HomeBars + Clubs20 of Singapore’s Best Craft Beer Bars

20 of Singapore’s Best Craft Beer Bars

by URBAN JOURNEY
Craft beers aren’t new to the Singapore bar scene, but they sure have been on trend lately. In fact, just in the past year we’ve seen a slew ofnew spots where you can grab unique craft beers from right here in Singapore and abroad by the pint and the bottle. We love us a few cold ones after work, and even more so if we can support independent brewers who follow their passion and put their hearts into crafting the perfect quaffs. If you’re looking for great specialty beers that you won’t find in your local convenience store (or many other places around town for that matter), these are some of Singapore’s best craft breweries and bars (ranked in no particular order).

1. The 1925 Brewing Co.

Established by brothers Ivan and Eng Kuang and their uncle Yeo King Joey in 2013 (bet you thought we were going to say 1925 right?), The 1925 Brewing Co. is a hip spot to grab local brews crafted on site. The family has a few solid favourites that are always on tap like the Yellow Van pale ale and Small Monster dark ale, while other seasonal brews make an appearance just a few times a year. The bar also has guest taps for unique local and international pours, as well as an enticing menu of dishes created to go with the beers like the Chili Crab Pasta and Harimau Prawns.

Pints start at $15++

The 1925 Brewing Company, 261 Joo Chiat Road,Singapore 427515. p. +65 6294 9215. Open Tues – Sun 4pm – 1am

2. 3rd Culture Brewing Co

Best Craft Beer Bars Singapore

You know craft beer culture is on the rise when you start seeing artisan beers popping up at hawker centres. 3rd Culture Brewing Co. has two locations at Maxwell Food Centre and the Old Airport Road Food Centre, each offering up cold ones from all corners of the world. Get the knowledgeable bartenders to pour you a Rooster Blonde from Vietnam, a Blue Buck Pale Ale from Canada, or a Kiam Sng Di from right here in Singapore.

3rd Culture Brewing Co, 1 Kadayanallur St, Maxwell Food Centre #01-33, Singapore 069184. Open Mon – Thurs 5:30pm – 10:30pm, Fri 12pm – 11:30pm, Sat 12pm – 10:30pm, Sun 12pm – 8:30pm. 51 Old Airport Road, Old Airport Road Food Centre #01-144, Singapore 390051. Open Wed – Fri 6:30pm – 10:30pm, Sat 4:30pm – 10:30pm, Sun 4:30pm – 9:30pm

3. Almost Famous Craft Beer Bar

Step inside Almost Famous Craft Beer Bar at CHIJMES and you find yourself in a minimalist space done up in varying shades of grey from the cool concrete walls to the custom-made steel chairs and even the coasters. The idea is that there’s nothing to distract from the excellent craft beers and company. Head to the bar and you’ll find 16 taps that rotate regularly with a strong focus on Asian beers like Young Master Brewery from Hong Kong and Brewlander & Co from here in Singapore.

Almost Famous, 30 Victoria Street, #01-06, CHIJMES, Singapore 187996. p. +65 9772 1787. Open daily 3pm – 12am

4. American Taproom

With over 30 active beer taps that rotate regularly, you could order a different beer every day of the month at the American Taproom. These guys and girls take their beer very seriously, so every server and bartender is certified at least to level 1 of the Cicerone Certification Program. For all the non-beer geeks out there, that basically means these experts can help you pick out the perfect beer for your tastes and give you the lowdown on all aspects of its character.

American Taproom, 261 Waterloo Street #01-23, Singapore 180261. p. +65 9632 1570. Open daily 12pm -12am er

5. The Beast

Craft Beer Places in Singapore

Is there is any better combination than southern US comfort food and craft beers? If so, we don’t know what it is. Sidle up to the wooden bar at The Beast and have a gander at one of the biggest collections of bourbon in Singapore, slug a shot, and then let the bartender pour you a cold honey-hued Dead Guy Ale, a velvety Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout, or a citrusy Hop Devil IPA. Happy hour is from 5pm to 8pm Mondays to Saturdays with $8++ Weihenstephan half pints and house pours, as well as $1++ country fair themed snacks like buffalo wings, fried mac & cheese, and corn dogs.

Pints start at $14++

The Beast, 17 Jalan Klapa, Singapore 199329. p. +65 6295 0017. Open Mon – Wed 5pm – 12am, Thurs – Fri 5pm – 1am, Sat – Sun 11am – 12am

6. Burger Bar New York (Burger Joint Singapore)

Best Craft Beer Bars Singapore

Most people come to this NYC transplant for the famous burgers made with premium beef and cheese sourced from some of the best dairy farms in the US. However, they also have a solid selection of craft beers available in either half pints or full pints. The beers change regularly, so depending on what the taps are offering up that day you could be washing your burger down with a cold Longboard Island Lager, Brutal India Pale Ale, or Old Ford Export Stout.

Burger Joint Singapore, 115 Amoy Street #01-03, Singapore 069935. p. +65 6221 8648. Open daily 11am – 12am

7. Druggists

Situated on the ground floor of the 80-plus-year old Chinese Druggists Association shophouse (hence the name), Druggists is a playground for beer buffs with 23 beers poured from custom made taps and pub grub that pairs perfectly with the brews. Grab a seat at one of the marble-topped tables and sample some sambal anchovies with a Magic Rock Human Cannonball Imperial IPA or the coffee pork ribs with a Kapse Gozer Imperial Stout. Best of all, the beer list changes every week so you can try a new pour every time you go.

Pints start a $15++

Druggists, 119 Tyrwhitt Rd, Singapore 248371. p. +65 6341 5967. OpenMon – Thurs, 4pm – 12am, Fri & Sat, 4pm – 2am and Sun, 2pm – 10pm

8. The Good Beer Company

Craft beers and hawker food are a heavenly match, as Daniel Goh has proven with the The Good Beer Company located in one of the city’s most vibrant hawker centres. This boozy hawker stall has over 50 bottles of beer and cider on offer including the Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout from Japan, Taiwanese Lychee Beer, and Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime Cider straight from Sweden. Chances are you’ll even find Goh there himself offering tips on the best beers to pair with your chicken rice and bak chor mee.

Beers start at $6++

The Good Beer Company, Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre#02-58 , Blk 335, Smith St, Singapore 050335. p.+65 9430 2750. Open Mon – Sat 6pm – 10pm

9.The Guild

Best Craft Beer Bars Singapore

This cool Keong Saik pub had us from our very first visit because it has a real easy-going ambiance, fab craft beers on tap and innovative comfort food to go with the brews. The bar is a collaboration between Young Master Brewery and Chef Vinny Lauria, so you’ll find 19 taps devoted to the Hong Kong brewery offering up everything from IPAs to rye beer and sour ales. Feel free to bring along your non-beer drinking friends, as they also do awesome cocktails and bites.

The Guild, 55 Keong Saik Road #01-01, Singapore 089158. p. +65 6224 1262. Open Wed – Sun 6pm – 12am

10. JiBiru Craft Beer Bar

Ji biru means ‘local beer’ in Japanese, which is a fitting moniker for this Japanese craft beer bar offering artisanal brews from the land of the rising sun. Settle in at one of the welcoming wooden tables at this open-air space and sample unique ales, lagers, and stouts made with interesting ingredients like the Kinshachi Nagoya Red Miso Lager, Kiuchi Hitachino Nest Ginger Beer, and Sankt Gallen Orange Chocolate Stout. Japanese finger foods like deep fried oysters and yakitori skewers make for the perfect accompaniment to the beer. Kampai!

Beers start at $12.50++

Jibiru, 313 Orchard Road, 313@Somerset #01-26, Singapore 238895. p.+65 6732 6884. Open daily 11:30am – 12am

11. Little Creatures

Best Craft Beer Bars Singapore

Coming to us by way of Australia, Little Creatures is housed in a heritage shophouse and offers up hop-heavy beers that Aussies have come to love like the White Rabbit White Ale and Original Pils. Then you have two rotating taps for special beers like the signature Club Street Sub IPA made in house and named after the neighbourhood. Bar bites complement the beer and include the lime chicken tacos, fired man tou in chili crab sauce, and tasty pizzas.

Beers start at $12++ for 280ml

Little Creatures, 36 Club Street, Singapore 069469. p. +65 6239 0350. Open daily 8am – 12am

12. Little Island Brewing Co.

Craft Beer Places in Singapore

Not just another hipster craft beer spot, Little Island Brewing Co. is one of the few places around town that brews their own suds, as is evident when you walk into the sprawling space and see the huge vats behind caged windows. Head here to sip on eclectic draft and bottle selections like the Siren Craft Calypso, a dry hopped Berliner sour beer, or the Beavertown Gamma Ray American Pale. They also make their own sodas in house and serve up brunch dishes, grilled and smoked meats, and the intriguing ‘Beeramisu’ for dessert.

Beers priced per mL. Pints start at $15

Little Island Brewing Co., Blk 6 Changi Village Rd #01-01/02, Singapore 509907. p. +65 6543 9100. Open Mon – Thurs 12pm – 11pm, Fri 12pm – 12am, Sat 11am – 12am, Sun 11am – 11pm

13. Nickeldime Drafthouse

The cool industrial decor and unpretentious vibe at this beer-loving gastrobar make it an inviting space to quaff a pint or two and dig into hearty beer-infused fare. Nickeldime employs a full-time draft technician to make sure each of their 15 craft beers on tap is flowing freely and fresh, and their kitchen team whips up a variety of dishes that allow the beer to shine like the Stout Meatballs, Ale Snapper Fish & Chips, and Drunken Burgers with IPA cheese.

Beers start at $10

Nickeldime Drafthouse, 275 Thomson Road, Novena Regency, Singapore 307645. p. +65 6265 5118. Open Mon – Fri 12pm – 2pm, Mon – Sat 6pm – 11pm & 8 Mohamed Sultan Road, Singapore 238959. p. +65 6735 1035. Open Mon – Thurs 12pm – 11pm, Fri 12pm – 1am, Sat 10am – 1am, Sun 10am – 10pm

14. Orh Gao Taproom

Swing by Orh Gao Taproom in the day and you’ll find it’s a bustling Killiney Kopitiam, but from 4pm onwards the space transforms into a contemporary craft beer bar where you can sample interesting beers and snack on Asian-inspired bar bites. There are 10 taps to choose with a great representation of local and regional beers like That Singapore Beer Project and Pasteur Street Brewing from Vietnam. We highly recommend opting for one of their tasting sets.

Orh Gao Taproom, 10 Jalan Serene, Serene Centre #01-03, Singapore 258748. p. +65 9877 6883. Open Tues – Thurs 4pm – 11pm, Fri 4pm – 12am. Sat 12pm – 12am, Sun 12pm – 11pm

15. Smith Street Taps

After the wild success of his craft beer hawker stall Good Beer Company, Daniel Goh decided to pair up with Meng Chao of Brewer’s Craft to open another spot just next door that takes the same idea of hard-to-find brews, but in draft form. Hopheads can choose from up to 10 beers on tap that change regularly depending on availability and season. And of course being in a hawker centre you are surrounded by great food to soak up your brews.

Beers start at $6

Smith Street Taps, Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre#02-062, Blk 335, Smith St, Singapore 050335. p. +65 9430 2750. Open Tues – Thurs 6:30pm – 10:30pm, Fri 5pm – 11pm, Sat 2pm – 10:30pm

16. TAP Craft Beer Bar

Best Craft Beer Bars Singapore

Inspired by American tap rooms, TAP Craft Beer Bar has two locations offering 20 beers on tap and over 80 bottles hailing from international destinations with a focus on American microbrews like Lost Coast Brewery, Modern Times, Black Market Aftermath, and Kona Bigwave. To accompany all the hoppy goodness they also offer tasty nibbles like cold cut and sausage platters, chicken meatballs with peanut sauce, and beef and black pepper stew.

Pints start at $14++

TAP Craft Beer Bar,15 Stamford Road, Capitol Piazza (Galleria)#01 – K1/K2, Singapore 178906. p. +65 6384 7188. Open daily 12pm -12am & 86 Robertson Quay #01-02, Singapore 238235. p. +65 6694 2885. Open 4pm – 12am daily

17. Heart of Darkness

Best Craft Beer Bars Singapore

Coming to us by way of Vietnam, Heart of Darkness is the latestcraft breweryto hit Singapore and beer lovers are already flocking to the bar to sample the excellent brews. The brewers are constantly trying out different styles of beer, so you’ll find plenty of variety on the taps including pilsners, porters and IPAs. They also have a guest tap programme so you can try brews from far-flung locales like New Zealand, France and Japan.

Heart of Darkness, 55 Tras Street, Singapore 078994. p. +65 6208 7940. Open daily 11am -12am

Craft beers to take home:

18. Thirsty Beer Shop

With six different outlets across Singapore and one of the largest collections of craft beer in the country, Thirsty is a solid go-to when you’re looking for hard-to-find beers. They have bottles and cans from around the world and rotating specials on brews that you won’t find anywhere else like 21st Amendment, Brewdog, and Postmark. They also do delivery service and have a cool beer subsrciption service where you can have a case of special handpicked beer delivered every month.

Thirsty, various locations

19. The Great Beer Experiment

The Great Beer Experiment is a quirky craft beer and cider shop that stocks nearly 250 different labels from countries as diverse as Australia, Belgium, the US, and of course local beers made right here in Singapore. Go for your usual craft beer faves, or go out on a limb and try something different like the Thornbridge Cocoa Wonderland Chocolate Porter or the Mikeller Mastadon Mother Puncher Farmhouse IPA. They also sell glassware and party toys, which are great if your planning a get-together with other craft beer connoisseurs.

The Great Beer Experiment, 501 Orchard Road #02-01A Wheelock Place Singapore, Singapore 238880. p. +65 6802 3577. Open daily 11:30am – 9:30pm

20. Booze (Pharma-C)

Part snackbar, part taproom, and part liquor store, Booze Pharma-C is your one-stop shop for all things alcohol-related. They have a great selection of craft beers already chilled in the fridge, so you can grab, go, and crack a cold one as soon as you get home. Also on offer are bites like bratwurst hotdogs and pretty much every type of poison you could pick including wine, spirits, soju, and cider.

Booze, 50 Tiong Bahru Road #01-03, Singapore 168733. p. +65 9191 0677. Open daily 4pm – 12am

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