Creative Capital: The young Singapore brewer taking craft beer to new heights
For near of the by yr, I have been working from home. That has been actually odd. It's simply when you are relegated to seeing colleagues' faces only on tiny screens that yous realise how much you miss personal interactions and part routines like going out for a meal together or grabbing a java.
Work-from-home has led to multiple role bonding sessions in which colleagues punch in to take role in fun activities ranging from Among The states sessions to staff trivia games. On the occasions that I was planning the games, I also felt that information technology was correct to sponsor some prizes.
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My favourite prize to send out was a case of Sunbird beer. Beer, it turned out, later on a quick survey, was the safest alcohol to send to colleagues. Not everyone likes cocktails or wine.
I discovered Sunbird while looking for a practiced local brewery to guild from, and quickly fell in love with their packaging, story and product. I too liked that they delivered extremely quickly.
It was simply later I had been ordering from these guys for a while that I realised Sunbird was a brand new brand, having been launched right at the offset of the "circuit breaker" by Clive Tan, a 29-year-one-time local entrepreneur.
While immature, Clive is a recognised bada** in the local brewing scene, having been the youngest professional brewer in Singapore when he was at Archipelago beer.
You OPENED IN APRIL 2020, RIGHT AT THE First OF THE Excursion Breaker. DID THAT FREAK You lot OUT AND/OR DERAIL LAUNCH PLANS?
The launch of Sunbird Brewing Visitor had in fact been planned for about a year. We were motivated to go alee during that difficult menstruation every bit we wanted to provide a sense of opportunity and hopefulness to beer lovers in the arts and crafts beer community, as well as to the customs of young entrepreneurs.
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WHY THE NAME SUNBIRD? WHAT DOES THE BRAND NAME Represent TO YOU?
Not many are aware that the Carmine Sunbird is the national bird of Singapore. We want to be active in adapting to changes in the market place and have the freedom to produce true-to-style craft beers that can brand an bear on in Singapore and Asia.
WERE YOU ALWAYS INTO BEER, Even BEFORE JOINING THE INDUSTRY?
Yeah, I was introduced to arts and crafts beer during my university days and was shocked to find how different it tasted compared to commercial beers. And so I started reading virtually it and instantly fell in beloved with the scientific discipline behind brewing, which led me to do some home brewing.
WAS THERE AN "AHA" MOMENT WHEN YOU MADE YOUR Commencement BEER? DID Y'all KNOW THAT THIS WAS YOUR CALLING?
To be honest, my outset brew was done at domicile and failed (and I also failed) many times subsequently due to several reasons. I honestly never thought that this was going to be my life later that first mash.
You lot WERE HEADHUNTED Past ARCHIPELAGO AND RECOGNISED As THE YOUNGEST PROFESSIONAL BREWER IN Boondocks. DID You FEEL A LOT OF Responsibility OR PRESSURE BECAUSE OF THAT?
Being the youngest professional brewer at that fourth dimension was fascinating. What was actually special was that I discovered a willingness to share cognition within the community. I thought it was a rather rare sight considering that we all correspond different breweries. Simply with that in heed, the pressure came from myself because of many factors, such as the difference (between my pay and that of others) within my social circle — I came from an economic science and finance educational background; my parents, who at the fourth dimension were sceptical about my passion; and my own personal goal to open a brewery someday.
WAS OWNING YOUR OWN BREWERY Ever THE GOAL?
Starting my brewery was a five-year goal I gear up on the day I decided to join the industry. The vision was clear merely I did encounter many obstacles along the way.
I gave myself five years to hone the skills of beingness a expert brewer and also the skill sets needed to run a brewery because, very oftentimes, people have the misconception that a skilful brewer equals someone who is set to own a brewery. Before the v years were up, I had managed to operate an annual vi-digit brewery chapters successfully and I took it as a indicate that I was ready to outset Sunbird. Information technology took united states ane year to secure the location, set up the brewery, get the licenses sorted and get the logistics planned out earlier we launched officially in Apr final year.
WHAT'S A TYPICAL DAY Similar FOR YOU? CAN Yous WALK ME THROUGH YOUR AVERAGE WORK DAY?
My mean solar day begins at 7am with either a single or double brew, which ends effectually 2pm or 5pm respectively. Packaging is done during the waiting period while brewing. Delivery starts after the mash and ends effectually 8pm daily. I have a quick dinner, followed by administrative piece of work until late.
I LIKE HOW INVENTIVE AND PLAYFUL SOME OF YOUR VARIATIONS ARE. HOW DO YOU COME Upwards WITH DIFFERENT STYLES OR FLAVOURS?
At Sunbird, we strive to create true-to-style craft beers with a modern twist. Our beers are not just for arts and crafts beer lovers but also specifically curated for mass consumers who have or have non tried craft beers before. With this in heed, we blueprint our beers in a way that is familiar to local consumers who might take the opportunity to endeavour craft beers for the first time. I believe we are the start local brewery to accept a seasonal beer every month with a festive theme tagged to information technology. My goal as a Singapore brewer is to consistently share my noesis of arts and crafts beers with mass consumers to change the perception of beer, which is associated with commercial lagers.
HAVE Y'all Ever TRIED OUT AN IDEA THAT TURNED OUT DISASTROUSLY WRONG?
Fortunately we accept not encountered the failed execution of any of our products.
THERE ARE A LOT OF Arts and crafts BEER BRANDS, BOTH LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY, THESE DAYS. HOW DOES SUNBIRD Fix ITSELF APART LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY?
Locally, Sunbird sets itself on the path of ever providing a creative flavour with a touch of the local civilisation. As a consumer-centric brand, we have to always keep upwards with new consumer behaviours and trends, and heed to and involve our consumers to effectively arrange our products and operation. Our international programme does non differ much from our current strategy. Understanding consumer tastes and making that equally important equally keeping up our brewing standards will push us further into the region. This was very much shown with our past seasonal, Halloween Political party Blood Orangish IPA, which won fourth place in the Asia Beer Championship 2020.
WE'VE SEEN A HUGE Ascent IN INTEREST IN Craft BEERS OVER THE LAST DECADE. WHAT Exercise YOU THINK HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS Trend?
A large role of craft beer consumers currently and in the futurity are millennials. Equally a millennial myself, I e'er want new products. I admit that I am interested and excited by the latest hype or trend, and am willing to endeavour new things. Millennials' spending power is quite loftier also. As more and more than craft beer brands are beingness imported, local breweries will accept to target consumers better and more direct to be able to compete with international brands.
IS ONLINE THE Time to come OF BEER RETAIL?
Nosotros cannot predict what consumer behaviour postal service-COVID-xix will be like, but I believe that online will play a greater role compared to in the past.
IF Y'all AREN'T DRINKING 1 OF YOUR Ain BEERS, WHAT Exercise Yous ENJOY DRINKING?
Personally, I am more of an English IPA or stout kind of drinker, so it would depend on the location and bill of fare.
WHICH OF YOUR OWN BEERS IS YOUR PERSONAL FAVOURITE? AND WHAT IS THE PERFECT FOOD THAT GOES WITH It?
My personal favourite is Eclipse of The Dominicus Scottish Ale. This beer is versatile — it pairs well with gamey meat and also desserts like chocolate brownies or cakes.
WHAT'South THE VISION FOR SUNBIRD?
I would love Sunbird to lead the rise in craft expressions within Asia's beer market. Inside the adjacent five years, we would like to share the culture of Singapore through our beers in Asia, and thereafter, internationally.
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/creative-capital-singapore-brewer-craft-beer-sunbird-clive-tan-250156
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