Beertopia is Hong Kong’s largest international craft beer festival. Started in 2012, the most recent festival featured over 6,000 attendees taking over the West Kowloon Waterfront and trying over 250 different beers from around the world. The festival also included food, live music, beer lectures, and beer games.

Beertopia was started by Jonathan So simply because there were no other craft beer festivals in Hong Kong. Originally from Toronto, and having lived in New York for many years, he was surprised to discover the lack of diversity in the beer selection in Hong Kong bars, as well as a general apathy towards beer.

The goal of Beertopia is to provide an opportunity for people to taste and learn about quality beers they might not be aware of, and to do this in a fun and lively environment. While there are food and wine events in Hong Kong that also include beer, beer is typically an afterthought. By bringing beer to the forefront, hopefully the festival can help raise the interest of craft beer in Hong Kong.

Visit our Facebook page to see pictures from past events.

Venue:
West Kowloon Waterfront, Hong Kong

Date & Time:
13-15 March 2014

Thursday
12:00PM – 4:30PM (*Trade only)
6:00PM – 11:00PM

Friday
6:00PM – 11:00PM

Saturday
12:00PM – 5:00PM
6:00PM – 11:00PM

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When the beer poured out?
Crisp, sharp acidity to the nose.

How’s the taste?
Highly sour like a classic cider. Clean and crisp finishing.

What’s the colour of the beer?
Gold/yellow

Where to drink?
Obtained this from Brewers’ Craft, should be available with some craft beer shops around Singapore

My Opinion:
Being a sour ale, Petrus Aged Ale taste like a Thatchers Gold cider with higher alcohol content at 7.3% ABV but less refined. To my own taste buds, this is probably 80% cider, 20% beer/ale.

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Carlsberg recentlykicked off its ‘Price of Passion 2′ challenge at the Barclays Premier League (BPL) viewing party featuring the live match between two BPL giants, Liverpool and Arsenal. The winner of the contest will get to experience an exciting Carlsberg VIP BPL experience, with the chance to watch their favourite team in a live match in the United Kingdom later this season.

As the official beer of the BPL for three consecutive seasons starting with 2013/2014, Carlsberg is giving Malaysian footie fans a true taste of the Premier League. Fans familiar with Price of Passion would know that the reward is totally worth the effort to demonstrate how far one would go in the name of football.

Just ask ‘Price of Passion 1’ winner, Low Kah Wai. The 23-year-old Arsenal fan boldly took on the challenge and successfully fulfilled his pledge. As a result, he scored an all-expenses-paid trip for two from Carlsberg to watch his favourite BPL team, the Gunners, in action at Old Trafford against Manchester United.

Low said, “It was truly an awesome experience. We were picked up by a friendly Carlsberg brand ambassador at the airport, chauffeured to a trendy hotel in the city and served meals fit for football legends. Being escorted every step of the way made us feel like stars or Hollywood celebrities, it was an experience fit for a VIP. The challenge that I took on for my favourite team was well worth it, and Carlsberg made it all possible,” he exclaimed.

In addition to the launch of ‘Price of Passion 2’, Carlsberg also gave its fans the opportunity to walk away with exclusive signed Arsenal and Liverpool merchandise. With both football clubs having Carlsberg as their official beer, fans participated and won premium, limited edition merchandise. The sporty ambiance was further enhanced by hearty snacks and ice cold Carlsberg from Malaysia’s most preferred beer brand.

Juliet Yap, Marketing Director of Carlsberg Malaysia, said: “As the official beer of the Premier League, we are privileged to have the rights, access and network that allow us to bring unique experiences to Malaysian fans.‘Price of Passion’ is one way and we will continue to bring Carlsberg and football lovers more memorable and rewarding moments. Our position as the BPL’s official beer allows us to engage with our consumers and share their passion for the beautiful game.”

Carlsberg’s ‘Price of Passion 2’ challenge is open for pledges until February 28, 2014. Participating is as simple as going to Carlsberg’s Facebook page and making a pledge to carry out an act that is testament to a Carlsberg fan’s passion for football. Pledges will also be accepted during Carlsberg viewing parties. Shortlisted fans willthen be assessed by a panel of judges on the creativity and passion of their pledges to determine the second ‘Price of Passion’ winner. The winner will then be asked to fulfil his pledge and before he knows it, will be on his way to the UK for the BPL experience of a lifetime.

For more information on Carlsberg’s ‘Price of Passion 2’ contest, visit www.facebook.com/Carlsberg

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When the beer poured out?
Refreshing green fruity smell.

How’s the taste?
Very small hint of acidity and sweetness with a strong body. Hoppy finishing with lingering bitterness creates a sophisticated flavour on the after taste.

What’s the colour of the beer?
Pale brown

Where to drink?
Brewers’ Craft, while stocks are still available

My Opinion:
To the nose the refreshing smell of fruity lychee from the hop is a great drink for the hot weather, as one would expect from an good American style IPA. However, as it gets warmer the taste became flat and not prominent. The taste character of a complex IPA is lost and became plainly bitter with hop. Advise is, keep this one chilled all the time when consumed since it comes in the 500ml bottle.

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Smith Street Taps

Last Wednesday, Smith Street Taps officially opened its door in Singapore (unofficially it had a soft launch about a month prior to that and had been serving customer since). Smith Street Taps is the idea culminated by Meng Chao of “Brewers’ Craft” and Daniel of “The Good Beer Company” bringing to the Singapore craft beer drinking community with the first outlet that sells craft beer solely from the taps. Located at the hustle and bustle of Singapore’s famous Chinatown, it is the most unconventional location as it is opened in the hawker centre of Chinatown Complex.

The idea
One of the most important reason to open such an outlet at a hawker centre according to the co-owner, Daniel was plain and simple, the food. Beer drinkers love their beers, but as important the food that goes with it too. What better place than one of the largest hawker centre in Singapore with freedom to order any type of food from the vast amount of selections available to pair with the quality draught beers. Smith Street Taps opened from a 3m x 3m space is operating on average 6 varieties of beers with maximum capacity of 8 taps. However, maintaining the operations of these taps day in day out within such a small space presents a whole new set of challenges of its own that both the owners take pride in.

Set up in the busy Chinatown Complex hawker centre

The million dollar question…. The Beer Menu?

According to Daniel, Sapporo will be the permanently fixture in the shop. The rest of the taps’ selection will be based on the seasonal availability of quality craft beer that they can get. Since the soft launch about a month ago, a wide variety of craft beer had been made available. These includes Pale Ales, IPAs, Porters, Stouts, Belgium tripel and German Weissbiers. The variety will continue to grow and when you decide to take a surprise visit to the stall, you might be on the receiving end of the surprise. If you are not the adventurous type, check on Smith Street Taps’ Facebook page for the latest list of beers on the taps.

Meng Chao, the co-owner

Smith Street Taps
Blk 335 Smith Street
Chinatown Complex #02-062
Singapore 050335
Tel: 9430 2750
FB: https://www.facebook.com/smithstreettaps

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