Malaysia's Best Craft Beer: Where To Buy

Malaysia has historically been a very good market for craft beer, with a burgeoning craft cocktail scene. While the country's craft beer market is one of the most conservative in Southeast Asia, there are now three home-grown craft beer brands: Paperkite, Leyd and 1602. There are also a number of craft beer venues in Kuala Lumpur, including Tap Room KL, Ales & Lagers, and Beer Bank. In addition, craft beer can be found in major supermarkets such as Village Grocer, BIG Supermarket and Cold Storage. For those who would like to shop online, there is also Farmer's Bar, which claims to be Malaysia's first online craft beer store.

Craft beer bars in Kuala Lumpur

Craft beer has been growing in popularity in Malaysia in recent years, and Kuala Lumpur has several bars catering to enthusiasts of the beverage.

One such bar is Ales & Lagers, located inside the Publika Mall. This venue offers a unique experience with Malaysia's excellent local Modern Madness blended beer on tap, as well as a rotating selection of other breweries' bottles and cans in their fridges. For those who enjoy socialising over a pint, Ales & Lagers provides a friendly, laid-back setting to meet like-minded craft beer aficionados.

Another hidden gem in the heart of Kuala Lumpur is the Beer Bank, nestled at the back of the Selection Grocery Store in Wisma Lim Foo Yong. This speakeasy-style bar boasts over 600 types of international craft beers, including IPAs and ciders, providing a haven for beer connoisseurs. The Beer Bank is known for its cozy taproom setting, fair prices, and a good atmosphere devoid of loud music, making it an ideal spot for intimate conversations.

For those seeking a more eclectic experience, Monster And Beer, dubbed the "Craft Beer Paradise," boasts a large range of imported craft beers. The bar also serves small plates such as fried mushrooms and dumplings to accompany your brews. Takumi Craft Bar, located in the lower ground floor of Isetan The Japan Store, specialises in handmade Japanese beverages, offering a diverse selection of Japanese wine, beer, and whisky. Delirium Cafe, a popular Belgian craft beer bar, features over 117 bottled varieties and 12 draught options, providing a pleasant environment to unwind while enjoying the sights of Suria KLCC's fountains and park.

Kuala Lumpur also has its own homegrown craft beer brands, such as Paperkite, Leyd, and 1602, reflecting the city's burgeoning craft beer scene. Whether you're a casual drinker or a connoisseur, the craft beer bars of Kuala Lumpur offer a range of experiences to suit your tastes.

Online craft beer stores in Malaysia

There are a number of online craft beer stores in Malaysia, including Farmer's Bar and Kanpai Malaysia.

Farmer's Bar

Farmer's Bar claims to be Malaysia's first online craft beer store. They have two physical locations: one in Avenue K Shopping Mall and another in Bandar Puteri Puchong. They are open from 11 am to midnight and noon to midnight, respectively. They offer a wide range of craft beers, including sour wheat beer, dark, barrel-aged beers, and unique beers made with locally grown ingredients.

Kanpai Malaysia

Kanpai Malaysia is another popular online craft beer store in Malaysia, known for its excellent customer service and wide selection of craft beers. They offer a range of craft beers, including Belgian strong pale ales, Australian IPAs, and Japanese stouts. Kanpai Malaysia also provides a variety of other alcoholic beverages, such as whisky and wine.

In addition to these dedicated online craft beer stores, many other retailers in Malaysia, including major supermarkets, now offer craft beers as well. This increasing availability reflects the growing popularity of craft beers among Malaysians, who appreciate the unique flavours and presentations that these beers offer.

Craft beer at major supermarkets

Craft beer has been steadily growing in popularity in Malaysia, with a wide selection of craft beers now available for beer lovers to choose from. In fact, Malaysia is now home to at least three homegrown craft beer brands: Paperkite, Leyd, and 1602.

Previously, craft beer was only available through speciality bars and cafes, but it has now entered the mainstream and can be found in major supermarkets. Village Grocer, BIG Supermarket, and Cold Storage are some of the supermarkets where you can find craft beer.

Craft-style beer brands such as Brooklyn Lager by Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd have posted strong growth. Heineken Malaysia, with its long-standing brand names and wide offerings, has established a prominent presence and secured a high volume of share in the beer category.

In addition to supermarkets, there are also specialty stores dedicated to craft beer, such as Farmer's Bar, which has multiple outlets across Malaysia and is the first online craft beer store in the country. Beer Bank, located inside a supermarket in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, offers hundreds of bottle choices for you to enjoy at the bar or take home.

For those looking to explore the world of craft beer, Malaysia offers a range of options, from mild pale ales to stronger Belgian craft beers. The growing popularity of craft beer in Malaysia has resulted in a competitive market, providing beer enthusiasts with a diverse and exciting selection to discover and enjoy.

Home-grown craft beer brands

Malaysia has historically been a very good market for craft beer. While the country has a predominantly Muslim population, and drinking is considered a severe crime for Muslims, the craft beer scene is burgeoning.

Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Cyberjaya are leading the way in terms of avenues for newer craft beer brands and bars. In fact, Kuala Lumpur is home to three home-grown craft beer brands: Paperkite, Leyd & 1602.

One of the first craft beer establishments in Malaysia, Taps, is an institution among local beer lovers and travellers. Taps reputedly inspired Rohit Dugar to found Hong Kong’s excellent Young Master Brewery. Today, they serve a variety of imported craft beer including Heart of Darkness Brewery & Pasteur Street Brewing Company (Vietnam), Brewdog (Scotland) and Beerfarm (Australia).

Tap Room KL is another popular venue serving locally made craft beer from Paperkite, including an Oatmeal Stout, a Copper Ale, a Pale Ale, and an IPA, as well as seasonal offerings like a Hoppy Lager. The venue also boasts a pizzeria, with a large Stefano Ferrara oven and features a wide range of food.

Ales & Lagers, located inside Publika Mall, is another great place to meet craft beer lovers. Here, you can find Malaysia’s excellent local Modern Madness blended beer on tap, plus a range of other breweries’ bottles/cans in their fridges that rotate (including Garage Project, Heart of Darkness, and Drakes).

For those looking to buy craft beer to drink at home, Farmer's Bar is Malaysia's first online craft beer store.

Craft beer festivals

Malaysia's craft beer market is one of the most conservative in Southeast Asia, and the country has only three home-grown craft beer brands: Paperkite, Leyd, and 1602. However, the world's craft beer revolution has not completely passed Malaysia by, and there are now several craft beer festivals and venues in the country.

The most prominent of these is The Better Beer Festival, which is Malaysia's biggest and only craft beer festival. The festival was started by craft beer distributor MyBeer and was first held in 2012 at Taps Beer Bar in Changkat Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, with only about 200 attendees. The festival has grown in popularity since then, with 3,500 craft beer lovers attending in 2016. The festival features a range of specially curated food and live music performances by Malaysian musicians, as well as mini-events in the month leading up to the festival. In 2017, the festival featured 250 craft beers from 43 breweries around the world, including the United States, Australia, England, and Japan.

Besides The Better Beer Festival, there are several other craft beer venues in Malaysia. Tap Room KL serves locally made craft beer from Paperkite, including an Oatmeal Stout, a Copper Ale, a Pale Ale, and an IPA, as well as seasonal offerings such as a Hoppy Lager. Tap Room KL also boasts a pizzeria with a large Stefano Ferrara oven, offering a wide range of food. Ales & Lagers, located inside Publika Mall, is another great place to meet like-minded craft beer lovers and try Malaysia’s local Modern Madness blended beer on tap.

For those looking to purchase craft beer to drink at home, Farmer’s Bar is one of the first online craft beer stores in West Malaysia, offering same-day delivery in Klang Valley for orders placed by 7 PM. Battle of the Bull in Cheras offers eight draft taps and dozens of bottles for drink-in or takeaway, and Takumi offers a unique craft beer experience inside a food and beverage mall called Lot 10. Additionally, craft beer can now be found in major supermarkets such as Village Grocer, BIG Supermarket, and Cold Storage.

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