Are you a beer connoisseur? Cheers to our picks for the best Hong Kong craft beers for lager and ale lovers!
While the city is renowned for its delicious Hong Kong-style breakfasts, local street food, and traditional cart noodles, did you know that you can also find a variety of well-made local craft beers, too? From refreshingly hoppy brews to funky and innovative flavours, we’ve sourced our favourite Hong Kong craft beers in town. So, just sit back and relax with a pint (or two) in hand!
Grab a pint of the best Hong Kong craft beers
1. Breer
As a food upcycling start-up that turns unsold and surplus bread into craft beer in Hong Kong, Breer is just as passionate about high-quality taste as it is about sustainability. Every IPA, sour, and pale ale from Breer makes a difference in helping to eliminate food waste in the 852. Not only do these brews make awesome sustainable gifts for friends, you’ll also be helping the planet by raising a cold one.
Shop Breer online or at selected retailers across Hong Kong.
2. Moonzen Brewery
Meaning “door gods” in Chinese (門神), Moonzen Brewery is a brand inspired by Chinese folklore and its influence on Hong Kong culture. Serving a core range of local craft beers, as well as different seasonal and provincial ones, this family-run brewery makes its beers unpasteurised and unfiltered. Boasting satisfying aromas and crisp bubbles by using time-honoured brewing techniques, Moonzen uses the best possible ingredients for each bottle. In addition, it offers unique brewery tours during which you can see the magic happen before your eyes and get involved in some tasting – yum!
Moonzen Brewery, 2A, New East Sun Building, 18 Shing Yip Street, Kwun Tong, Hong Kong, p. 3709 2829
3. Hong Kong Beer Co
Since 1995, Hong Kong Beer Co has been striving to brew the finest full-flavoured craft beers in the 852. Award-winning signature flavours inspired by the city, like the Dragon’s Back Pale Ale and Big Wave Bay IPA, have diverse and complex notes, making them suitable for pairing with different dishes, ranging from pasta to local Cantonese fare. Hoping to elevate the local craft beer scene with an enthusiasm for quality, innovation, and brewing tradition, Hong Kong Beer Co is where you can find top-quality malts, hops, and yeasts from around the world.
Hong Kong Beer Co., Unit 5A, G/F, Wah Shing Centre, 5 Fung Yip Street, Chai Wan, Hong Kong, p. 5962 0106
4. Black Kite Brewery
Established by Hong Kong-born brothers David and Daniel Gallie, Black Kite is named after the bird that is often spotted amongst the city’s skyscrapers. With fresh ingredients from around the world, Black Kite brews both classic flavours and seasonal styles. The team is dedicated to producing a wide range of crisp craft beers, guaranteed to have you flying high.
Black Kite Brewery, 11B, Derrick Industrial Building, 49 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong
5. Young Master
Opening in 2013, Young Master is one of the largest and most awarded craft breweries in Hong Kong (and even Asia), with two world-class breweries in this city. Brewing classic and unique beers from pale ales to sours, the brand creates beers inspired by Hong Kong flavours and the local craft scene. Year-round signatures, such as Hong Kong Black and Cha Chaan Teng, always hit the spot while special collaborations and limited-edition beers bring fresh new tastes. Young Master also runs several taprooms across Hong Kong, making it easy to sample a world-class craft beer after work.
Young Master, G/F, Sungib Industrial Centre, 53 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong, p. 2783 8907
6. Mak’s Beer
Priding itself as the first all-local craft brewery in Hong Kong, Mak’s Beer was founded in 2014 by three “Hong Kong boys” looking to bring new depth to the market. Emphasising local men, local ingredients, and local taste, Mak’s Beer considers its brews as “Cantonese Beer.” Using ingredients like sugarcane, lemongrass, and longan, the team experiments with various ingredients to create unique flavours.
Mak’s Beer, 12C, Jing Ho Industrial Building, 78-84 Wang Lung Street, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong, p. 6174 7740
7. Yardley Brothers Craft Brewery
It all began with Luke and Duncan, two UK brothers who were passionate about craft beer, brewing their own cold ’uns in the living room of their Lamma Island home. Since its launch, Yardley Brothers Craft Brewery has become known for its tasty and uniquely named beers. Dedicated to pushing the local craft brewery scene forward, Yardley Brothers creates fresh styles and maintains signature faves to stand strong in the face of corporate beers. With the Hong Kong Bastard Imperial IPA, Lamma Island IPA, and Quit Your Job Saison, you’ll have a blast ordering at Yardley’s taprooms across the city.
Yardley Brothers Craft Brewery, Unit B, G/F, Wing Hang Industrial Building, 13-29 Kwai Hei Street, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong
8. Yau
Inspired by the sights, smells, and tastes that define our city, Yau is a local craft beer brand established in 2017. Both processes of brewing and designing the bottles keep Hong Kong culture in mind. Yau has several signature craft beer flavours, including Bor Yau Lager, Fat Siu Yau Pale Ale, and the Joy Guy Suen Yau Tangerine IPA. These names are all a play on words with the brand name, Yau (友), which signifies friendship, alliance, and community in Cantonese. You can’t get more “proudly Hong Kong” than this!
Shop Yau beers from various outlets across Hong Kong.
9. Gweilo Beer
Founded in 2014 by two British friends, Emily and Jo, Gweilo Beer offers a range of unique pale ales and IPAs all brewed in Hong Kong. Its playful brand name derives from the Cantonese word for “ghost” or “white foreigner” (鬼佬) – no harm intended, though! Gweilo’s beers are sampled from a selection of malts from all over the world including Europe, North America, and the South Pacific. From taproom menus to supermarket shelves, you can almost find Gweilo Beer’s lagers and pale ales everywhere to quench your thirst.
Gweilo Beer, 6/F, Cheung Hing Industrial Building, 12P Smithfield, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong, p. 5581 7845
10. Lion Rock Brewery
Harnessing the Lion Rock spirit, Lion Rock Brewery aims to bring local craft beers with a distinct Hong Kong flavour to the community. Using the finest malts, hops, and yeast, Lion Rock Brewery pushes the boundaries of local craft brews to keep up with the whims of the thrill-seeking Hong Konger. Along with exceptional signature mainstays, limited-edition and specially brewed beers are launched on the reg.
Lion Rock Brewery, Unit 1, 14/F, Man Shing Industrial Building, 307-311 Castle Peak Road, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong, p. 6308 0105
[This article was originally published in November 2018 and updated in 2024 by Min Ji Park.]
