Fundamentally-flawed | Singapore Food Blog

Showing posts with label craft beers. Show all posts

Showing posts with label craft beers. Show all posts

The Guild Singapore: Hong Kong's independent craft brewery and it's 'conscious' kitchen

Like The Library, before The Guild, there's a certain exclusivity and 'hidden gem' factor in stumbling upon The Guild - a polished marble round bar housing a centralised beer dispenser of 20 taps (19 bars, 1 Gin and Tonic), dark wood accents and kitschy heritage tiles. Beers and comfort food, it isn't quite a groundbreaking combo, but upon closer inspection, you'll be surprised to find out that the newly minted The Guild Singapore peddles the duo with so much originality and spunk that its akin to being on a carousel. For your palate at least, and thank goodness it's nowhere near as pompous as its previous occupant.

LeVeL33: Saturday Lunch with a View

LeVeL33 - penthouse dining with the world's highest urban craft brewery at your disposal - makes a great first impression. Design-wise, the attention to detail is marvellous, with a personalised lift that takes you from the ground floor of the Marine Bay Financial Centre Tower 1 in a jiffy (no time for hanky panky in there!), walk past the cushioned sofa area past a broad semi-open kitchen, shiny marble counters which houses the bar and an epic view of the city skyline on your left side, all while gliding thru the rest of the natural lit space. It's a gorgeous place to while away a weekend afternoon over craft beer, vino or even a spicy Bloody Mary.

The newly launched Saturday brunch menu served from 11 30am to 3 30pm rolls out a globally inspired lunch for patrons looking to enjoy the high life. Spearheaded by L33's Executive Chef Tegerdine, don't expect to be finding bacon and egg rolls or the generic eggs benedict here.

Tin Hill Social: New Brunch Menu

On Sunday mornings, the courtyard of Tin Hill Bistro comes alive. Expats touting 'dad-bods' and nursing their cold pints bask in the sun whilst the pitter-patter of kids footsteps followed by gregarious chains of laughter percolate the crisp air.

Conspicuously lacking in this weekend tableau are flocks of bleary-eyed 20 somethings, $18 plates of fluffy pancakes decked out with edible flowers (of all things) and towering stacks of monstrous milkshakes that serve more of an aesthetic purposes over gratification. Tin Hill Bistro remains a secret of mine, not one for the more fashion-forward, young and moneyed. This is the charm of the establishment, one that's not overlooked by the neighbourhood and its patrons - and that's just fine with me.

The Alchemist Beer Lab: Food before Drinks. always.

Who's a Top Chef fan like I am? The first time I saw infusion used to similar capabilities as what The Alchemist Beer Lab does was when Season 10 winner Kristen Kish picked up a cream whipper in a quick-fire challenge; stuffed in her slab of fish coupled with a few sticks of bruised lemongrass and other aromatics and charged it twice before giving it a good hard shake. Why? Simply because pressure causes the flavors to be pushed into the protein faster, almost like marination on steroids. Now, why didn't I think of this...

Apologies for the geek talk, let's move on the subject of The Alchemist Beer Lab and their striking new presence in the South Beach precinct. What I love about this place, aside from the looming towers of ice cold beer, are the towering ceilings. There's nothing quite like a spacious act to induce the thirsties. At Alchemist Beer Lab, they perform major reconstructive work on the beers by injecting flavor via infusion. And not just any beer at that, since they are the brainchild by the same team behind microbrewery pub Little Island Brewing Co., mostly their concoctions are put in play. Soliciting the help of beer towers imported from Poland and The United States, ingredients ranging from marshmallows to pineapple slices, apple slices and thyme are placed in (HUGE AMOUNTS) the fusion chamber and this is followed by a quick release of compressed gas before beer is dispensed into the tower. This tedious process which involves lots of sanitisation in the midst helps to maximised flavor extraction to produce some delightful twists to the base beer.

Suntory Beer Dinner - Enjoy The Premium Malt's at ADRIFT by David Myers

To announce the introduction of Suntory The Premium Malt to Adrift's great beverage menu, we were honoured to be able to attend a special dinner with food pairing specially curated by Chef David himself. Describing itself as a modern take on the vibrant Izakaya, Suntory beers' fit into the menu is almost seamless; pairing effortlessly with the small plates and meats grilled over bincho tan.

But first, fried chicken. and I must admit that the Crispy Karaage here is truly legit. Best dredged thru the accompanying furikake mayo for an explosion of umami flavors.

Brez'n: Winding down with Bavarian food

There's nothing like a pint of ice-cold Hefe Weissbier to wind down to after a back-breaking day's worth of work. Better yet, if its accompanied with good food. Enter, the new Brez'n in Valley Point which combines the two on an unprecedented scale with the menu presenting a very niche offering of Bavarian delights ranging from the vegetarian Spinatknodel Spinach dumplings ($22) to the staple twists of Baum (aka pretzels), handmade and baked in-house.

The Best Brew @ Four Points by Sheraton Singapore: Brew & BBQ

Nestled comfortably within the newly renamed Four Points by Sheraton Singapore (formerly Riverview Hotel), restaurant and bar The Best Brew has unveiled its latest offering of the sizzling monthly Brew & BBQ night. The perks are plenty. For a romantic night out, the establishment boasts an intimate view of the Singapore River, away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Inside, the bar churns out live music for a fun night out.

Starker Fresh Beer @ Zhongshan Park:

With regards to locally brewed beer, there a couple of establishments that come to mind; but I have strongly mixed feelings about gentrification. Starker Fresh Beer has proved its case with it's Lager beer achieving gold award in Asia Beer Fest 2011 - also the same beer used to marinade those wicked classic wings that I devoured with monstrous ferocity later.

The largest branch of Starker Fresh Beer located in Zhongshan Park has some rather queer design details to its facade. Gently curved arches and shuttered facade reminiscent of traditional pagodian designs on the building that reflect the oriental spirit of the Park it is laid in; framing the views of Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall at one end.

As much as it is queer to find a western style brewery in such settings, the family oriented crowd will fancy its child-friendly surroundings, the courtyards and open gardens serving as a perfect playground for the children to roam around, still under the watchful eyes of parents pouring themselves a pint from the mini barrels of Starker Fresh Beer (a choice of lager, charcoal, dunkel, lychee or aromatic ranging from $43-$48 during Happy Hour to $57.90-$61.90 during regular hours)

Eureka! Beer Celebration: [FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED] exclusive tickets

Eureka! Beer Celebration

30th July 2016

Gillman Barracks

Like the constantly changing environment, the palate of craft beer drinkers develop depending on availability of new beers and knowledge. One can discover new brews, and find comfort in new beers brought in from eclectic breweries far and wide, and none more exotic than those found at Applehop's Eureka! event, ranging from chocolate ice cream pale ale from Omnipollo Brewing and Alesmith's Speedway Hammerhead.

Full of Luck Club: Bringing sexy Cantonese cuisine back

So, this is about the reset button, breaking from the proven structured Chinese fine-dining formula that has made Li Bai the darling of Cantonese cuisine lovers.

Full of Luck club 福乐, a brainchild of the same team behind the opulent Li Bai Cantonese restaurant in Sheraton Towers (read about my previous dining experience here) first made their debut at Craft Singapore in March. Pitting themselves against food giants such as Vatos Urban Tacos and Park Bench Deli in a bid to satiate the alcoholic munchies of the beer crowd. I recall vividly being drawn immediately to its hipster-ish graphical menu boards, the bold use of color and the boisterous voices rising out from behind the booths, egging you on to sink your teeth into the Braised Pork Belly bao. And so I did. In fact, I had those 2 days in a row.

Fast forward 2 months later and the physical unit of the contemporary Cantonese joint has now taken shape in the heart of Holland Village, erected in the stilled site where Wendy's used to be. The menu maintains a tight focus on Cantonese cuisine, albeit with a more progressive and contemporary approach - shredding its pish-posh image and dishing out sharing plates and baos amidst other Asian inspired cocktails and craft beers. Then again, knowing that poets work better under the 'inspiration' of alcohol, perhaps this is Li Bai's Jekyll and Hyde moment?

TAP Craft Beer Bar: Asian Invasion (tap takeover)

Barely a week after the adrenaline-pumping action of Beerfest Asia, the good folks at TAP Craft Beer Bar are presenting the Asian Invasion - a tap takeover at their Capitol Piazza premises headlined by Asian beer. A total of 14 beers will be available on tap, from breweries in Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand and our very own Singapore.

Beerfest Asia 2016: The Road to El Dorado

Listen up alehounds, because Beerfest Asia 2016 running till the end of this weekend (16 - 19th June) is the festival you ought to begin your weekend beer trawling at. And here's why.

1. 500 different brews

Upping its quotient from last years' impressive 400 skus to 500 this year means more assortment and a mind boggling selection for festival go-ers. With everything from the big boys like Asia Pacific Breweries peddling white and black Tiger drafts (which have been alleged to sell out like hot cakes); to local microbreweries such as the 1925 Microbrewery & Restaurant tapping 4 varied styled beers and the higher powers represented by hipsterish distributors such as Beerstyle Distribution carrying a odd supply of heavier ABV stuff such as Russian Imperial Stout and Kaiju Where Strides the Behemoth Double Black IPA - there's something for everyone.

Brotzeit's NEW exclusive German draft beers by Lowenbrau and Franziskaner

It's not everyday that you are graced with the presence of beer royalty, so imagine my astonishment when Brotzeit Singapore invited Master Brewmaster George Reisch of Anheuser-Busch and Honorary Knight of the Brews Mashstaff to launch four draft beers from two German heritage breweries, Franziskaner and Lowenbrau, brewed since the 1360s and 1380s respectively.

In conjunction of their 10th 'wunderbare' anniversary. Brotzeit has these exclusive drafts on tap at all of their Singapore outlets - the Lowerbrau Original Munchner Lager, Franziskaner Hefe Weissbier, Franziskaner Dunkel Hefe-weissbier and Lowenbrau Original Munchner Dunkel Lager for the first time. And not only that - a bevy of new German items were introduced to the menu as beer pairings.

[NEW] Burger Joint Singapore: Good things come to those who Wait

Imagine

You just knocked off work and are immediately besieged by the unkind and humid weather. In spite of all this, all you can think about is that new burger joint that just opened. Maybe about a block down, maybe 5 blocks down. Heck, who cares? You walk past Gemmill lane, the neon burger sign beckons from afar. And my god, that delicious grilled meat scent wafting through the thick velvet curtains is unmistakable. Push past those gymming regiments and yield to the alluring siren call of the neon sign. Here, you make a deft left turn. And, alas, this is exactly the sight that greets you at Le Parker Meridien Hotel.

And what a sight at that. The ambience is like Happy Days all over again, albeit with the unmistakable vibe of the New York hip jazz scene as sounded through the speakers.

iNCOGNiTO Bar: Chye Seng Huat Hardware, After Dark

So, if you think Chye Seng Huat Hardware is hip, with its obscure industry-chic settings and hidden entrance way; then you'll love what it transforms into, after dark.

Once the sun sets, the outer dens evolves into a candle-lit craft beer garden, shrouded in waves of secrecy and lingering shadows cast on white walls to match. After the thrill of discovery has washed over you, proceed to up your booze knowledge with a round of craft beers, available in both the bottled form and a healthy range of 4 alternating drafts on tap.

Casual pub life is clearly reflected in the stripped down 'interior' of Chye Seng Huat and these impressions run through the simple food menu as well. You can't fault the concept, the stark contrast to nearby craft beer snob, Druggist and its tish-tosh set up; sending younger hipsters, mostly noobs to the subject of craftbeers, straight to their doorstep.

Decker Barbecue: Low and Slow

Let's begin by putting on the table what Decker Barbecue is and isn't. A date night place? NO, unless you're a no-frills, carnivorous girl like me; it wouldn't be such a brilliant idea lugging your first date to this place. For weight-watchers? HELL NO, the intimidating menu showcasing various meat cuts, all cooked low and slow to guarantee a satisfactory fat maintenance will leave you with heart palpitations all night. And vegetarians, you've already been warned, not unless you're going to go the mile and call fries a vegetable; then you've been warned.

Freehouse: Stairs to Beer heaven

"No Strangers Here" shines in neon lights from the headboard above the gleaming tap system at newbie craftbeer joint Freehouse. Here, there is not such a thing as "VIP" treatment., the mandatory greetings and introductions with the friendly staff on deck, the only rite of passage to access the incandescent streams of cold beer flowing through their glycol cooled beer dispensers.

Freehouse, as the name states is a pub that isn't tied to just one brewery. A sight not so prevalent overseas but more predominant on local shores given Singaporean's thirst for variety. Located a flight of stairs up from Cheek by Jowl on Boon Tat street, this craft beer and cider haven is a labor of love from the same folks of The Mad Tapper, Singapore's first craft cider distributor to rally up the sweet-carbonated-alcohol loving crowds since early 2015. With a distribution representation throughout several breweries in NZ, Australia, United states and UK; it's not surprising to see them diversifying and fitting in the role of a tap-house with 16 beers on demand.

The Armoury Gastrobar: The burger game here. game-changer.

A new face in the South Beach Quarters has surfaced, breaking through its former rigid armoury historical roots to reveal a contemporary gastro-bar reinforced with classic pub grub such as burgers and hearty meat pastas given a more creative approach. In the space, with its curious mishmash of upscale and casual decor, your first concern should be the beers. Sporting a rather sexy wall fitted with 15 taps, the bar pours a variety of American craft beers and ciders on tap; my advice would be head down during happy hours from 5-8pm to enjoy 1-1 beers, that way, your Deschutes Freshly Squeezed IPA will only set you back at 9++ per US pint.

Wildfire Burgers @ 313Somerset: I only see black

Honest to God, I arrived at the foot of Wildfire; my uneasy stomach full of trepidation. So I've heard a mixture of things, both good and bad, but armed with a tale to tell of bone-dry patties and irrelevant sunny-side ups, I prayed that my last visit was just an anomaly of poor performance. Squinting past the slightly whoreish neon lights guarding the entrance to the mall, there I stood with rebellious intention. So, winner of the 'Asia Burger Challenge 2015' - 'Hit me with your best shot!' - and they sure did fire away.

Red Eye Smokehouse opens in Jalan Besar

If you're not addicted to smoking, then you haven't tried Red Eye Smokehouse - the newest kid on the block, a hipster homestead which carves up one of the city's best smoked delicacies.

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