Craft Beer Guides

Craft beer in Singapore: the basics

Craft beer in Singapore has grown from a few brewpubs into a lively mix of small breweries, taprooms and beer bars. A taproom is a bar run by a brewery, often close to where the beer is made. Many local brewers add Asian flavours, such as tropical fruit, tea or spices. Beer here costs more than in many cities, because alcohol taxes are high. The legal drinking age is 18, and bars may ask for photo ID.

What to try

• Local lager. Tiger is Singapore's best-known beer. It is a pale lager, and you can find it almost everywhere, from hawker centres to hotel bars.
• Tasting flights. A flight is a set of small glasses of different beers. It is the easiest way to try a brewery's range.
• Light styles for the heat. Lagers, pale ales and wheat beers suit the hot, humid weather.
• Local twists. Look for beers made with calamansi, a small sour lime, or with pandan, a fragrant green leaf.

Where to drink craft beer

Brewpubs and taprooms

LeVeL33 brews beer on site and serves European food in the Marina Bay and CBD area. As the name suggests, it sits high up a tower, so you get a view with your glass. Other local breweries run their own taprooms around the island. Some are outside the city centre, so check the address and plan your journey.

Beer bars by the river

Boat Quay and Clarke Quay have many bars with outdoor tables by the water. Bars here often have several beers on tap. For a quieter drink, walk upriver to Robertson Quay. See Clarke Quay & Robertson Quay for the area.

Shophouse bars

Chinatown, Tanjong Pagar and Kampong Glam have small bars in old shophouses. A shophouse is a narrow terrace building with a shop below and rooms above. These bars suit a slow evening with a few good beers.

Hawker centres

Hawker centres are large food courts with many small, cheap stalls. Many have a drinks stall that sells bottled beer, usually for much less than a bar. Some also have small craft beer stalls. Cold beer goes well with satay, grilled meat skewers with peanut sauce. Try Lau Pa Sat in the CBD or East Coast Lagoon Food Village by the sea.

Food to go with your beer

Beer suits smoky, salty and spicy food. These places on EatStays match that mood:

• Smokey's BBQ: American barbecue in Katong and Joo Chiat.
• Meatsmith: Western barbecue in the Marina Bay and CBD area.
• Black Tap: American burgers in the Marina Bay and CBD area.

For local flavours, see the best satay in Singapore and the best chilli crab in Singapore.

How to save on beer in Singapore

• Go at happy hour. Many bars cut beer prices in the late afternoon and early evening. Some offer 1-for-1 deals, which means two drinks for the price of one. See Happy Hours.
• Drink at a hawker centre. A large bottle of local lager to share is one of the cheapest ways to drink out.
• Buy from shops. Supermarkets and convenience stores sell beer. Takeaway alcohol sales stop late in the evening, so buy early.
• Know rough costs. A pint of craft beer at a bar often costs around S$15 to S$20. A bottle at a hawker centre costs much less. Prices change, so check before you order.
• Read the bill. "++" on a menu means a service charge and GST, the goods and services tax, are added.

For more ways to stretch your budget, see Money & Costs.

Drink responsibly

The legal drinking age in Singapore is 18. Drinking in public places is not allowed late at night, and some areas have stricter rules. The heat makes alcohol hit harder, so drink water between beers. Never drink and drive. Take a taxi, a ride-hailing car or the MRT home.

FAQs about craft beer in Singapore

Is beer expensive in Singapore?

Yes, compared with many Asian cities. High alcohol taxes push up prices. Happy hours and hawker centres are the cheapest ways to drink.

What is the local beer in Singapore?

Tiger is the best-known local beer. It is a pale lager, and it is easy to find. Small local breweries also make many other styles.

Can I drink beer at a hawker centre?

Yes. Many hawker centres have a drinks stall that sells bottled beer. It usually costs much less than at a bar.

What is a tasting flight?

A flight is a set of small glasses of different beers. It lets you try several styles without ordering full pints.

What is the drinking age in Singapore?

It is 18. Carry photo ID, as bars may ask for it.