Known for its bustling night markets and delicious street food, Taiwan has also emerged as a significant player in the craft beer and cocktail scene. In recent years, a growing number of local breweries and innovative mixologists have been making their mark, crafting unique brews and inventive cocktails that reflect Taiwan’s diverse flavours and creative spirit. From traditional ingredients like oolong tea and local fruits to experimental techniques, Taiwan’s craft beer and cocktail scene offers a delightful fusion of the old and new.
In our fourth article of this five-part series, we shine a light on Taiwan’s thriving bar scene. (Be sure to watch this video for an exclusive interview with these innovative creators!)
Craft beer takes off in Taiwan
The craft beer movement we know today started in the US in the 1970s, but it’s only been in the last 10-15 years that it’s exploded across Asia. Specifically in Taiwan, since the late 2000s, the industry’s seen a huge surge, and today there’s dozens of local breweries and microbreweries in every major city across Taiwan. Some of the biggest names include Sunmai, Jim&Dad’s Brewing Company, and Taihu Brewing.
As one of the most well-known Taiwanese breweries, Taihu’s made a name for itself through high-profile collabs with Starbucks (Kenya Grapefruit IPA), on Eva AIRWAYS (Jasmine Tea Ale), Din Tai Fung (Bright Ale), and even with Taipei’s historic Xia-Hai City God Temple, with its Hibiscus Peach Cider (the name alludes to temple-goers praying to the god of matchmaking by “asking for a peach blossom”). Taihu’s beers are created by Taiwan’s first female brewmaster, Winnie Hsu, who’s widely known in the tight-knit craft beer community. She’s also created some of Taiwan’s more interesting brews, like Kumquat Kolsch, Green Plum Ale, and Tomato Plum Gose, all using locally sourced fruits.
And Taihu isn’t the only brand integrating quirky, Taiwanese flavours into their beers. Other local breweries like Jim & Dad’s features TCM-inspired brews with ingredients like red ginseng, longan, and dates – something which our local palettes in Singapore can also instantly recognise. Others, such as Redpoint Brewing, showcase Taiwan’s iconic fruits with innovative offerings like pineapple lagers and pomegranate IPAs.
You can find many craft beer brands incorporating local ingredients such as Taiwanese rice, lychees, osmanthus, and even locally sourced coffee beans and tea leaves, resulting in some of the most distinctive and uniquely local flavour profiles found anywhere in Asia, or even the world.
Craft beer bar hopping
One of the best ways to sample Taiwanese craft beer is by heading to one of many taprooms spread across the island (although Taipei has the most). Some craft beer brands have their own taprooms where you can sample all their freshest beers, while other bars compile several local brews from different brands on tap.
For example, Taihu, Sunmai, and Jim&Dad’s all have their own taprooms. Taihu has several taprooms (serving food as well) spread across Taipei, with one in Taichung. Sunmai’s Le Ble d’Or is not just a taproom, but a chain of restaurants spread all across Taipei, as well as Kaohsiung and Taichung. Zhang Men is another staple in the craft beer scene, with several brewpubs spread across Taipei, as well as Hualien, Taichung, and Kaohsiung.
Jim&Dad’s has a small taproom in Taipei (in Dadaocheng), but for the best experience you can head to their brewery among the rice paddies in Yilan where you can get a tour of the factory.
If you prefer to sample several brands in one location, there are plenty of craft beer taprooms in many touristy parts of Taiwan. These include Ximen Beer Bar in Ximending, Floating Taipei in Dadaocheng, or Jup Jup Craft Beer Bar right opposite Taipei Main Station.
You can even find some local craft beers in Taiwan’s many convenience stores, like 7-11 and Family Mart. The selection changes over time, and each store may have different options.
Craft cocktail revolution
If you love bar hopping, one of the best ways to experience Taiwan’s unique flavours is by sampling locally-crafted cocktails. Taiwanese cocktail bars feature unique signature cocktails that incorporate local ingredients (eg. maqaw, kumquat, etc) and often showcase distinctive themes that range from speakeasies to molecular bistros.
For serious cocktail enthusiasts, Taiwan has a number of globally-renowned bars that made the Asia’s Top 50 Bars list. There are also plenty of speakeasies that will have you poking around bookshelves, dialling random rotary phones or using coin-operated vending machines to enter the bar.
Taipei and beyond
In Taipei, most of the bars are in Daan and Xinyi District. One of them is Bar Mood, which focuses on blending unique infusions (think black bean whisky) and local ingredients like maqaw, Taiwanese basil, and tea. The Public House feels like a western pub, and cocktails feature local ingredients. Indulge Experimental Bistro’s cocktails are a tribute to Taiwan, with ingredients like Kavalan whisky and rice wine. Best of all, these places are more than just bars – they’re also known for their food.
Beyond the area, you can also find cocktail bars in Dadaocheng, a trendy enclave that’s preserved many of its classic red brick shophouses. One of them is CityNorth, a speakeasy tucked away in one of these shophouses. Here, their signature cocktails offer a blend of local spirits and ingredients like local herbs, tea, and dried fruits.
One of Taiwan’s most famous cocktail bars is TCRC, located in Tainan in a cosy and dimly lit historic townhouse. Here, the best way to order is to chat with a bartender who can custom drinks to your taste. If you can’t get a seat here, there are plenty of other bars nearby, including Bar Home, TCRC’s sister bar which has unique cocktails – including one with tomato and sourplum, an homage to a popular local street snack.
Taichung is home to a number of unique cocktail bars too. Vender is a speakeasy that uses vending machines as its theme. Art aNew is an art gallery that’s also a cocktail bar. Goût Bar is concealed behind a bookshelf inside a bustling noodle shop; to enter, ring the doorbell at the restaurant and locate the secret button on a shelf.
There’s also no shortage of themed cocktail bars in Kaohsiung. Lil Gaz is accessible by dialling the rotary phone outside the bar to gain entry. For a casual bar, Atman Space is a quiet place with bookshelves where you can read and even have a haircut. Another popular spot is Hush Drinker, a cocktail bar without a menu, but with a lot of devoted fans.
The most important thing to remember? Whether you’re in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, or Kaohsiung, there’s no shortage of cocktail bars for you to try. Some places even have craft mocktails.
Want to explore more of Taiwan that you don’t normally read about? Check out Taiwan’s chocolate makers (and cacao growers), amazing artists, and its Hakka and aboriginal cultures.
