Category: Beer

Craft Beer in the Philippines

The craft beer scene in the Philippines is really booming. In the past few years, I’ve seen a rise in the number of microbreweries and locally-brewed beer being offered not just in Metro Manila, but around the country. One of the things I try to do when I travel is to check out these local microbreweries and taprooms and hunt for unique craft beer.

The widest variety can be found in craft beer bars in Manila (mostly concentrated in the Poblacion area of Makati) and several notable places in Cebu City in Visayas. You can also find other small bars scattered in different parts of the Philippines that are worth seeking out. Here’s a Craft Beer Map of the Philippines I made that might help you out in your beer-ventures. Click each icon on the map to get the exact location and other details.

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Food Trip: Baler

Like other surf towns in the Philippines like La Union and Siargao, the food scene in Baler is growing. During previous visits years ago, it seemed there were only a few usual favorites to eat in town. This 2019 during our #LakbayNorte8 trip, I noticed a lot of cool new restaurants have popped up, with some establishments making an effort to highlight the tropical surf vibe and local flavors and ingredients on their menu.

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Craft Beer Bars in Manila

The local craft beer scene in the Philippines is really booming as brewers infuse local flavors and creativity to homegrown beers. You can find now find a growing number of Philippine craft beer breweries when you travel around the country, with cozy brewpubs and craft beer joints in top tourist hubs like Baguio, Sagada, Vigan, La Union, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Palawan, Davao and Iligan.

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JAPAN | Sapporo Beer Museum & Beer Garden

The first thing that popped in my head when I got an invitation to visit Sapporo was beer. Sapporo Brewery is known as the oldest brewery in Japan, named after the capital and largest city of the country’s northernmost island. Though bottled variants of the Black Label variety are now available around the world, nothing beats drinking fresh draft beer right in the town where it originated, right?

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HK Brewcraft, Hong Kong

The craft beer scene is booming in Hong Kong and it’s always good to sample the local brews when you travel abroad. I really wish I had more time to go on a proper brewery tour there, since I read that there are many amazing local breweries that have popped up all over the city from Kwai Chung to Kennedy Town.


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Fat Pauly’s Taproom + Pub, Iligan City

Fat Pauly’s Hand-crafted Ales & Lagers is one of the first craft breweries in the Philippines and currently the only brewery based on the large island of Mindanao in Southern Philippines. This proud local brand established in 2010 makes fresh home-brewed beers using the finest imported brew grade malt and local indigenous ingredients like Timoga Spring waters and wild Putyukan Honey.

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TAIWAN | 10 Things to Do in Taipei

Taiwan is best known for its hi-tech attractions, traditional Chinese temples, hot springs resorts and mountainous terrain. Its capital Taipei is a fusion of culture and technology, with historical attractions, landmarks and vibrant night markets, all easily accessible with highly efficient public transport systems.

Last month, I got to visit Taipei for the first time. Art was on a work assignment to cover Computex, one of the largest computer and technology trade shows in the world held annually in Taipei. He extended his work trip for a few days and I joined him by booking an AirAsia flight through Traveloka to take advantage of the Visa-free entry for Filipinos. My mother and nephew decided to join for a summer family vacation.

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Product Review: Collapsible Cup by EcoHeroes

Plastic pollution is a major problem all over the world. Did you know that the Philippines is the third worst plastic polluter of the oceans? One of the most depressing things about traveling is seeing how the human race is trashing the planet. Beautiful beaches and tourist spots all all over the country littered with single-use plastic like plastic bags, shampoo sachets, bottle labels, plastic cups and straws. 


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Romblon Ride: Getting to Romblon Island

Romblon Island is the capital and the smallest of three major islands (the other two being Sibuyan and Tablas) of the province of Romblon in the Philippines. If you are traveling by air or have limited time, it can be pretty tricky trying to visit all three islands, since getting around requires boat travel with limited trip schedules, going from port to port, and limited public transportation options.

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Nipa Brew Craft Beers: Brewed for Adventure

One of the things I love the most about traveling to new destinations is trying out new things, particularly beer. You could always drink the same old thing you’ve gotten used to, but why should you when there are so many other beers to try out, right? The Philippines is in the midst of a craft beer revolution and if you haven’t tried any of these local beers, you’re missing out on a lot! If you’re curious about the whole craft beer scene or are just starting to appreciate the variety of beer styles and flavors available in the country, you might want to ease in with some (or all) of Nipa Brew’s beers.

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