Kick back and relax with delicious brews from these local, talented artisans

Thanks to the mastery of local artisans, the Philippines is truly becoming a key player in the realm of alcoholic beverages. With delicious sips like world-class rum, uniquely Filipino gin, or creative craft beers like the ones below, we're certainly spoiled for choice.

Read on to discover some of the country's best craft beers, from classic ales to eccentric brews.

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1. Engkanto

Founded by Gen T honouree Ian Paradies in 2015, Engkanto Brewery is a certifiable household name. The beloved brand produces five classic styles of beer that appeal to every palate: lager, blonde ale, pale ale, IPA, and double IPA.

Shop Engkanto on their website, which has thorough descriptions for each brew to help you find your next favourite.

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2. Crows Craft Ales

The craft ales from Crows Craft Brewing & Distilling Co. are great examples of classic, small-batch beer-making done right. Although they have four distinct brews available, they're the first to say that their artisanal beers are not for everyone, choosing to chase passion and creativity over the typical market offering.

Find Crows craft ales and spirits on boozy.ph.

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3. Crazy Carabao

Crazy Carabao Brewing Co. churns out smooth, proudly Filipino microbrews out of their Laguna headquarters. Between their pilsner, wheat beer, golden ale, pale ale, and India pale ale, they've got a bottle (or tin) for every mood.

Explore their brews and place your orders on the Crazy Carabao website.

4. Monkey Eagle

Drive over to Tagaytay to find Monkey Eagle Brewery, another must-try craft beer producer. Utilising their brewmasters' formal education from Siebel Institute in Chicago and Doemens Academy in Germany, the brewery achieves high-quality beers through their impressive portfolio, which includes a fruity and highly guzzle-able blonde ale dubbed Psychedelic Blonde - my personal favourite.

Order Monkey Eagle's brews on their website and follow them on Instagram if you're keen on trying their limited-edition brews before they sell out.

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5. Nipa Brew

Nipa Brew generously injects their creative spirit into every bottle. As their tagline suggests, their beers are brewed for adventure - pick up one of their assorted box sets with a hazelnut brown ale, a white IPA, and many more intriguing choices for a thorough taste of what they have to offer.

Place your orders through this form.

6. Baguio Craft Brewery

Some beers are worth the road trip, and the sips from Baguio Craft Brewery prove just that. Plan a trip to the City of Pines to try their original brews like the dark and hoppy Kraken - a Baltic porter boasting a high ABV to keep you warm.

For inquiries and deliveries, please contact +63945 165 1538.

7. The Perfect Pint

The Perfect Pint has one of the widest selections of craft beer in the country, showcasing a diverse range of beers with varying flavour profiles and alcohol content. The Legally Blonde blonde ale is a classic crowd-pleaser with just 5.2 per cent ABV, while the Simtra Triple IPA is as bold as it is strong with an ABV of 10 per cent.

Order beer and food to match from The Perfect Pint's website.

8. Turning Wheels

As Cebu's first craft beer brewery, Turning Wheels Craft Beer is a tried-and-tested choice for beer-lovers in search of their next find. The friendly brewery was inspired by a motivation to bring cyclists together over delicious post-ride beers (hence its name and logo) - a goal realised through their vast array of small-batch brews.

Turning Wheels craft beer is available for pick-up at their beer garden, located at P. Almendras St, Cebu City, 6000. Visit their website to learn more about the brand and their brews.

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9. Elias Wicked Ales and Spirits

Elias Wicked Ales and Spirits offers a wicked portfolio of tipples indeed. On top of their impressive beers brewed in-house, their brewery-to-doorstep service also showcases a range of delectable ciders. Their newest cider is a hard pineapple cider called IDOL - a "smooth, refreshingly cool" option for those who want to switch up their post-work routine.

Visit the Elias Wicked Ales and Spirits website to order beer, cider, ready-to-cook dishes, and more.

10. Alamat

Alamat Craft Brewery is an artistic ode to traditional Philippine folklore - an apt undertaking from University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts alumni. From tasting notes to branding, each bottle is proudly injected with our Filipino DNA - try the Aswang blood ale for a red ale with a Filipino twist, grounded in earthy, floral notes; or the Kapre roasted IPA if you're looking for an aromatic smoked beer.

Learn more about Alamat Craft Brewery on their website, and shop their brews here.

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11. Palm Tree Abbey

This whimsical micro-brewery churns out some serious craft beer. Embodying the 'small' in small-batch, Palm Tree Abbey has experimented with a range of beer variants like a funky Guyabano Sour Beer, and classic favourites like the Abbey Wit (a Belgian wheat ale). As one of three partners behind the noble endeavour, Jonathan Heppner shares "we are working towards running a farm and creating spaces for people to reconnect with themselves and dream of who they could be". While his partners manage the brewery here in Manila, Jonathan is currently running their sister brewery in Lesvos, Greece, making theirs the only one on the island.

Have their brews delivered to your doorstep through their online store. To stay in the loop with their latest brews, follow Palm Tree Abbey on Instagram

12. Amigos de la playa

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Photo: Amigos de la Playa Craft Brewery Official Facebook Page
Above Photo: Amigos de la Playa Craft Brewery Official Facebook Page

Originally hailing from sunny Boracay and now brewing in Metro Manila, Amigos De La Playa has some of the most eccentric beers around. Most recently, the brewery rolled out an imperial milk stout dubbed 'Why Not?', which was brewed with lactose, vanilla beans, cacao nibs, and hefty pieces of Choc Nut (yes, the chocolate confection).

Follow Amigos De La Playa on Instagram to hear about their latest drops and how to order them.

13. Mitchell’s Backyard Brewery

Every bottle from Mitchell’s Backyard Brewery promises to refresh and impress, especially those from their award-winning selection. At the Asia Beer Championship in 2020, the Backyard Harmony IPA was recognised as the Chairman's Selection for American IPAs - a fantastic choice if you're looking for a fruity and herbal brew.

Follow their Instagram page for the latest on limited beers and promotions, and place your orders through this form.

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14. Bauhinia Brewery

Bauhinia Brewery is a Cebu-based brewery founded by Marken Aboitiz. Its beers can be ordered in restaurants or by the keg and are best consumed when chilled to perfection. 

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