Beer & Breweries Archives - Pale Ale Travel

7 of the Best Craft Beer Bars in Warsaw For T-Pain to Buy U a Drank

December 1, 2024December 1, 2024Beer & Breweries, Europe, Poland BigBody Leave a Comment

If you had told me that Poland just so happened to be home to over 300 breweries before I embarked on my 3-month stint in the country, I’m not sure I would have believed you.

As a country geographically and inwardly between Eastern Europe and Central Europe (the latter if you ask a Pole), the stereotype of vodka flowing freely and cheap, canned lagers comparable to the water we’ve come to expect in the U.S. was unfortunately what I anticipated.

I’m sorry Poland–mea culpa.

Consider this my letter of contrition and a celebration of the 300-plus formidable breweries that make up the country’s robust ethanol ecosystem. It truly is one of the best countries in the world for everything beer (I’m even a fan of ice-cold Żywiec).

And, no better place represents the strength and variation of this burgeoning booze landscape than the capital – Warsaw.

Here are 7 of the best craft beer bars in Warsaw that solidified in my rapidly aging mind and body that Warsaw is a true craft beer lover’s paradise.

Pale Ale Travel Tip: Several beers that remained constant and always on rotation for me during my time in Warsaw were those by Warsaw-based (and surrounding) breweries like (a) Funky Fluid, (b) Magic Road, and (c) Browar Monsters, the former being potentially my most consumed beer while there. So, if you see a beer by either brewery on tap, I implore you to order it!

Before I begin, I filmed two videos (Part 1, Part 2) which cover 6 of the 7 Warsaw craft beer bars on this list – so give these a watch if you’re more of a visual person!

The Rowdiest Hong Kong Pub Crawl: 17 Bars, 3 Neighborhoods, 1 Brutal Hangover

May 15, 2024July 21, 2024Asia, Beer & Breweries, Hong Kong BigBody Leave a Comment

IMPORTANT: If you embark on this self-guided Hong Kong pub crawl and provide me with proof (a picture of a drink at each bar) that you tackled at least 50% of the bars, I’ll add you to the ‘Wall of Legends’ on this post. Also, if you need a guide, I’ll be more than happy to go down this drunken rabbit hole with you.

I’ve said this many times on the blog and I’ll say it again. I live for hedonism and the spectacle of it all. And everyone knows that starts with a draft beer or Aperol spritz for this Big Body. I’ll keep this simple. If you’re Googling this, you, much like me, have already killed off more brain cells from debaucherous nights than we’d like to admit and need the booze deets in no-nonsense terms.

This self-guided Hong Kong pub crawl is a 2 to 2.5 km loop that starts along the ferry pier in Central and loops up through Sheung Wan, Soho, and Lan Kwai Fong. It will primarily consist of beer haunts (aka pubs). However, you’ll find a few non-traditional (yet righteous) watering holes sprinkled in (that also serve beer).

I know it can be a big commitment to sign up and pay for a pub crawl with strangers. Yes, I’ve had some very successful nights out doing these but I’ve also met some of the biggest groups of cretins and mouthbreathers I’ve ever encountered. That’s why I created this – to keep in your back pocket if you’re more of a solo drinker or already have your group of Chewbacca-lookalikes and magic makers ready to rumble.

Without further ado, here is exactly how I would maximize my drinking and the route I would take on this self-guided Hong Kong bar crawl. I’ve slugged my fair share of beers at every single one of these spots and this is the route that made the most sense to me so that you can efficiently carve through Sheung Wan, Soho, and Lan Kwai Fong.

The Complete Guide to Craft Beer in Saigon

July 27, 2020December 3, 2023Asia, Beer & Breweries, Vietnam BigBody 5 Comments

Strap in. In this guide we are talking about all things craft beer in Saigon. Craft beer culture in Saigon is booming. No one will ever go thirsty here. I guarantee it. From a Belgian brewery serving up wheat beers in a 1.5 liter drum, to a slick gastropub with more than 100 craft beers to choose from, all the way to a popular craft beer haunt on the infamous Bui Vien Street, consider this your ultimate guide to craft beer in Saigon!

I consumed far more beer than I’m proud to admit in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (although I guess I just admitted it), so that you know where to go next time you are fiending for an IPA, sour, lager, or all of the above.

Delay no more! Below is a list of my favorite bars and breweries for craft beer in Saigon.

9 of the Best Rooftop Bars in Saigon

July 6, 2020December 3, 2023Asia, Beer & Breweries, Vietnam BigBody Leave a Comment

Saigon, Vietnam is a rooftop bar lover’s dream. Nothing quite beats throwing back a few cocktails while overlooking a city that never sleeps. As you may know from checking out my blog, I’m a big fan of “the booze.” So, during my year-plus living in Saigon (aka Ho Chi Minh City), I made it my goal to find the best rooftop bars in Saigon and see exactly what its nightlife truly has to offer.

I’ve compiled a list of 9 of my favorite rooftop bars in Saigon, Vietnam, so that you aren’t left wondering where to go the next time you want to hit the town and have a few drinks with a view.

Power of the Pivovar: 2 Breweries to Eat & Drink at in Bratislava

January 29, 2020August 19, 2020Beer & Breweries, Europe, Slovakia BigBody 2 Comments

A generic name for “brewery” in several Slavic languages, a pivovar is so much more than that (in my book). Not only are pivovars incredible spots to drink your fill of Bratislava’s finest lagers (and countless other beers) but they are also great spots to load up on traditional Slovakian dishes and experience a lively pub-atmosphere.

Below are three of my favorite pivovars to eat and drink at in Bratislava, Slovakia!

Craft Beer Pub Crawl Saigon

December 3, 2019December 3, 2023Asia, Beer & Breweries, Vietnam BigBody Leave a Comment

I thought this would be a relevant article as I had several buddies visit Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) wanting to do a craft beer pub crawl. So, I’ve been on several self-guided craft beer tours and pub crawls in Saigon and decided to compile some insights. The great thing about District 1 in Saigon is that a majority of the best craft beer bars, pubs, and breweries are all concentrated within walking distance of one another, making for a great pub crawl atmosphere and route.

The below craft beer bars can be “crawled” in any order, however, I’m structuring this guide to well…help give you some structure, as it might be lacking after several of Saigon’s best beers. Plus, Vietnam’s craft beer scene is absolutely huge and growing, so it can be overwhelming to navigate Yelp, TripAdvisor, and other review platforms.

Oh, and Vietnam’s coffee scene isn’t too bad either (it’s incredible).

Consider this your ultimate Saigon craft beer tour guide! Let’s get started. Keep in mind that the following craft beer bars, breweries, and haunts are located within District 1. And, I’ve omitted several great breweries and bars in District 1 due to the fact that they don’t exactly jive with a short, concentrated route.

5 Breweries to Check Out in Ho Chi Minh City

November 27, 2019March 3, 2024Asia, Beer & Breweries, Vietnam BigBody Leave a Comment

If there’s three things I need to survive on a desert island, it’s beer, meat, and cheese. I’m not a craft beer expert by any means, but I do drink a good amount of beer and try to make it a priority to visit as many breweries as possible wherever I am. Ho Chi Minh has no shortage of breweries, and honestly, it’s probably the best city I’ve ever lived in (or been) in Asia for beer. To this day, some of my absolute favorite beers are ones I tried (and drank regularly) at some of Saigon’s most popular breweries.

In this post, I’m going to walk you through 5 breweries in Ho Chi Minh I think are worth checking out. Not just for drinks and food, but the atmosphere as well. As you can tell from my website and blog’s name, I do prefer IPAs and pale ales, but still do make a concerted effort to try different types of beer. After all… Good beer is good beer.

Keep in mind that all of the below breweries generally have weekly events going on (ex. Beer tastings, happy hours, tours, etc…), so I recommend checking out their website or Facebook page for upcoming events and specials.

Do let me know your favorite breweries and beers to drink in Saigon below in the comments! I’d love to hear from you.