It's been a three month stint for local Singaporean craft beer maker Alive Brewing's pop-up in Chinatown Complex, having taken over stalwart Smith Street Taps' stall. 

With that bright combo of red and yellow with white accents, reminiscent of old school brands in the 1950's getting in on their Westernised brand identity - it just feels so homely and familiar, and there's a comfort to that. Like someone you've always known.

This weekend was the last days of the pop-up before the good folks at Alive Brewing wrap-up their pop-up stint, and I had to visit them one last time, and incidentally but no less poetically on their last night as well.

I and other writers on 88 Bamboo have popped by on several occasions over the past three months and its been a blast getting to know their various expressions better and at the core, treat ourselves to a nice refreshing drink amidst Singapore's record-breaking heat. 

And so on their last night, my attention was caught on those jazz hands immaculately drawn on the blackboard - the Magic Technique Sour Ale, a smoothie sour with apricots and ruby peach added.

That would hit the spot!

It was their last weekend and so fans could buy 2 pints of Alive beers and get a free Alive-silkscreened glass. How awesome!

And a special shoutout to the team's consideration that they would ration the Alive-branded cups across the two days and release some on both days so folks coming in on their last day would still be able to get their hands on some 🌟 exclusive 🌟 merch!

Magic Technique Smoothie Sour - Review

Tasting Notes

Color: Guava Smoothie

Aroma: Fruit smoothie! Sweet, ripe, fruity, estery guavas, soursop, sweet oranges and peaches. It really noses like what you'd think a fruit smoothie's like. Make it tropical.

Taste: Thick, velvety, slushie and rich, pulpy texture. It has this wonderful little fizziness. Flavours of mellow and sweet pulpy guava and peaches. It's like this creamy smoothie that has little pop rock fizzy candy.

Finish: Mellow and soft fruit pulp, still with alittle bit of that fizzy pop rock candy, with a very light pithyness but still sweet with no bitterness.

My Thoughts

Really addictive. Really, really addictive. This was so tasty and refreshing! It is packed to the brim with fruit pulp, with this lush, thick, velvety texture combined with an amazing light fizziness - what a combination. It was just fantastic and so tasty and drinkable. You don't even notice the alcohol at all. Ripe, sweet, tropical fruits!

Can you say you've tried Alive without drinking their ever popular One Night In Cologne Kolsch or German Light Ale. With one last night, it seemed only right to get down on this one.

One Night In Cologne Kolsch - Review

Tasting Notes 

Color: Golden Pineapple Juice

Aroma: Fresh straw, lightly sour of yogurt and natural unsweetened honey.

Taste: Bright mellow sweetness with a more intense umami rice flavour thats somewhat lactic and sour in flavor but not so much in taste which is still somewhat sweet. It's alittle bit like bread dough. Light fizziness and medium bodied.

Finish: The umaminess and earthiness intensifies with alittle bit of a mushroomy taste of dried shiitake mushrooms. 

My Thoughts

If you’re a rice lager fan this one is down your alley. I find this quite complex with quite intense umami flavors that go from somewhat lactic and of yogurt on the aromas, into more of bread dough on the palate and then deepens in the finish into that of dried mushrooms.

Chocolate Bomb Imperial Stout - Review 

Tasting Notes 

Color: Espresso

Aroma: Confectionary milk chocolate shavings, with lightly bitter cacao nibs, and also light espresso aroma. Very aromatic! 

Taste: Smooth medium bodied, with a bright burst of sweetened espresso, turning alittle more bitter over time. There's milk chocolate sweetness and dark chocolate richness, turning alittle bit alcoholic towards the end.

Finish: Clean, crisp, light bitterness, with lingering notes of espresso and chocolates. Alittle bit oily, reminiscent of that butter roasted (gu you) coffee beans.

My Thoughts

Quite enjoyable! Very chocolatey with a good mix of sweeter milk chocolate and richer cacao nibs, beneath which there's this lovely espresso aroma and taste. Towards the finish it gets oilier and more of freshly butter roasted coffee breans - so interesting!

Secured the bag! Managed to get my hands on this super cute Alive merch! 

Cheers to you Alive Brewing! Thank you for all the wonderful pints. We hope you had a good pop-up and we can't wait for you to be back already!

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In the meantime, if you're down bad for some Alive Brewing beers, you can of course get them anytime on their site here.

Kanpai!

@111hotpot