Probably the Most Singaporean Beer in the World
The 1925 Brewing Co. puts the ‘liang teh’ in ‘ang moh liang teh’.
20 November 2019
Think beer, and the picture that comes to mind tends to be a very western one. One of the Scandinavian brands, German festivals and American bars. And while some labels may be Asian in name, less apparent is what makes them Asian in nature.
Well, Singaporean brewers, The 1925 Brewing Co. are on a mission to change things up. What began as a curiosity for craft beer and an eagerness to infuse them with local flavours, has since given birth to a full-fledged Singaporean brewery and gastrobar – both aimed at giving Asian beer representation a boost.
Take their chrysanthemum-flavoured ‘Liang Teh Lager’. Singaporeans have, for decades, referred colloquially to beer as ‘Ang Moh Liang Teh’ (Hokkien for ‘western cooling tea’). And now the age-old moniker has been brought to life with a beer that literally stands for cooling tea – named in fond remembrance of the chrysanthemum tea brewed lovingly by their grandmother when they were little to help them cool off.
But peek beneath the surface and you’ll soon realise – The 1925 Brewing Co. is not another hipster brand putting a local spin on a western taste just for the novelty of it. Its founders, brothers Ivan and E.K Yeo, along with their uncle, Yeo King Joey, have experimented extensively to create flavours and pairings that are better suited to the Asian palette.
For example, having grown up with their grandmother’s Teochew fish porridge, the brothers set out to develop a beer that would complement it perfectly. And after months of trial and error, they arrived at the Yellow Van Pale Ale: a tribute to their grandma’s specialty and the bright yellow van their grandfather used to ferry them around in. Smoky, smooth and with a wheaty aftertaste, the Yellow Van Pale Ale is a fine companion to the savoury flavours of porridge. Weird or wonderful, you wonder? Try it and let your taste buds decide!
And should you have room for dessert, their chocolatey ‘BLK 622 Dark Ale’ wouldn’t go amiss with a rich, luxurious tiramisu. Jet black with a smooth creamy foam head, its flavours are bold and rich, with hints of coffee and caramel. Sinful? Indulgent? Oh, you bet.
From sweet and sour appetisers to spicy dishes to desserts, there’re plenty of pairings you can make with a beer from The 1925 Brewing Co. So the next time you find yourself tucking into some delightful local fare, why not have a bottle of ’Ang Moh Liang Teh’ to go with it?
