at Joo Chiat, the brand has even expanded to Thailand and set up a restaurant in Chatuchak!
From Liang Teh Lager (from S$6.50) to Kaya Toast Stout (from S$8), The 1925 Brewing Co.’s offerings will intrigue and excite you. They’ve even previously launched exclusive flavours such as Musang King Ale, Yuzu Lager and 八仙 (Eight Immortals) Tea Lager.
261 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427515
Tues to Sun: 12pm – 9pm
Closed on Mon
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9. Brewlander
You’ve most probably seen Brewlander around. This award-winning company has been pushing the boundaries of Southeast Asia’s craft beer scene for years now, ever since its founder John Wei picked up homebrewing in 2008 and started experimenting right from his own HDB flat.
Apart from selling its own one-of-a-kind brews (like its Lychee Black Tea Ale or Psychedelic IPA) on its online store and even NTUC FairPrice and Cold Storage, Brewlander constantly collaborates with local companies to come up with limited flavours as well. For example, it worked together with Raffles Hotel in 2019 and launched the Beach Road Pale Ale in time for the hotel’s reopening.
21 Tuas West Drive, #02-02A, Singapore 638411
+65 6816 2966
Closed to the public on weekdays, brewery tours are on an appointment basis on Saturdays only.
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10. Hospoda
Singapore’s first and only Czech microbrewery, Hospoda is a quaint and cosy joint at Albert Court. In fact, hospoda is Czech for “tavern, bar or watering hole”.
Founder and owner Darryl Chuan started Hospoda with the intention of brewing and sharing authentic Czech beer with Singaporeans, because guess what — the Czech Republic is where the world’s first pilsner was created.
Its beer menu is short and sweet. Pick between the Bohemian Pilsner (S$10/half pint, S$15/pint) or the Bohemian Dark Lager (S$11/half pint, S$16/pint), both of which are brewed freshly in one of the four brewing vats right behind the bar. Can’t decide? Choose The Czech Mix (S$12/half pint, S$17/pint), a 50-50 mix of the pilsner and the dark lager.
180 Albert Street (Albert Court), #01-19 Singapore, Singapore 189971
+65 9755 8929
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