Life

Singapore Too cool for school After an aborted home- venture in university, three friends bounce back with a craft brand offering , pale and altbiers

Rahul Immandira, Heetesh Alwani BEER and Abilash Subbaraman used to bond over their shared passion for craft beer by making home-brews in their school’s residential hall. They named the stuff Binjai Brew, after Nanyang Technological University’s Binjai Hall. However, after brewing about 400 bottles, the three friends were asked to stop operations as they were, unknowingly, violating Singaporean laws. After leaving school, it didn’t take long for the trio to turn Binjai Brew into a real business venture. In order to reduce costs, Singapore has a thriving microbrewery they now work with a contract brewer that scene – ranging from established names produces and cans their . “There is with straightforward beers, like Archipelago now less emphasis on the brewing process , to newer brewers such as BEER WATCH since we contract that out,” says Immandira Brewlander, who aren't afraid to experiment (pictured, top right), who fi rst got into craft with unusual styles and local fl avors. Binjai beer while interning at the Benoit-Casper Brew sits somewhere in the middle, with Brewing Company in California in 2017. their take on the India pale , French "Abilash (pictured, far right) is currently and German altbier. in charge of recipe development and test “We went for styles that have a history brews, and Heetesh (pictured, right) visits to them so we could weave that into the bars to sell beer and keeps in contact with narrative of our beer,” says Immandira. our current business customers.” “The Error 404 India was our interpretation of the , traditional India pale , which resulted in a light, aromatic and complex brew. The Alt-O altbier is a historical style of beer originating from Fans of India pale ales, take note: Singapore the Dusseldorf region of Germany. It has a craft beer label Lion clean and crisp taste that is made by top Brewery Co has launched fermentation, an older method than the the Straits , a crisp, fl avorful and more common bottom fermentation. Both well-bodied take on the of these styles are rarely found in Singapore. classic brew. Named The Sol Mate – a French saison – is a low- after a historical 19th- century London brewery, alcohol brew with a history that traces back the brand – established to the Middle Ages. With a light and dry in late 2018 by Britons fi nish, it’s a slightly more common style in Harry Renshaw and Ben Singapore, but still unique.” Hendry-Prior – focuses on producing fresh What’s next for the Binjai Brew crew? and refreshing beers Their own venue – and more fl avors. “It has that complement the always been a dream to have a place to call tropical climate of Southeast Asia. Stay our own,” says Immandira. “Going forward, tuned for more fl avors we would defi nitely try to include a few as they are currently more experimental beers in the lineup just to developing a dry-hopped lager, featuring a light exercise our creative side.” Fruity sour beers, and delicate profi le anyone? binjaibrew.com with a fl oral fi nish.

– Kurt Ganapathy lionbreweryco.com SCHOOL) FOR COOL (TOO INGRAM ALEX & ISHAK LAURYN IMAGES:

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