Creative Capital: The young Singapore brewer taking craft beer to new heights
For nearly of the past year, I have been working from home. That has been really odd. It's only when you are relegated to seeing colleagues' faces only on tiny screens that you realise how much you miss personal interactions and office routines like going out for a meal together or grabbing a coffee.
Piece of work-from-home has led to multiple part bonding sessions in which colleagues dial in to take part in fun activities ranging from Among Us sessions to staff trivia games. On the occasions that I was planning the games, I also felt that information technology was right to sponsor some prizes.
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My favourite prize to ship out was a case of Sunbird beer. Beer, information technology turned out, later a quick survey, was the safest booze to send to colleagues. Not everyone likes cocktails or vino.
I discovered Sunbird while looking for a good local brewery to order from, and rapidly fell in love with their packaging, story and product. I also liked that they delivered extremely speedily.
It was just afterward 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 starting time of the "excursion breaker" by Clive Tan, a 29-yr-old local entrepreneur.
While young, 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 START OF THE Excursion BREAKER. DID THAT FREAK Y'all OUT AND/OR DERAIL LAUNCH PLANS?
The launch of Sunbird Brewing Company had in fact been planned for about a year. We were motivated to become ahead during that difficult period as we wanted to provide a sense of opportunity and hopefulness to beer lovers in the craft beer customs, besides every bit to the community of young entrepreneurs.
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WHY THE Name SUNBIRD? WHAT DOES THE BRAND NAME REPRESENT TO YOU?
Non many are aware that the Crimson Sunbird is the national bird of Singapore. We want to be agile in adapting to changes in the market and accept the freedom to produce true-to-manner craft beers that can brand an impact in Singapore and Asia.
WERE YOU ALWAYS INTO BEER, EVEN BEFORE JOINING THE Industry?
Yes, I was introduced to craft beer during my university days and was shocked to find how different it tasted compared to commercial beers. So I started reading about it and instantly fell in beloved with the scientific discipline behind brewing, which led me to practice some abode brewing.
WAS THERE AN "AHA" MOMENT WHEN YOU MADE YOUR Kickoff BEER? DID You KNOW THAT THIS WAS YOUR CALLING?
To be honest, my offset brew was washed at dwelling and failed (and I also failed) many times later due to several reasons. I honestly never idea that this was going to exist my life after that first mash.
YOU WERE HEADHUNTED Past ARCHIPELAGO AND RECOGNISED Equally THE YOUNGEST Professional person BREWER IN Boondocks. DID Y'all Experience A LOT OF Responsibility OR PRESSURE Because OF THAT?
Being the youngest professional brewer at that time was fascinating. What was actually special was that I discovered a willingness to share knowledge inside the customs. I idea it was a rather rare sight considering that nosotros all represent different breweries. But with that in listen, the pressure came from myself because of many factors, such equally the departure (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 ain personal goal to open a brewery anytime.
WAS OWNING YOUR Own BREWERY ALWAYS THE GOAL?
Starting my brewery was a five-yr goal I set on the mean solar day I decided to bring together the manufacture. The vision was clear but I did encounter many obstacles along the fashion.
I gave myself five years to strop the skills of being a skilful brewer and likewise the skill sets needed to run a brewery because, very often, people accept the misconception that a good brewer equals someone who is ready to own a brewery. Before the five years were up, I had managed to operate an annual six-digit brewery capacity successfully and I took it as a signal that I was ready to start Sunbird. It took us one twelvemonth to secure the location, prepare up the brewery, get the licenses sorted and get the logistics planned out before we launched officially in April concluding yr.
WHAT'S A TYPICAL DAY LIKE FOR Y'all? Tin can You WALK ME THROUGH YOUR Boilerplate WORK DAY?
My day begins at 7am with either a unmarried or double brew, which ends effectually 2pm or 5pm respectively. Packaging is done during the waiting menstruation while brewing. Delivery starts after the brew and ends around 8pm daily. I take a quick dinner, followed by administrative work until late.
I Similar HOW INVENTIVE AND PLAYFUL SOME OF YOUR VARIATIONS ARE. HOW DO Yous Come up Up WITH Unlike STYLES OR FLAVOURS?
At Sunbird, we strive to create true-to-style craft beers with a modern twist. Our beers are non but for craft beer lovers but likewise specifically curated for mass consumers who have or accept non tried craft beers earlier. With this in mind, we pattern our beers in a way that is familiar to local consumers who might accept the opportunity to attempt arts and crafts beers for the offset time. I believe we are the first local brewery to accept a seasonal beer every month with a festive theme tagged to it. My goal every bit a Singapore brewer is to consistently share my knowledge of craft beers with mass consumers to alter the perception of beer, which is associated with commercial lagers.
Take You lot Ever TRIED OUT AN Idea THAT TURNED OUT DISASTROUSLY Incorrect?
Fortunately we take non encountered the failed execution of whatever of our products.
THERE ARE A LOT OF Craft BEER BRANDS, BOTH LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY, THESE DAYS. HOW DOES SUNBIRD SET ITSELF Autonomously LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY?
Locally, Sunbird sets itself on the path of always providing a creative flavor with a impact of the local culture. As a consumer-centric brand, we have to e'er go on up with new consumer behaviours and trends, and listen to and involve our consumers to effectively adapt our products and operation. Our international plan does not differ much from our current strategy. Understanding consumer tastes and making that every bit important equally keeping upwardly our brewing standards will push the states further into the region. This was very much shown with our by seasonal, Halloween Political party Blood Orangish IPA, which won fourth place in the Asia Beer Championship 2020.
WE'VE SEEN A HUGE RISE IN INTEREST IN Craft BEERS OVER THE LAST DECADE. WHAT Do Yous Think HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS Trend?
A large function of arts and crafts beer consumers currently and in the future are millennials. Every bit a millennial myself, I ever want new products. I admit that I am interested and excited by the latest hype or trend, and am willing to try new things. Millennials' spending power is quite high as well. As more and more craft beer brands are existence imported, local breweries will have to target consumers better and more directly to be able to compete with international brands.
IS ONLINE THE Time to come OF BEER RETAIL?
We cannot predict what consumer behaviour post-COVID-19 volition be like, but I believe that online will play a greater function compared to in the past.
IF Y'all AREN'T DRINKING ONE OF YOUR Ain BEERS, WHAT Do Yous ENJOY DRINKING?
Personally, I am more of an English IPA or stout kind of drinker, so it would depend on the location and carte du jour.
WHICH OF YOUR Ain BEERS IS YOUR PERSONAL FAVOURITE? AND WHAT IS THE PERFECT Nutrient THAT GOES WITH IT?
My personal favourite is Eclipse of The Sun Scottish Ale. This beer is versatile — information technology pairs well with gamey meat and besides desserts like chocolate brownies or cakes.
WHAT'Southward THE VISION FOR SUNBIRD?
I would love Sunbird to lead the rise in craft expressions within Asia's beer marketplace. Within the next 5 years, we would similar to share the civilisation 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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