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.
For those based in Manila or foreign travelers just passing by Manila, there are a few spots in the metro where you can enjoy a great range of locally brewed beer from the different regions. While there are an increasing number of restaurants (mostly in the Makati and Taguig area) that sell bottled craft beer, the following spots below are the best places to head to if you want a wider selection of craft beer on tap.
* reportedly / possibly closed
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Pierre’s Craft Beer & Liquor Cellar
Pierre’s Craft Beer & Liquor Cellar is a speakeasy serving high quality craft beers, craft cocktails and liquors at a reasonable price. This cozy bar in a basement of a building on the corner of Tomas Morato and E. Rodriguez is a chill place if you just want to drink on your own or meet up with a few friends over beer. They serve a range of rotating brews on tap from different brewers including Munting Ilog from Cavite, Bulul Brewery from Pampanga, Crows Craft from Alabang, The Hideout from Quezon City and Ed & Son from Batangas.
Guests can order food from Ultimate Liempo Haus nearby which offers budget-friendly beer chow like Inihaw and Deep-Fried Liempo, Mojos, Chicken Wings and Nachos. You can also bring your own bar chow without any corkage fee. Friendly neighborhood vibe and great craft beer den for folks based in Quezon City.
Pierre’s Cellar. Basement Level, GYY Building, #1 Tomas Morato St. cor. E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave, Quezon City. Open Monday to Friday 6PM – 2AM. Saturday 6PM to 3AM. Closed on Sundays.
Biringan by Alamat Craft Brew
Though not yet launched officially, Biringan by Alamat Craft Brew will be opening its doors soon. A passion project of the brewers (a group of artists) and friends, the lair of the mysterious brewery gets its name from a mythical invisible city in Samar whose name means “The Black City” or The Invisible City in Waray, the local dialect, for “hanapan ng mga nawawala” – where one finds the lost. They have bottled variants of their folklore-inspired brews for sale here.
At the moment, there’s barely any signage outside except for a purposely obscure sign in the ancient script of Baybayin. It’s very easy to miss this spot and for now, the brewers would like to keep it that way. An art gallery featuring the original artwork that appears on the beer labels – including Sitan by Trese artist Kajo Baldisimo – can be found on the second floor of the space. Cozy den for casual #Beershare sessions.
Biringan by Alamat Craft Brewery. Location not disclosed by request. Visits by prior arrangement only. For inquiries, check out their official IG page. @biringan.acbc
Elias Wicked Ales & Spirits
Elias Wicked Ales & Spirits is one of the craft breweries making waves in the craft beer scene because of their amazing range of beer, craft spirits and hard ciders. You can find a wide range of these on tap in a home-turned-restaurant in the bustling neighborhood of Banawe in Sta. Mesa Heights including Elias Pilyo IPA, Elias Bad Blonde, Mango Hard Cider and Guyabano Hard Cider.
The restaurant 13 Ubay Street Comfort Dining has been around for a while serving creative Filipino comfort food like Prawns in Aligue sauce, mushroom tempura, Chicken inasal, salted egg chips and Bacon Pizza. The good meals and homey vibe make this a good choice for those dining out with families. The addition of Elias Wicked Ales & Spirits available on tap, makes this spot worth hunting down for craft beer and cider enthusiasts.
13 Ubay Comfort Street Dining, Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City. Open Monday to Sunday from 11AM – 2:30PM and 5PM-10:30PM.
For those based in the South, Elias Wicked Ales opened a taproom in BF Paranaque in late 2018 in partnership with Bel-Ale. Elias Wicked Ales BF Taproom. 29 Aguirre Ave, Parañaque, 1720 Metro Manila
Kapitolyo Brewing Company*
Kapitolyo Brewing Company is a small brewpub located in Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City. They produce unique styles of beer in small batches for the local market. Since they moved to their new location on United Street within a food community hub, guests can order from nearby restaurants for beer chow including Thai, Japanese, Mexican cuisine and shawarma.
They host beer events and Homebrewing 101 workshops, with brewmaster Jun Flores sharing his tips to customers. This cozy brewpub a nice semi-hidden spot in Pasig ideal for couples out on dates, those based in the Pasig/Ortigas area, or barkadas who just want a casual place to hang out with good beer. The Brewery Room is also open as a private event space for groups of 30-40.
Kapitolyo Brewing Company. 3/F The Alley, 16 United St., Brgy. Kapitolyo, Pasig (across the street from Ace Water Spa. Same complex as Uncle Moe’s). Open Monday to Sunday 5PM-1AM. CURRENTLY CLOSED
Spektral Beer Lounge
Spektral Beer Lounge, which opened in October 2017, aims to be a discovery platform for the craft beer community in the Philippines. This craft beer hangout, located at The Beacon in Makati, serves a constantly changing taplist. They offer a wide spectrum of craft beer, from light to dark, sour to bitter, infused fruits, turmeric, pine, coffee, chocolate, chili, and much more.
They also have a few bar chow dishes like Bacon Bites, Cold Cuts, French Fries and Nachos, but the beer is really the main attraction here. Very fun and exciting vibe here. Spektral hosts a lot of craft beer events and puts a weekly spotlight on different brewers.
Spektral Beer Lounge. The Beacon Condominium, Chino Roces Avenue, Corner Antonio Arnaiz Ave, Legazpi Village, Makati, 1223 Metro Manila. Open Monday to Saturday 6PM – 2AM. Closed on Sundays.
The Bottle Shop (BGC & Magallanes)
For serious craft beer connoisseurs and business travelers based in BGC who want the widest selection of the world’s best-rated craft beers and local beers, The Bottle Shop is your best bet. The Bottle Shop is the retail outlet of top craft beer distributor Global Beer Exchange. This is the best place to buy and sample a wide range of craft beer from US, Belgium, Japan as well as local brews from different regions of the Philippines.
Global Beer Exchange supplies the craft beer products to some of the country’s top luxury hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, liquor stores, bars, pubs and hip hostels all over the metro. The Bottle Shop has two locations, one in the Fort area in Taguig and the main branch in Magallanes. Both branches hold beer-related events and launches every Thursday that attract the international crowd.
The Bottle Shop. Net One Center, 26th Street Corner 1634, 3rd Avenue, Taguig. Open Monday to Thursday 1PM-2AM. Friday-Saturday 1PM-3AM. Closed on Sundays.
Alamat Filipino Pub & Deli
Alamat Filipino Pub + Deli is a fun spot for foreign backpackers who want an introduction to Filipino street food and local beer. The gastropub inspired by Philippine folklore in the Poblacion neighborhood a few local craft beers on tap, Pinoy cocktails and reinvented street food like Kare-Kare and Tokwa’t Baboy on skewers and sausages stuffed with sisig, bopis, dinuguan, adobo and salted egg.
With its distinctly Pinoy vibe and cultural references, it’s a good place for international travelers staying in nearby hostels located in Makati’s red light district. It’s also ideal for barkadas going on food trips in the Poblacion area.
NOTE: Despite the similarity in name, this restobar is not related to Alamat Craft Brew, a limited edition craft brewery which was established in Quezon City in 2015 and has their own taproom called Biringan (see above).
Alamat Filipino Pub & Deli. 2/F 5666 Don Pedro Street Barangay Población, Makati City. Open Monday to Saturdays 6PM-2AM, Sundays, 6PM-12MN.
Joe’s Brew
For those who want a quieter spot where they can enjoy quality brews and good food in Poblacion, Jpe’s Brew on Matilde Street, is a good choice. This steampunk-themed brewery and tasting room serves Joe’s Brews homegrown craft beer like Fish Rider, Sierra Madre, 34th Pursuit IPA, Soothsayer and SunSweeper.
You can also enjoy a selection of brews in their beer flight sampler. Joe’s Brew is a good spot for date nights or small gatherings with friends. You can order tasty appetizers including chili lime wings, beef brisket and homemade bacon from Holy Smokes BBQ next door to go with your beer.
Joe’s Brew. 5834 Matilde Street, Poblacion, Makati City. Open Monday to Sunday from 5PM to 1AM.
Pedro Taphouse
Pedro Tap House, which has been brewing and selling bottled beers since 2015, finally opened up a taproom in November 2018 in the Poblacion neighborhood. The taphouse serves their signature lineup including Endless Summer Wheat Ale, Procrastination Pale Ale and Space Out Coffee Stout. They have a few collaboration brews with neighbor Joe’s Brew (on the same street) and 63 North Brewing.
They have a full kitchen serving curated bar chow with lots of unique and interesting offerings like cheese pops made with five kinds of cheese, Korean Mini Corn Dogs and a Vegan burger.
Pedro Tap House. 5910 Matilde, Poblacion, Makati. Open Tues – Thurs, 5:00 pm – 1:00 am, Fri – Sat, 5:00 pm – 2:00 am. Sun – Mon, Closed
Nipa Brew Taproom and Brewhouse
Nipa Brew is a local beverage company with beers that are “brewed for adventure.” The team of young entrepreneurs believe that life is all about exploration and discovery, so they’ve dared to find new flavors and experiences in their beer. Their range of good introductory craft beers include Tropic Haze, Sun Stoked, Bliss Point, Midnight Blur and Drop Zone.
Though their beers have been available in various restaurants around the metro and beer festivals, the team behind Nipa Brew finally opened their own taproom and brewhouse in Makati mid-2018 where they serve their flagship brews, as well as experimental/seasonal beers and other beers from partner brewers like The Professor’s Brew on tap and red and white wine. Good for barkada get-togethers or after-work hangout for those based in Makati.
Nipa Brew Taproom & Brewhouse. Ground Floor, Solace Hotel, #9639 Kamagong Street, Brgy San Antonio, Makati City. Open Monday to Thursday 5PM-11PM. Friday-Saturday 5PM-1AM. Closed on Sunday.
Pivo Praha Microbrewery / Bravo Sports Bar*
Pivo Praha Microbrewery is a Czech-style beer brewed in Manila and housed within Bravo Sport Bar restaurant in Makati. This is one of the older establishments in the craft beer scene in Manila, which has been quietly operating years before the craft beer boom in the country.
Located right across Makati City Hall, away from the main strip of bars in Poblacion, this does not get as crowded and noisy as some of the other spots. The fine dining set-up (they serve mostly Italian food, pizza and a few Filipino pulutan dishes) and large space makes it more suited for business meetings or quiet family lunch/dinner with beer. Aside from the beer on tap, you can also buy their four styles of beer (Classic, Light, Weizen and Dark) for take-out in bottles or party packs.
Pivo Praha Microbrewery. 1331 Angono, Makati, 1210 Metro Manila. Open Monday to Saturday 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM. Closed on Sundays.
The Perfect Pint: Craft Beer + Food
With its friendly atmosphere and wide food menu, The Perfect Pint is a good place to get an introduction to the craft beer scene. They have home brews and bottled beers which you can enjoy with their suggested food pairings. You can also order a sampler to try beers from different brewers.
The Perfect Pint is a good place to enjoy quality beers even if you’re dining out with the non-beer drinkers or the whole family. They serve a wide variety of food that even non-beer drinkers can appreciate as well as wines, spirits and cocktails.
The Perfect Pint. Greenbelt 2, Makati City. They also have a branch in Molito Commercial Complex, Madrigal Ave, Alabang. Open Monday to Sunday 11AM – 2AM.
The Brewery at the Palace
The Brewery at the Palace is a spacious bar and restaurant in Bonifacio Global City that serves in-store brewed beer and flavorful bar chow. Beer variants include IPA, Weissbier, Pilsner, Fighting Irish Red Oak Ale and Uptown Ale and more.
The bar can also be booked for as an exclusive venue for celebrations and special events. Located in the same complex as the upscale club “The Island at the Palace,” this is a good spot for winding down with after-party drinks in BGC, business meetings, corporate events and media launches/events where guests can enjoy free-flowing quality beer.
The Brewery at the Palace. 10th Avenue corner 38th Street, Uptown Parade, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Open Monday to Thursday 12PM – 2AM, Friday-Saturday 12PM-5AM. Closed on Sundays.
NOTE: This is an evolving list.
I know there are other craft beer bars and spots in Metro Manila, but I haven’t been to them yet, so they aren’t included in the listing yet. But feel free to check them out for yourselves.
- Casa Marcos (Baguio Craft Brewery). Il Terrazzo, Sct. Madrinan Cor, Tomas Morato, Quezon City
- Gilmore Wines and Spirits. 17 Gilmore Ave corner 1st Ave, Quezon City
- G-Point Smorgasbord and Bar, Ermita, Manila
- Tap Station Craft Beer Hipster. Circuit Lane, Makati
- Polilya (Engkanto Beer). 5658 Jacobo Street, Corner Don Pedro, Makati
- The Social on Ebro. 5770 Ebro, Poblacion, Makati
- Big Bad Wolf. Forbestown Rd, Taguig, Metro Manila
- Bar Pintxos BGC (Crow’s Craft). Fairways Tower, 5th Avenue corner Mckinley street, BGC, Taguig, Metro Manila
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