Taipei's Best Craft Beer: Where To Buy

Taipei's craft beer scene has been booming in recent years, with many pubs opening and providing both local and imported beers. One of the best-known craft beer brands in the city is 23 Brewery Public, with two locations near the Shi Da and under the Xin Bei Tou MRT station. Another popular spot is Mikkeller, a Danish craft brewery with over 30 taps of beer, located at the end of Di Hua Street on Nanjing West Road. Zhang Men Brewing Company has perhaps the largest range of beers of any microbrewery in Taiwan, with 16 taps of various beers in their off-site tap room on Yong Kang Street in Daan. Other notable craft beer spots in Taipei include Ximen Beer Bar, Landmark, and Taihu Brewing Daan.

Landmark, an open-air bar in the centre of Taipei

Landmark is an open-air bar located in the Xinyi Shopping District in the centre of Taipei, close to the famous Taipei 101 and the Eslite Bookstore. It is one of three Taihu taprooms in Taipei, the others being Driftwood and the Taihu Craft Beer Tasting Room.

Landmark Taihu is a hole-in-the-wall pub with only an outdoor drinking area and no seating. They serve a range of craft ales, including their own Taihu ales, as well as other American brands such as Modern Times. Their selection includes IPAs, pale ales, stouts, and sour ales like their 'Grapefruitography' ale. You can purchase a 'flight' of four 150ml glasses to sample a variety of beers, which comes with a water to cleanse your palate between sips. Landmark Taihu also offers snack foods such as mixed nuts and chilli chips.

Landmark is located near the MRT Taipei City Hall Station and is a short walk from the Eslite mall. It is a popular spot for business people and shoppers in the area to enjoy a quick drink. The bar has a unique feature where the tables fold down from the wall, and the best way to enjoy your beer is standing.

Landmark is a great place to stop for a craft beer and then move on to Taipei 101 for a fabulous night view. It is a must-visit destination for those looking to experience Taipei's vibrant nightlife and growing craft beer scene.

23 Brewery Public, a Taipei-based brewing team

23 Brewery Public, also known as 23 Public, is a Taipei-based taproom and record shop founded by three Americans: Matt Inahat from San Diego, Brett Tieman from New York, and a third unidentified partner. The trio met through a home-brewing course in 2013 and founded 23 Brewery Company, which has since become one of the most recognisable expat-owned breweries in Taipei.

The taproom, located in the Da'an District of Taipei City, offers an intimate vibe with a dozen-plus beer options available at any given time. Each beer is served with a unique card detailing its characteristics, alcohol percentage, IBU, and price. The brewery's signature PURE AF IPA can be found on tap at various bars and restaurants across Taipei and Taiwan, and the company has expanded its portfolio to include an extensive selection of unique beer styles.

In addition to 23 Public, 23 Brewery Company also operates a second taproom called 23 Music Room, located in Yuanshan's mini bar district. This taproom is part of an assemblage of small bars, underground night clubs, and an open-air food court where live music and DJ performances are held. The company has also branched out to launch the Two Three Comedy Club.

Taipei's craft beer scene has been booming in recent years, with many pubs offering both local and imported beers. 23 Brewery Public is a great example of a successful Taipei-based brewing team that has gained recognition for its unique and creative beers, contributing to the vibrant and growing craft beer culture in the city.

Mikkeller, a Danish craft brewery

Mikkeller is a Danish craft brewery founded in 2006 in Copenhagen, Denmark, by two home brewers: Mikkel Bjergsø, a high school teacher, and journalist Kristian Klarup Keller. The company was originally based on the "cuckoo", "phantom", or "gypsy brewer" ethos, meaning that it did not operate an official brewery but instead paid a Belgian brewery to produce its beer.

Mikkeller's style of brewing is considered unique, with many of its beers being experimental and featuring novel tastes. The company seeks to challenge the Danes' taste buds with intense taste adventures, drawing inspiration from American breweries that aren't afraid to break the rules. In addition to regular brewing, Mikkeller also produces collaborative beers with other breweries, such as BrewDog, To Øl, and Nøgne Ø.

Mikkeller has expanded internationally and opened its first brick-and-mortar brewery in San Diego, California. In 2013, the company opened its second Mikkeller bar in Copenhagen, along with a Mikkeller Bottle Shop, and later that year, it opened its first international bar in San Francisco, California. Mikkeller also has a presence in Bangkok, Thailand, and operates an online store where consumers can purchase a small, changing assortment of beers and merchandise.

Mikkeller has a bar in Taipei, located at the end of Di Hua Street on Nanjing West Road. The pub features a clean and simple wood design with over 24 taps of beer, including a variety of styles, flavours, and types such as ABV, IBU, IPA, APA, saison, and lager. It is open from 4:00 pm to 12:00 am daily, except on Tuesdays.

Ximen Beer Bar, a cosy craft pub in the Ximending area

Taipei is famous for its versatile nightlife, and the craft beer scene in the city has been booming in recent years. One of the best craft beer bars in the city is Ximen Beer Bar, a cosy craft pub in the Ximending area.

Ximen Beer Bar is a small, cute, and cosy craft beer bar in the Ximen shopping district. It's a great place to escape the crowds and sample some interesting beers. The bar has a good selection of beers on draft, including local and imported craft beers, with six Taiwanese craft taps that rotate, and a fairly expansive bottle import list. The well-stocked bottle fridge has a good variety of craft beer, including some stouts and porters. The prices are good, and the staff are friendly and knowledgeable. There is also a number of spirits and snacks available, with seating both inside and outside.

Ximen Beer Bar is located near Ximending Theater Street, a street with several movie theatres on it, and is surrounded by cinemas on Movie Theater Street (Wuchang St). It is also an ode to Ximending's history, as the neighbourhood has been a theatre and cinema district for nearly a century.

Other notable bars in the Ximending area include Driftwood, which serves craft cocktails and craft beer on tap, and an impressive selection of food; Tingba Lounge, a music lounge where you can enjoy contemporary music from R&B and hip-hop to jazz fusion by Taiwan's young and budding artists, and signature drinks created by internationally renowned mixologist, Jean-Marc Nolant; and Beerbicycle, a cosy bar that resembles a living room, with random, uncoordinated furniture, comfortable couches, and shelves containing over a hundred varieties of bottled craft beer.

Zhang Men Brewing Company, a microbrewery with a large range of beers

Zhang Men Brewing Company is a microbrewery located in Taipei, Taiwan. The company was founded by three co-founders with technology backgrounds: Patrick, Kevin, and Rex. The name "Zhang Men" means "bottoms up" in Taiwanese. The company was previously called Hodala but was rebranded as the founders delved deeper into the craft beer world and realised that craft beer is an art form that needs to be tasted and felt.

Zhang Men Brewing Company has multiple locations in Taipei, including a bar on Yong Kang Street, which is the original Zhang Men Pub, a bar on the 4th Floor of Breeze Mall, and another bar in Neihu. Each location has a unique atmosphere and design, ranging from rustic charm to modern and clean aesthetics. The Yong Kang Street location is a smaller venue with a rustic charm and is open from 1:00 pm to 1:00 am. The Neihu bar is similar to the Zhang Men bars found in Kaohsiung and Tainan, featuring a modern and clean look. The Breeze Mall location, situated in a ritzy shopping area, offers a more cosmopolitan experience.

Zhang Men Brewing Company offers a large range of beers, including unique and creative styles. They have won awards for their beers, including a gold medal in the Imperial Stout category and a bronze medal in the IPA category at the Australian International Beer Awards in 2016. Their taproom features an extensive selection of beers on tap, including the highly-rated Double WTF (less citrusy than typical Vermont/New England DIPAs) and a classic English IPA. They also offer a Mountain Mist beer and a Green Plum Beer, showcasing the diversity of their brews.

The microbrewery provides a great spot for craft beer enthusiasts to explore new flavours and support local breweries. While one review mentions a negative experience with staff behaviour, many others praise the staff for being friendly, knowledgeable, and excited about craft beer. With its range of locations and beers, Zhang Men Brewing Company is a must-visit destination for craft beer lovers in Taipei.

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