Beer is one of the oldest alcohols that human have discovered. Pre-dating recorded history to 4000BC or thereabouts, it has been the staple drink of mankind, providing a safe alternative to murky river water for millennia. Given its 6000 year history, you’d think that beer, like wine, would have reached a final, homogenised form by now; there’s only so many ways to ferment barley, right?
Not quite. There’s still plenty of room for evolution and innovation. The craft beer movement over the last two decades has brought a lot of new variations to the fore. There are hundreds of different varieties, each with its own unique flavour profile- fruit, flowers or even wacky stuff like charcoal. A far cry indeed from your typical supermarket fare.
Not convinced? Beerfest Asia returns for its 8th year and brings 500 different beers to the table. I had a chance to sample some of them.
Traditional Light Pilsner
For the traditionalists, Pilsner, the modern world’s most popular beer, is readily available. The pale, refreshing beer is just the sort of beer that one can happily quaff in the furious Singapore heat. Appropriately enough, Pilsner Urquell, the entire category’s progenitor will be showcasing its wares. That’s right- the entire beer category Pilsner is named after the brand Pilsner. While traditional (they’ve been brewing Pilsner since 1824), one can’t argue with quality here.
The Pilsner is brightly refreshing, with floral and herbal notes developing into caramel flavours, then culminating in a feather-light hoppy aftertaste. If you’re particularly adventurous, you can try a Milko pour; the draft beer is deliberately frothed into tiny beads of foam. This changes the beer from a light thirst-quencher into a creamy treat.
Fruity and Belgian
For another beer with traditional roots, be sure to try Tongerlo Blond, voted World’s Best Beer in 2014. The Belgian abbey beer combines the light spiciness of orange peel with honey and banana for a very agreeable flavour. With its utter simplicity and satiny smoothness, the Tongerlo makes for an easy-drinking beer that can enjoyed all night long- if you’re not looking to give your tastebuds a strenuous workout.
For something a little more full-bodied, pick up a bottle of Straffe Hendrik Brugs Quadrupel, an especially dark Belgian ale from the last active brewery in Brugges. It retains the fruity qualities characteristic of a Belgian, but brings it to the back of the tongue, supporting a robust malt flavour. Dates, toffee, raisins, figs and vanilla make for a delicious sipper.
The Japanese are well known for their dry beers like Asahi and Sapporo, but they also make Belgian-style brews, and excellent ones at that. Check out the Hida Takyama Karumina, a silver medalist at the World Beer Cup in 2000. It’ dark appearance suggests a heavy-bodied, hop drenched dark ale, but appearance once again deceive in this case. This Belgian-inspired brew is light on the tongue and makes for easy drinking despite its hefty 10 percent ABV. It doesn’t skimp on the flavour too, balancing citrus, caramel, raisins, banana and just the barest hint of ginger.
Malty and German
I am a great fan of German-style beers, and there is an abundance of them here. German brewery Flensburger will be participating this year, and with them come bock-style lagers. Bocks are a style of malty, full-bodied dark beer with a higher strength than normal. This makes the beer less of a light drink, but more of a contemplative drink to sip slowly or enjoy with some food.
I gave my braincells and tastebuds both a good workout when tasting the Flensburger Winterbock and Springbock– which are alike in many ways, but made in- you guessed it- either winter or spring. The Springbock is a little fresher, crisper and fruity; one can imagine sipping it on a nice brisk spring evening. The Winterbock, on the other hand, has the almost the same flavours, but in shades mellower and spicier; one can imagine enjoying this on a cold winter night. While both would normally be seasonal, you can get them both at Beerfest.
And stuff that’s not quite beer at all
There are other drinks available if you’re not craving any beer. Consider trying out Brothers cider if you’re into something a little sweet and fruity. There are a number of flavours like your standard pear and apple ciders, but also a lemony draught on sale that closely resembles a bittersweet lemonade- tart and refreshing. It works especially well as a palate cleanser in between beers. If you love spicy, cold weather aromas and flavours, then the caramel sweetness of the Toffee Apple is sure to appeal as an alternative to bitter hopped beers.
If you’re looking for something even more unusual, the highlight of the night awaits you. My companion and I were quite enchanted with Gosnells. a mead made from citrus blossom honey. Mead is rather uncommon in Singapore, so one doesn’t often get to enjoy the combination of caramel sweet , floral and slightly tart in one drink. Gosnells is a little different from its thick, heavy peers, and resembles something like a refreshing champagne mixed with floral honey. It’s handcrafted in England, and will be available in very limited quantities; only a mere few thousand of these are made each month and distributed worldwide. Be sure to make a bee line (ha ha) to the Gosnells stand the second you arrive so that you won’t miss out.
The event details
These are just a small sample of the 500 beers available for anyone to try during Beerfest 2016, and if what I tasted was any indication of the quality of the beers to be found there, the admission will be well worth the price!
Beerfest itself will be held between 16 to 19 June at the Marina Promenade (at the F1 trakcs behind the Singapore Flyer). In addition to the booze, there will be food, 30 live music acts, games and the Asia Beer Awards to look forward to. The hours change daily, so take note:
- 16 June (Thu) : 6PM – 1AM
- 17 Jun (Fri) : 6PM – 2AM
- 18 Jun (Sat): 3PM – 2AM
- 19 Jun (Sun) : 2PM – 10PM
There’s ton of ticketing options still available. If you happen to be a UOB Cardmember, then you’re in luck- you get a significant discount on your tickets:
- 1 Day Advance Pass S$25 (16 & 19 Jun) / S$34 (17 & 18 Jun)
- 1 Day Standard Pass S$30 (16 & 19 Jun) / S$40 (17 & 18 Jun)
- 1 Day UOB Exclusive Pass (exclusively for UOB Cardmembers) S$15* (still available for 16 and 19 Jun)
- 4 Day Advance Pass S$100 (all days)
- 4 Day UOB Exclusive Pass (exclusively for UOB Cardmembers) S$55* (all days)
All the tickets of f $15 and above include a complimentary beer redeemable on festival grounds. If you’re intending to enjoy all that Beerfest has to offer, consider taking up the VIP packages. Each one includes a free flow of 20 different beers for 8 hours, express entry at festival gates, access to seating areas in VIP deck at Rock Marquee, complimentary access to Comedy Lounge, a VIP Kit including one festival shirt and complimentary programme
- 1 Day VIP Package S$130* (16 & 19 Jun) / S$180* (17 & 18 June)
- 1 Day UOB Exclusive VIP Package (exclusively for UOB Cardmembers) S$117* (16 & 19 Jun) / S$162* (17 & 18 Jun)
You can get your tickets here. For more information , visit the official website.
