Nicholas Lim

However, I’d say that “craft” is more than just a marketing label; it doesn’t play safe, whether it’s by sticking to arcane rules and recipes, creating bold products and flavours, or putting a spin on forgotten styles of beer. By buying craft beer, you’re supporting the craft and the small independent farms, producers, brewers, restauranteurs, stockists and distributors throughout the chain. Many craft beer bars that serve craft beer on tap will offer different serving sizes, but a US pint (473 ml) is the most common. There’s no need to rush to chug craft beer, and you wouldn’t want to do that to something that’s 10% ABV or more.

A good number of these breweries’ offerings are available at craft beer bars in Singapore, thanks to Craft Beverage Supply. It’s like the local craft beer scene in miniature: a core range of ales you could knock back repeatedly and the occasional belter like a peanut butter “doughssant” pastry stout. Three Cape craft breweries that I didn’t get to visit, but whose beers are available in Singapore, are Drifter Brewing Company, Stellenbosch Brewing Company (“Stellies”) and Little Wolf. Jack Black’s Brewing Co. (no relation to the US film star) and Newlands Spring Brewing Co. (owned by the giant AB InBev through South African Breweries), which operates out of the historic Mariendahl brewing facility.

It started as a British settlement in the 19th Century; later, banks, insurance companies and merchant businesses from other parts of the Western world and Japan set up shop there too. It’s quite a contrast to some of the postcard-perfect images you can pick up online or from souvenir shops where the skies are clear blue or red and the glass shimmers in the sunshine. While the sun still did not make an appearance, the rain stopped and the smoggy clouds lifted a little, revealing the tops of Lujiazui’s skyscrapers. After that, it was constantly thronged with people, be they visitors from other parts of China, locals getting their outdoor wedding photo shoots (in the middle of the street, no less), or foreign tourists like myself.

The tour was an engaging one that involved tales of alewives and witchcraft, sampling malted and unmalted barley grains, and of course, a selection of beer, all unpasteurised and unfiltered. Glasgow Central station takes you to the Ardrossan ferry terminal in 45 minutes, and from there, it’s a 55-minute ferry ride across the sea. Perfect for a day trip if you’re absolutely tied for time (though what a shame that would be) Futhermore, public buses meet the ferry at Brodick pier and take you on northern, southern and round-island loops, stopping at the Arran distillery and other villages along the way. You can find heaps more to do on the Visit Arran website like hikes up Goat Fell (the island’s highest peak), golfing or treks around the island.