Pub Discovery: Smith Street Taps

Pub: Smith Street Taps

Country/City State: Singapore

Last night i had a great first encounter with the craft beer scene here in Singapore! 

Hidden away in a Chinatown Shopping Centre, at the end of a busy food street, is what appears to be one of many “hawker” or pop up stalls to which the centre plays host. 

The Shopping Centre

But this isn’t your usual shop or food stall…

What looks like an empty corner during the day...

While during the day this corner of the shopping centre seems empty and abandoned, once evening approaches, a transformation seems to take place

.

This empty and hidden corner transforms into one of the coolest “pub streets” which I have ever seen.

Well technically…not a street, more of a “pub shopping centre” which really is a first for me!

As the shutters in this empty corner open, something magical is revealed inside, one of the smallest and greatest craft beer pubs which i have ever seen!

Turns into Smith Street Taps at night!

With just enough space inside for a few staff members, Smith Street Taps has the size of a small pop up shop, and not that of your usual craft beer pub. Apart from making this place really stand out, and unique in its way, its small size and location also bring great benefits. 

Due to it being located in a shopping centre, and only occupying the space of a small pop up shop, the rent is relatively very low when comparing to usual bars and brewpubs.  

With small size, come great benefits….. not something which is said very often :P

Kegs, Kegs, Kegs!

Another thing that makes this pub awesome is that they serve exclusively from kegs! These kegs come from all over the world, and change almost on a daily basis, and with around 10 kegs to choose from at any one time, this really is a place offering a variety of different brews! 

It was mentioned to me that importers often try to push their kegs to this pub first, as they are known for their fast keg turnover! So fast in fact, that the majority of their kegs aren't even kept in fridges, just outside, as they don't get the chance to warm up (see picture above)!. 

Kegs on offer yesterday, from: Germany, Japan, UK, Spain, Norway and the US!

There was plenty for me to choose from! This daily variety of beer really makes this small bar very dynamic and fun to come back to!

Trying a Yona Yona Ale, from Japan! 

The staff is also very friendly and helpful. I was provided with a lot of information, and had some great conversations with employees and one of the owners. Furthermore, i even got to taste several beers free of charge, so great customer service!

As the bar doesn't have its own terrace, customers use the surrounding food court (in which the bar is located) as a replacement. This really adds to the atmosphere as its possible to order a craft beer from Smith's and grab some food from somewhere else (also great if you start getting hungry after one too many beers). 

Food Court = Beer Garden

Smith Street Taps is also a great meeting place for beer lovers, importers and brewers! I had some great conversations with some of the regulars, who gave me some great tips about craft beer here in Singapore. I even had a conversation with two importers from the Napar brewery (Spain), as yesterday marked the first day Napar was being sold in Singapore (at Smith Street Taps, off course). 

Getting Busier

And the great thing is, in this corner of the shopping centre, there is another bar run the same owners! 

Just a few "stalls" away, there is the "The Good Beer Company", which opened some time before Smith Street Taps. Instead of selling only beer from the tap, the Good Beer Company sells only bottles. 

The Good Beer Company

Here, there is also a wide international selection of craft beer, and also some nice classics such as Chimay, Duvel and Rochefort! 

Together, these two "pubs" ensure that there is a brew for everyone's taste, and make this shopping centre a whole lot of fun to visit!

Although i have only been in Singapore a few days, this is already one of my favorite craft beer spots! Great brews, great people, and relatively great prices! This is definitely a place i can recommend if you find yourself in Singapore and in need of a good brew!

Cheers!

My Ratings:

Yona Yona Ale - Pale Ale - 4/5*

Also Drank: 

Northern Latitude - Rye IPA - 4/5*

Old Ford Export Stout - Stout - 3.75/5*

Tasted:

Big Ass Money Stout - Imperial Stout - 3.75/5*

London Mead - Mead - 3.75/5*

Beers of Myanmar

Does Myanmar have a craft beer scene?

The short and simple answer to this question is that at the moment: no, not really.

This did not come as a surprise however, the country has only “opened up” a few years back, so I did not expect to find craft breweries, or brewpubs.

However, what I did discover in my two weeks so far here was pleasantly surprising!

I wasn’t surprised by the variety of beer, only having come across pilsners/lagers, imperial pilsners/lagers and stouts. I was however surprised by the sheer quantity and availability of the stuff, coupled with the extreme amount of advertisement.

In my first two weeks here so far, I have travelled across the country by bus, three sweaty 10 hour trips so far to be exact (two of which had a number of puking people), so I did have the chance to look out the window somewhat.

Advertising, Myanmar Style

In both the countryside and in the towns that I have visited, it seems that every second house has a poster or banner depicting one of Myanmar’s different beer (sub) brands. Even in the middle of nowhere, I observed little shacks proudly displaying a beer banner to passers-by.

How’s that for advertisement?

This was also the case for venues serving beer! From cities to towns, to shacks in the middle of nowhere, on the lakes or in the mountains, there is beer to be drunk everywhere! This is something, which I never expected in Myanmar!

Restaurants, small stands or aptly named “beer stations” all serve a refreshing, but somewhat limited, number of brews. Most beers are served in 640ml bottles and are extremely cheap! The cheapest bottles I have come across so far are at the place where I am sitting right now writing this blog, the bottles here cost only 1,500 Kyat which is around €1,15! (Aye Mya Thida Restaurant, New Bagan).

So, lets talk about the brews shall we?

During my time in Myanmar so far, I have come across a few different beer styles (Pilsners/Lagers, Imperial Pilsners/Lagers and a Stout or two).  My experiences so far, in order of consumption:

1. Myanmar Beer

Pilsner ABV 5%

Enjoying a Myanmar Beer @ 19th Street, Yangon

Myanmar Brewery Limited (MBL) brews this beer named after the country itself. The brewery has links to the military and as such enjoyed unchallenged market dominance, until recently…

Since the country “opened up”, Myanmar Brewery has started facing competition from international brewers such as Heineken and Carlsberg. However, with a beer market share of two thirds, this brewery is still the biggest player in this beer loving country. 

The beer itself is very enjoyable; a clear, crisp and refreshing pilsner with a very pure taste. The beer is sometimes also mixed with a shot of local whiskey, to give it an extra kick!

Myanmar beer also has won numerous international beer awards, which are proudly displayed on its bottles!

2. Black Shield Stout

Stout ABV 8%

Enjoying a Black Shield Stout @ 19th Street, Yangon

 This hard-hitting 8% stout comes is a sub brand of the Myanmar Brewery. This is definitely the strongest stout that I have come across so far here in Myanmar, and coupled with the extremely hot weather here (39 degrees Celsius at the moment), this is definitely a brew which you need to be careful with.

Not particularly refreshing during the day, but when served extra cold at night, this brew can be quite enjoyable. Simple in terms of taste, but just fine as your average stout (albeit a bit strong)

3. Mandalay Strong Beer

Imperial Pilsner/Lager ABV 6.5%

Mandalay Strong @ New Bagan

 As the name suggests, this imperial is brewed in Mandalay, Myanmar.

I am also drinking this beer right now, whilst writing this blog!

Formerly a cannon factory, the site was transformed into a brewery by the British in 1886. After suffering bankruptcy in the early 90’s, external investment brought the brewery back to life. Having brewed a wide variety of different brews under the British, the brewery now produces around five different brews, most notably a beer brewed with Spirulina which is a algae said to have certain anti aging properties.

I have until now come across just one of Mandalay’s beers: the strong beer!

A light imperial lager, with 6.5% ABV, the brew gives the fresh and crisp taste of a lager an extra kick!  

Mandalay’s Brews are brewed by: Myanma Economic Holdings Limited.

4. DAGON Lager Beer

Lager ABV 5%

DAGON! @ New Bagan

 Brewed by the  DAGON beverages company, this is another refreshing lager produced in Myanmar!

DAGON has also won a number of international beer prizes, and like Myanmar beer, proudly displays these on its bottles! This beer is also quite often a bit cheaper than Myanmar beer, whilst being almost as good!

On the DAGON website, it is stated that DAGON is also available in 500ml cans which are “for both commercial and army personnel”, the military really doesn’t mess around!

5. Andaman Gold & Gold Special

Enjoying a Andaman @ New Bagan

Andaman is another sub brand of the Myanmar Brewery. The Andaman Gold displays many similarities to Myanmar beer, in terms of taste, and represents yet another enjoyable Myanmar Pilsner/Lager.

Just a bit more special

  The Andaman Gold Special on the other hand is characterized by an almost strong ale taste, making it quite unique here in Myanmar. Marketed as am (imperial) lager, the special comes very close to a strong golden ale taste! And with the limited choice here in Myanmar, this made the brew particularly enjoying.

6. Regal Seven

Lager ABV 5%

Regal Seven @ New Began

Regal Seven is brewed by the Alliance Brewery Company, in which Heineken holds a 57% stake (the remainder being held by the Alliance Brewing Company). Regal Seven represents the second brand that Heineken wants to use in the Myanmar market, the other being Heineken itself.

Regal Seven is marketed as a local beer by Heineken, whilst Heineken beer itself is marketed more as a premium beverage. The beer really is “local” as it is brewed locally under contract and not by Heineken itself.

The brew itself is a clean, crisp, refreshing lager!

7. El Diablo Super Strong Brew

Imperial Lager ABV 12%

El Diablo!

And yes, it is exactly as the name suggests.

I came across this heavy hitting monster in the far corner of a small supermarket, hidden in a small fridge.

I was surprised, and pleasantly so, to find such an abstract beer here in the middle of Bagan.

Diablo is brewed by Bali Hai Pt, and is an American sub brand. The beer is much in line with such extreme imperial lager/pilsners, strong alcohol taste and not much else.

However, the aftertaste did have some complexity, which made this monster more enjoyable than I would have expected.

All in all, a surprising abeit a limited beer experience here in Myanmar so far. Apart from the beers mentioned above I came across beers such as Heineken, Tiger, Tuborg and ABC Stout.

It will be interesting to see how the beervironment will change in the next years, as Myanmar becomes more and more accessible to the outside world (and outside breweries).

 Cheers!

My Ratings:

Myanmar Beer: 3.25/5*

Black Shield Stout: 3.5/5*

Mandalay Strong Beer: 3/5*

DAGON Lager: 3/5*

Andaman Gold: 3/5*

Andaman Gold Special: 3.25/5*

Regal Seven: 3/5*

El Diablo Super Strong Brew: 2.75/5*