Block 335 Smith Street, #02-58 Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre
Hawker stall sells craft beer
Zul Andra | The New Paper | Tue Nov 20 2012
Mr Daniel Goh's stall at the Chinatown Complex Market stocks over 60 craft beers and ciders imported from across Europe and Asia.
Singapore, November 20, 2012
"Uncle, one Cider peng, please"
Now that's something you don't hear every day at a hawker centre.
At Chinatown Complex Market, the alcoholic beverage made from fermented apple juice isn't the only item that the uncles and aunties there have found odd.
The Good Beer Company's (GBC) hawker stall stocks more than 60 craft beers and ciders imported from across Europe and Asia - many of which are hard to get hold of here, even in the swankiest of joints.
The assortment of craft beers here are priced between $8 and $14 - that's about 40 per cent less than what you find at restaurants and bars in the city.
If you want to buy something for later, but don't want to take it home right away, check out 99 Bottles (named after the drinking song) on East Coast Road. It's GBC's retail offshoot with 150 labels at prices 15 per cent cheaper than the hawker stall.
While you can walk in Friday to Sunday, 99 Bottles is by appointment only from Monday to Thursday.
Mr Daniel Goh, founder and manager of both establishments, decided to set up a beer stall at the iconic 29-year-old market for three reasons: Reminisces, rental and retrenchment.
The 37-year-old was laid off from his dream job as a public relations manager for a computer games firm last year and - shrugging off a bruised ego - decided that he should ply a trade based on his passion for beer.
That passion began in 2006.
"It was a Belgian beer and it was an epiphany that I wanted to share with other Singaporeans - that there's more to beer than what we normally we have."
There was also a nostalgia factor as this is the same complex where his parents would do their grocery shopping and have a meal.
With the addition of an attractive rental price, Mr Goh opened the beer joint.
But despite the unique vibrancy of the hawker centre, the upscale nature of Mr Goh's wares brought some detractors. In his Tumblr blog, he wrote of a passer-by adamantly telling him that he would close shop within months. Even his neighbouring tenants were placing bets on his failure.
But the doubters will be disappointed. GBC has been open for a year now.
Maybe they didn't bet on how well Marston's Oyster Stout from England would pair with black carrot cake or that steamed fish head would go perfectly with a lychee beer from Taiwan.
By the way, a rule of thumb for beer pairing: Match the colour of the beer to the dishes.
The informal environment has even inspired a community, says Mr Goh.
"It's great to see total strangers striking up conversations over the choice of beer. Some even exchange numbers so that they can come down together. You don't find that in a restaurant. You don't turn to the next table and ask how the foie gras was. "
One notable member from Mr Goh's team (which also includes his wife on her days off) is 63-year-old, Mr Goh Koon Hong, affectionately known to most as the Beer Uncle.
He is actually Mr Goh's previously estranged uncle who used to work as an estate cleaner. Before setting up shop, Mr Goh rarely met his relative. But since then Mr Goh's uncle, with his unobtrusively chatty and humble nature, has become something of a poster boy for the stall.
Mr Goh puts the stall's endurance down to the integrity of what's on offer. Something he ensures will continue by sourcing and offering only the best craft beers from around the world.
And who doesn't like hawker food to go along with that?
Zul Andra has been covering Singapore's nightlife since 2005. He writes about drinking, parties and dance music for various magazines and websites. Follow him on Twitter @zulandra.
LOWDOWN
The Good Beer Company Add: Block 335 Smith Street, #02-58 Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre Opening hours: Mondays to Fridays: Noon-2pm and 5pm-10pm Saturdays: 1pm-11pm Expect to pay: $16-28 per person for two beers Crowd: Beer connoisseurs, lunch and dinner office crowd
99 Bottles Add: 217 East Coast Road, #02-08 Opening hours: Fridays: 6pm-9pm Saturdays and Sundays: 1pm-8pm E-mail: sales@goodbeer.sg for appointments Mondays to Thursdays.
