Are you a beer connoisseur? Here are our picks for the best Hong Kong craft beers for lager and ale lovers. Cheers!
Want to eat like a local? This city is renowned for its delicious Hong Kong-style breakfasts, local street food, and traditional Cantonese desserts. But did you know that you can also find an array of well-made Hong Kong craft beers too? We’ve sourced our favourites in town, so just sit back and relax with a pint (or two) in hand.
Where to get the tastiest Hong Kong craft beers
1. Moonzen Brewery
Meaning door gods in Chinese (門神), Moonzen Brewery is a brand inspired by the rich tapestry of 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, Moonzen Brewery is best known for having a special Chinese mythology embedded in each and every bottle. It also boasts a distinct flavour for its Hong Kong craft beers using time-honoured brewing techniques. In addition, Moonzen offers unique brewery tours where you can see the magic happen before your eyes and get involved in some tasting.
Moonzen Brewery, 2A, New East Sun Building, 18 Shing Yip Street, Kwun Tong, Hong Kong, p. 3709 2829, 觀塘成業街18號新怡生工業大廈門神啤酒
2. Hong Kong Beer Co.
First established in 1995 as South China Brewing Company, Hong Kong Beer Co. was acquired in 2013 by the two founders of Singapore’s award-winning Brewerkz Restaurant & Microbrewery, Devin Otto Kimble and Daniel Flores. Hoping to elevate Hong Kong’s craft beer culture with their enthusiasm for quality, innovation, and brewing tradition, Hong Kong Beer Co. sources top quality malts, hops, and yeasts from around the world to create the tastiest bevs.
Hong Kong Beer Co., Unit 5A, G/F, Wah Shing Centre, 5 Fung Yip Street, Chai Wan, Hong Kong, p. 2580 2360, 柴灣豐業街5號華盛中心地下5A室香港啤酒公司
3. Black Kite Brewery
Established by Hong Kong-born brothers David and Daniel Gallie, Black Kite was named after the bird that is often spotted among the city’s skyscrapers. The team is dedicated to using fresh ingredients from across the globe to produce a wide range of classic Hong Kong craft beers, as well as seasonal specials.
Black Kite Brewery, 11B, Derrick Industrial Building, 49 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong, 黃竹坑黃竹坑道49號得力工業大廈11B黑鳶
4. Young Master
Opening its doors in 2013, Young Master is one of the largest and most awarded craft breweries in Hong Kong. Find classic and unique beers at Young Master, from pale ales to beer that is inspired by Hong Kong flavours like salted limes. The brewery makes a core range of beers year round, as well as limited releases, so be on the lookout!
Wanna grab a bite while pairing it with the best Young Master beers? Head to Pub 1842 by Young Master in Central for some awesome pub grub.
Pub 1842 by Young Master, LG9, BaseHall, Jardine House, 1 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong, 中環康樂廣場1號怡和大廈 BaseHall LG9號舖
Young Master, G/F, Sungib Industrial Centre, 53 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong, p. 2783 8907, 香港仔黃竹坑道53號英基工業中心地舖少爺啤
5. Mak’s Beer
This Hong Kong craft beer brewery makes its products in Tsuen Wan, using a number of locally grown ingredients including goji berries, date, mint, and dried longan. We love how Mak’s Beer believes that the best craft beer should be brewed with natural ingredients, so that each drink retains its unique taste and aroma.
Mak’s Beer, 12C, Jing Ho Industrial Building, 78-84 Wang Lung Street, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong, p. 6174 7740, 荃灣橫龍街78-94號正好工業大廈12C室麥子
6. Yardley Brothers Craft Brewery
It all began with Luke and Duncan, two brothers from the UK who were both passionate about craft beer, brewing their own cold ‘uns in the living room of their Lamma Island home. Since its launch, the Yardley Brothers Craft Brewery has been popular for its tasty and uniquely named beers. These include the Hong Kong Bastard Imperial IPA, Lamma Island IPA, and Quit Your Job! Saison.
Yardley Brothers Craft Brewery, Unit 10, 5/F, Block A, Wah Tat Industrial Centre, 8 Wah Sing Street, Kwai Hing, Hong Kong, p. 3705 3786, 葵青華星街8號華達工業中心A座5樓10室
7. Yau
Inspired by the sights, smells, and tastes that define our city, Yau is a local craft beer brand established in 2017. This brand currently has three signature craft beer flavours, including Bor Yau Lager (波友), Fat Siu Yau Pale Ale (發燒友), and the Joy Guy Suen Yau Tangerine IPA (最佳損友). 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.
8. Gweilo Beer
Founded in 2014 by two British friends, Emily and Jo, Gweilo Beer is Hong Kong brewed, and offers a range of unique pale ales and IPAs. 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, and currently sells over 150 beers.
Visit Grain, a gastropub that houses Gweilo’s brewlab in Kennedy Town, to sample some of the brand’s premium beers. Complement them with pizzas and snacks for ultimate satisfaction!
Grain, Shop 1, G/F, New Fortune House, 3-5 New Praya, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong, p. 3500 5870, 堅尼地城新海旁3-5號五福大廈地下1號舖
Gweilo Beer, Unit 1713, Wah Wai Industrial Centre, 38-44 Au Pui Wan Street, Fo Tan, Hong Kong, 新界沙田火炭坳背灣街38-44號華衛工貿中心1713號鬼佬啤酒
9. Bao Beer
Translating to the word ‘bread’ in Cantonese, Bao Beer is a sustainable beer made from surplus bread. This brand was launched by EAST Hong Kong in September 2021 in collaboration with local brewery H.K. Lovecraft, with the aim of minimising food wastage in Hong Kong. Expect rich malty and toasty flavours in this beer, with subtle notes of German hops and balanced by a slight bitterness. We recommend enjoying Bao Beer on draught exclusively at Sugar, the rooftop bar at EAST, so that you can take in some amazing views while savouring your pints.
Sugar, 32/F, EAST Hong Kong, 29 Taikoo Shing Road, Tai Koo, Hong Kong, p. 3968 3738, 太古太古城道29號東隅32樓
10. Kowloon Bay Brewery
Established by friends Mike and Ging who share a love for craft beer, Kowloon Bay Brewery makes its brews in Tsuen Wan using pure, quality ingredients. Among its range of products are craft beers and seasonal beers. Furthermore, this brewery was the first beer producer in Asia to offer a gluten-free IPA.
Kowloon Bay Brewery, Unit 12, 10/F, Block B, Hi-Tech Industrial Building, 491-501 Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong, p. 2559 8218, 荃灣青山公路491-501號嘉力工業中心B座10樓12室九龍灣釀酒廠
