Happy hour lasted three days at the recent MNL Beer Fest in Greenfield District, Mandaluyong City.
The country’s largest beer event to date gathered over 250 beer brands. There were homegrown microbreweries and nanobreweries doling out their concoctions right alongside international craft beer brewers and commercial beer brands in the country.
Complementing the unique and beloved brews were a selection of delectable artisan food choices, live music, and live art, making the event—an offshoot of the annual MNL Craft Beer Festival—more lively and fun.
“The Philippine Craft Beer Community is starting to see more people interested, and we get more excited to be part of these kinds of big events,” said Jun Flores, head of the Philippine Craft Beer Community.
Flores noted that over 55 out of the 70-plus craft beer brewers from all over the country joined the gathering. Some of the notable brands brewing from different parts of the Philippines include 63 North Brewing Company, Bel Ale, Cerveza Sagada, CraftPoint Brewing Co., Flat Foot Brewery, Nipa Brew, Joe’s Brew, and Engkanto.
Ibalon Craft Brew, the first craft brewery in Bicol Region named after the famous native epic, showcased their special sili-infused beer that packed quite a flavorful punch. Pampanga-based Bulul Brewery, which pays homage to the Bulul of Ifugao, whipped up a performance-worthy Vanilla Bourbon Smores concoction especially for the three-day beer event.
The beer selection once again brought Filipino ingenuity to the spotlight, pushing Flores to hope that it inspires budding brewers to become part of the tight-knit community so that more people can help educate the market on the appreciation of beer.
International and commercial beer brands, namely Lindemans Brewery, Lefebvre Brewery, C Brewery, Dubuisson, Holgate Brewhouse, Moosehead, Lion, Estrella Galicia, Velkopopovický Kozel, Pilsner Urquell, and Corona Extra were also given spotlight during the event.
Being mainstays of the Greenfield District event grounds, Flores emphasized that partnering with a prestigious company that generously offers their 15-hectare mixed-use development to culture-centric events for three years and counting helps the community flourish.
JP Aguirre-Lim, senior manager for corporate marketing of Greenfield Development Corporation, also spoke about the company’s wholehearted support of events like the MNL Beer Fest that uplift local businesses. “It’s the largest beer gathering in the country and we have always supported local businesses, artists, and musicians alike by providing them a venue to showcase their craft. It’s our way of giving back to the community we serve,” she said.
According to Lim, hosting events like the MNL Beer Fest is just one of the ways Greenfield opens itself up to diverse lifestyle concepts that promote music, culture, and the arts, including unique culinary experiences.
Greenfield District also plays host to regular weekly events such as the Greenfield Weekend Market that caters to food lovers and small food business owners; and Jazz Fest Thursdays that aims to support the local jazz scene with its laid-back outdoor vibe. In June, the Craft Beer Association hopes to once again partner with Greenfield District to host a Beer Fest in celebration of Independence Day.