Nipa Brew: Craft beers by Pinoys, for Pinoys
We all have our go-to drink every time we’re out with friends, or feel like chilling at home after a hectic work week. Drinking with friends eases our tense souls and lifts our spirits.
But sometimes, we crave for something new, something interesting and yes, something special. A brew we can proudly call our own: Nipa Brew.
Nipa Brew was born out of its founders’ thirst for adventure.
Its CEO and co-founder Stephen Co was introduced to numerous beer variants in the UK when he was taking his master’s degree from the University of Cambridge. From British cask ales to Czech lagers, Belgian lambics and India Pale ales, Stephen has gulped down a mug or more of it.
The art and science of (craft) brewing
At the time in 2013, craft beers weren’t as popular as they are now in the Philippines. So when Stephen flew back to Manila, he took the risk and learned the art and science of craft brewing.
In 2015, Nipa Brew started bottling its first beers; and the response was overwhelming. To give their patrons a venue where they can gather and enjoy their fresh brews, Stephen and his partners opened the Taproom in Makati in 2018.
Through the years, Nipa Brew has built a steady following.
Getting into craft brewing business is not for the faint of heart. It’s challenging and requires patience and commitment.
“Team Nipa Brew is passionate about science and food. Our big idea is to use science to improve different kinds of food items and to create unique, delicious flavors and nutritious food,” shared Stephen.
Beer-making is the oldest form of biotechnology. The fermentation process of the brewer’s yeast is used to transform sugar into alcohol.
“The quality of our brew is something that we are proud of; we take great care in making sure that we consistently get the quality right,” Stephen added.
Captivating the Pinoy palate
Nipa Brew’s core beer selections are self-explanatory. Tropic Haze, Nipa Brew’s first brewed beer’s identity, is built on Philippine flavors, climates, and scenery. It’s a hazy wheat ale with tropical fruit notes, reminiscent of our favorite after-lunch refreshments.
What followed after that is an arsenal of unique beer flavors: Sun Stoked, an easy drinking blonde ale with a pinch of citrus zest; and the Drop Zone, an India dark brown ale with bitter, dark chocolate notes.
“We itch to create unique and interesting beer flavors,” Nipa Brew said. And create they did. After wanting more, the team decided to embark on an experimental journey to develop unique flavors.
Nipa Brew’s Expedition Series is a testament to how they’ve carefully curated their lineup of beers. Take Me To Your Leader is a malty Scotch-heavy ale at nine-percent ABV with an oaky vanilla finish; Exsqueeze Me I’m Human is on the juicy side, bursting with fresh citrus flavors and tropical fruits; and the Release Me From Lockdown, a session-friendly American wheat IPA inspired by Belgian flavor notes.
Another addition to Nipa Brew’s breadth of beer styles is “The Professor’s Brew” with Hop Flask, an American IPA with balanced hop bitterness and malt character. It goes well with fried dishes, grilled meat items, and tarty desserts. Nipa Brew will stop at nothing to continue to create interesting flavors.
How they do it
Nipa Brew takes pride in its unique flavors. And since this Pinoy beer brand takes quality on a serious level, patrons are assured that its craft beers are fresh and full-flavored: no preservatives, no artificial flavorings, not watered down, and brewed in small batches. Every drop that goes in each bottle is closely monitored.
“From Tropic Haze’s birth 10 years ago, Nipa Brew will continue to innovate and develop beers that will appeal to the daring (craft) beer drinkers,” Stephen said.
After all, Nipa Brew is made by Filipinos for Pinoys and the rest of the world.
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Editor’s Note: BrandedUp is designed to provide you with insightful, inspiring and educational content created by PhilSTAR L!fe in collaboration with brands like Nipa Brew.
