Filipinos are very fond of beer, and they have mastered the art of brewing since the 1800s. Today, there are nearly a hundred small and a few large breweries in the Philippines. In recent years, many craft breweries have been established, producing a wide variety of exciting and flavorful beers. The Philippines definitely has something for every beer-loving palate.
Here is our comprehensive guide to Filipino beer.
San Miguel Brewery
San Miguel is actually a Filipino beer, which we did not know before we traveled here. The San Miguel brewery is the oldest and definitely the largest brewery on the islands. They produce many different varieties, and you will surely find something to your liking.
San Miguel Pale Pilsen (5%) – A fresh, light pilsner that is perfect for the Philippine heat. This is the most common beer in the Philippines, and most restaurants and stores offer it.
San Mig Light (5%) – The low-calorie version of the original. Feels even easier to drink.
San Miguel Flavored Beer – Apple (3%) – The taste is very similar to apple cider (perhaps not surprising).
San Miguel Cerveza Negra (5%) – A delicious dark lager with flavors of dark syrup and coffee.
Red Horse Beer Extra Strong (6.9%) – The extra strong lager Red Horse, along with San Miguel Pale Pilsen, is one of the most popular beers among the locals. The taste is clean, and the balance between sweet and bitter is good.
San Miguel Flavored Beer – Lychee (3%) – Clearly smells and tastes like lychee. More like alcopop than beer. Not bad at all.
San Miguel Flavored Beer – Lemon (3%) – Tastes like a German radler. My first thought was that this would be perfect as a mixer! 🙂
San Miguel Cerveza Blanca (5.4%) – A full-bodied and flavorful wheat beer. I really like wheat beer, and this one was delicious.
San Miguel Super Dry (5%) – Light pilsner, very similar to the original with a fresh and clean taste. Not bad in the heat!
San Miguel Premium All-Malt (5%) – As the name suggests, this lager has a sweet malt flavor. Perhaps a bit too sweet for some, but I liked it.
Engkanto
Engkanto is a microbrewery that was founded in 2017. It has since grown significantly and has become one of the market leaders. The brewery is inspired by various mythical creatures from Filipino mythology. The different types of beer they produce are creative and flavorful, and come in colorful bottles.
Engkanto Paint Me Purple Ube Lager (5.5%) – I tasted this dark lager before I knew what ube was and I had never tasted anything quite like it. Ube is the name of the Filipino variety of sweet potato, which has a deep purple color. To be honest it’s a bit difficult to describe the flavor other than that it’s very sweet. Definitely a unique beer worth trying.
Engkanto Mango Nation Hazy IPA (5.7%) – IPAs with mango flavor are usually good. Engkanto’s is no exception and is pleasant and easy to drink.
Engkanto High Five Honey Ale (5.1%) – A wonderfully fresh ale with a mild honey flavor.
Engkanto Green Lava Double IPA (8%) – Strong and complex flavor reminiscent of the bitter green mango that is popular on the Philippine islands. Watch out, this one is 8%. It hit quite hard!
Boondocks Brewing Company
Boondocks started in Fred Calope’s kitchen in 2011. He was tired of the poor selection of beer in the Philippines and wanted something more exciting than what was available at his local bar. Now, it has become a large microbrewery that produces many flavorful varieties of beer.
Boondocks Wheat Ale (5.4%) – A pleasant wheat beer with a full-bodied taste. Slightly sharp aftertaste of citrus fruit.
Boondocks Brewing Summer Ale (5.2%) – Fresh, fruity, and clean in taste – an excellent companion in the heat.
Crazy Carabao
Crazy Carabao is a small craft brewery in the small town of Santa Rosa, just south of Manila.
Crazy Carabao IPA (6.3%) – A dark copper-colored IPA, sweet at first with a strong bitter finish.
Katipunan Craft Ales
Katipunan is a small Manila-based microbrewery.
Katipunan Indio Pale Ale (4.8%) – An American pale ale with a caramel-like flavor and a light bitter citrus kick.
Crows Craft Brewing Company
Crows Craft is a small Manila-based craft brewery that makes several bold beer varieties.
Crows Craft Brewing De Puta Madre (8%) – The Spanish expression “¡De puta madre!” roughly translates to “this is sick!” or “f**king great!” If you’re a fan of lots of strong hops, you’ll definitely think this double IPA from Crows is ¡de puta madre!
Asia Brewery Inc.
Asia Brewery is the second largest brewery in the Philippines. In addition to their own beverages, they produce several international brands under license, including Asahi, Tiger, and Heineken.
Paraiso Craft Beer Style Bighani (5%) – A soft and creamy lager with flavors of malt, citrus, and orange. This is probably a beer you either love or hate.
Paraiso Craft Beer Style Lakas (7%) – Similar to Bighani but with a slightly spicy flavor. Quite okay.
Bauhinia Brewery
Bauhinia Brewery is a small craft brewery in Cebu City.
Bauhinia Brewery German Lager (4.7%) – A wonderfully fresh and flavorful lager with low bitterness. One of my favorites from the Philippines!
Bauhinia Brewery IPL (5.3%) – A light and fruity India Pale Lager that we both really enjoyed.
Palaweño Brewery
Palaweño Brewery in Puerto Princesa is run by a group of enthusiastic women who really know their beer. It’s definitely worth visiting their brewpub.
Ayahay Hunter Honey Nut Brown (7.4%) – A delicious dark flavor bomb of a beer! If you like darker beers, this one is top-notch. There’s plenty of honey, nuts, and caramel flavor in an easy-to-drink form!
Ayahay IPA (6.2%) – Strong fruity and bitter hop flavor. A very good craft IPA.
Ayahay Palaw’an Honey Kölsch (6.5%) – Kölsch is an old German beer style that clearly still works wonders. A flavorful and delicious beer.
FLAP Pale Lager (5.9%) – Light, unfiltered lager with a distinct hop flavor. FLAP stands for Fun Loving Ayahay People!
Princesa Blonde Ale (5%) – A light ale with a mandarin-like flavor. Very good and fruity beer.
Palawan Wit (5%) – Light unfiltered wheat beer inspired by Belgian witbier. Citrus-flavored, perfect for a warm and humid evening in Palawan.
Did you know there is a specific Filipino word for food that goes well with beer? If you’re wondering what to eat in the Philippines, take a look at our Guide to Filipino Food.
Craft Revolt Brewery
Craft Revolt is a small microbrewery based in Manila with a good selection of exciting craft beers.
Craft Revolt Berry Red (4.2%) – A beautiful light copper-colored beer with a fresh taste of red berries. Very sweet, probably not for everyone.
Craft Revolt Shut Up (5.3%) – A fresh and easy-to-drink New England IPA with a fruity taste and a nice balance between bitter and sweet.
Craft Revolt Manila Hipster (4.8%) – This almost looks like mango juice! Maybe not surprising since they used large amounts of dalandan orange juice. Dalandan is a green, tangy variety of orange that gives the beer a pleasant acidity.
Craft Revolt Matrona (9%) – A pitch-black so-called pastry stout. Delicious dark caramel flavor. A clear winner for me, as I love dark beers! I would gladly have one of these for dessert instead of a piece of cake. Warning: 9 percent alcohol!
Craft Revolt Hard Day (4.8%) – A light beer that is simply a bit bland. Not much flavor and very little carbonation. But if you’re having a hard day, it might pick you up though!
Craft Revolt Easy Ride (4%) – A creamy beer with a light caramel aroma. Not bad.
Nipa Brew
Based in Makati, Manila, the people at Nipa Brew craft a wide range of exciting and experimental beers.
Nipa Brew Tropic Haze (5.5%) – A fresh wheat beer with flavors of tropical fruits.
Nipa Brew Release Me From Lockdown (4.9%) – It’s easy to guess when this beer was created – luckily, we were all released from lockdown eventually! This is a wheat-based IPA with a pleasant aftertaste of citrus and pine.
Nipa Brew Take Me To Your Leader (9.1%) – This one is reminiscent of Guinness, but with double the alcohol content! Delicious flavors of roasted malt, chocolate, and coffee. Take me to your leader now!
The Professor’s Brew Hop Flask (6.5%) – This is the result of a collaboration between Nipa Brew and a local chemistry professor with a passion for brewing. A truly good American IPA with a strong hoppy character.
Nipa Brew Drop Zone (6%) – An India Brown Ale that is surprisingly fresh, with flavors of chocolate and nutty caramel, almost like a Toffifee.
Nipa Brew Fizzo Calamansi Jasmine (0.0%) – An alcohol-free beer that is simply amazing! Delightful jasmine tea flavor. The best non-alcoholic beer I’ve ever tasted. Hats off to the guys at Nipa Brew for this one.
Nipa Brew Sun Stoked (4.5%) – A light and refreshing beer, perfect under the Philippine sun.
Nipa Brew California Common (4.7%) – Dark brown in color. A bit on the bitter side, with lots of hoppy flavor.
Nipa Brew Dry Irish Stout (4.7%) – Classic Irish stout. Not too far off from Guinness in taste, but a bit heavier to drink. (Or maybe it was because this was beer number seven that day.)
How Much Does a Beer Cost in the Philippines? (2024)
A 0.33-liter can/bottle of Filipino beer costs between $1.1–$2.1 at a restaurant/bar and around $1 in stores.
In popular tourist areas, it’s more expensive compared to other regions. Imported beers are significantly more expensive than local beers. Craft beers can be even more pricey, and a half-liter can cost up to $5.
Summary
The Philippines surprised us with a wide range of exciting and flavorful beers. Some varieties may be a bit harder to find than others, but we discovered great craft beers in Manila, Cebu City, and Puerto Princesa.
Tagay!
