Widely recognised for its vibrant street food scene, bustling night markets, ubiquitous tea culture, and harmonious blend of modern architecture and traditional landmarks, the Taiwanese capital of Taipei has been a popular tourist destination for decades.
The better part of this modern metropolis with a population of approximately 7.5 million rests on an ancient lakebed. This basin is bounded by two narrow valleys and lush mountains, making Taipei an attractive home or getaway for nature lovers too. The city’s skyline is dominated by the bamboo-shaped Tapei 101 which shoots 509 m up into the heavens and was once the world’s tallest building.
Over the course of the past few years, craft beer has speedily claimed its place among the city’s diverse arsenal of pull factors. A remarkable feat, considering the island’s traditional drinking culture and historical limitations on independent brewing.
The Taiwan Beer Monopoly
Part of the reason why Taipei has only recently emerged as a burgeoning craft beer hotspot in the region lies in the strict regulations on beer brewing activities that were upheld throughout much of the previous century. During this period, the island’s beer industry was controlled by the Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation (TTL). As a government-owned company, TTL held a monopoly on alcohol production and distribution.
Established in 1919, during the era of Japanese colonial rule which spanned from 1895 until 1945, TTL’s monopoly only came to an end in 2002. By then, TTL’s flagship brew – Taiwan Beer – had become an integral part of local beer culture. Brewed with a touch of penglai rice, this pale lager was nationally appreciated for its light and crispy flavour.
The few alternatives available at the turn of the century had a fairly similar constitution – light lagers and pilsners with low bitterness and moderate alcohol content that paired well with local cuisine. Imported beers, primarily from Japan (Asahi, Kirin) and the US (Bud), could be found here and there as well.
Conventional Beer Culture
Taipei’s traditional eateries, such as hot pot and seafood restaurants, and night markets were settings in which beer was commonly consumed. People shared bottles of beer over a meal, often pouring small glasses and toasting frequently according to the custom of ganbei (meaning cheers in Mandarin). The act of drinking was considered an essential part of social bonding. Hence, it was a fairly uncommon thing to do alone or at home.
Other popular beer drinking spots included the immensely popular Karaoke TV bars (KTVs), which remain a huge part of Taiwanese nightlife to this day, and jiu guan, or beer houses. KTVs typically serve pitchers or towers of mainstream lagers, encouraging groups to socialise and sing together.
Beer houses, on the other hand, started becoming more prevalent in the late twentieth century. A mix between bar and restaurant, these establishments tend to be casual, often open-air settings where patrons can share pitchers or towers of lager and an assortment of local snacks and small dishes. Some have even started offering craft beers in order to cater to changing tastes.
Shifting Trends
As restrictions on independent brewing were gradually eased during the Noughties, the number of local brewers in Taipei rose. Often experimenting with local ingredients to create flavours reflective of Taiwanese cuisine and culture, these ventures sparked an interest among local consumers. Surprisingly enough, one might add, considering the island’s conservative drinking culture.
It goes without saying that not everyone was equally willing to embrace the concept of passionfruit, lychee, and pomelo beers at first. Over time, however, a growing number of Taiwanese beer consumers started making a point of supporting local breweries and the beginnings of a craft scene took shape. From circa 2015 onwards, this trend went into overdrive.
Roughly ten years later, craft beer is bountiful in Taipei and flows freely at food and beverage outlets all over the city. The demand is so high, the likes of Danish powerhouse Mikkeller could not resist setting up shop in a heritage building at the southern end of historic Dihua Street. Even convenience stores such as 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Hi-Life nowadays stock excellent rotating craft beer selections. That means the juice is readily obtainable all day, every day, including public holidays. This is yet another example of how far the scene has come in a relatively short time.
As diverse and expansive as the Taipei craft beer scene is, we have attempted to sum up its defining features in a list featuring 15 of its most outstanding venues. And so, without further delay, let us continue!
Taipei Craft Beer Directory
Click on any venue listed below for more information, or scroll through the rest of this page to review Beer Asia’s directory of craft beer venues in Taipei (in no particular order):
Craft Beer Venues in Taipei
Zhang Men Brewing
Following the inauguration of Zhang Men’s production facilities in the Xizhi district of New Taipei in 2014, the brewery’s rise to prominence on the national craft beer scene and beyond was swift and decided. A taproom was opened in Yongkang – Taipei’s business district – the year after, the first of its kind in an area otherwise known for its exceptional offerings of local cuisine and traditional teahouses.
Two years in, the brewery had started solidifying its status in the capital and extending its reach to other parts of the island. New venues were opened in Taipei (listed below) as well as Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Tainan. A year later, in 2017, Zhang Men launched its first overseas venture in Hong Kong. Since then, further outlets have been established at home (Taipei, Hsinchu, Hualien) and abroad (Shanghai, Hong Kong).
All these locations have been equipped with a minimum of 24 taps pouring a combination of in-house brews and international offerings, mainly from Hong Kong. The staples on offer cover a range of bold and experimental flavours. Zhang Men has something for everyone, so go on and get your fill!
Yongkang
- Address
No. 10號, Lane 4, Yongkang St, Da’an District, Taipei City - Open location on Google Maps
- Call +886 2 2395 2366
- Visit Website
- Follow on Instagram
- Check-in on Untappd
- Operating hours
Monday – Thursday: 4PM – 12AM
Friday: 4PM – 1AM
Saturday: 2PM – 1AM
Sunday: 2PM – 12AM
Neihu
- Address
號 No. 189, No. 189, Section 6, Minquan E Rd, Neihu District, Taipei City - Open location in Google Maps
- Call +886 2 2790 0365
- Operating hours
Monday – Thursday: 5:30PM – 1AM
Friday – Saturday: 5:30PM – 2AM
Sunday: 5:30PM – 12AM
Breeze SongGao
- Address
Floor 4, No. 16號, Songgao Rd, Xinyi District, Taipei City - Open location in Google Maps
- Call +886 2 6636 9959 (#8401)
- Operating hours
4PM – 12AM daily
Taipei Dome
- Address
515號D-1035, Zhongxiao E Rd, Section 4, Xinyi District, Taipei City - Open location on Google Maps
- Call +886 2 2322 3066
- Operating hours
11AM – 12AM daily
23 Brewing Co.
Established by three American residents of Taipei who met through a home brewing course in 2013, 23 Brewing is arguably the most recognisable expat-owned brewery on the island. What started off with a trio of signature brews has since expanded into an extensive selection of unique beer styles. Nowadays, representatives of this avant-garde range are served at a long list of bars and restaurants nationwide.
Furthermore, 23 Brewing operates two taprooms of its own. 23 Public is an intimate bar that doubles as a record shop where each beer is served with a little card detailing its characteristics. 23 Music Room, on the other hand, is part of an assemblage of small bars, underground night clubs, and open-air food court where live music and DJ performances are held.
The brewery has also branched out to launch Two Three Comedy Club.
23 Public
- Address
No. 332號, Section 2, Fuxing S Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City - Open location on Google Maps
- Call +886 2 2736 0608
- Follow on Instagram
- Check-in on Untappd
- Operating hours
Monday – Tuesday: 4:30PM – 12AM
Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday: 12:30PM – 12AM
Friday – Saturday: 12:30PM – 1AM
23 Music Room
- Address
Floor 1, Yuanshan Park Area of Taipei Expo Park, Yumen St., Zhongshan District, Taipei City - Open location on Google Maps
- Like on Facebook
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- Operating hours
Monday – Thursday: 7PM – 1AM
Friday: 7PM – 2AM
Saturday: 3PM – 2AM
Sunday: 3PM – 12AM
Taihu Brewing
Founded in 2013 by a group of local beer lovers, Taihu has matured into one of Taiwan’s most successful craft breweries. The name literally translates to Taiwan Tiger – ‘Tai’ referring to the use of local ingredients in their brews, ‘hu’ meaning tiger, a common symbol for courage in island folklore.
Taihu has concocted a wide variety of traditional beers, like its award-winning IPA, but is possibly even more renowned for bringing forth experimental, flavoured beverages. Examples include a tomato and plum gose, and a selection of 9.9% cocktails in a can that are available at 7-Eleven outlets nationwide.
The brewery operates a total of four venues in Taipei, each with their own distinct theme and atmosphere, ranging from tropical beach hut to Japanese-style gastropub. In addition, Taihu’s silver Airstream trailer is frequently parked at beer festivals and other events around the metropolis. Should you happen to catch sight of it on your meanderings, be sure to allow yourself to swing by for a little pit stop!
Driftwood Ximending
- Address
No. 46號, Kunming St, Wanhua District, Taipei City - Open location on Google Maps
- Call +886 2 2388 3699
- Visit Website
- Like on Facebook
- Follow on Instagram
- Check-in on Untappd
- Operating hours
Monday – Thursday: 5PM – 11:30PM
Friday: 5PM – 1AM
Saturday: 3PM – 1AM
Sunday: 3PM – 11:30PM
Sipping Room Da’an
- Address
No. 34號, Lane 27, Section 4, Ren’ai Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City - Open location on Google Maps
- Call +886 2 2773 5565
- Like on Facebook
- Follow on Instagram
- Operating hours
Monday – Thursday: 4PM – 11:30PM
Friday – Saturday: 12PM – 12:30AM
Sunday: 12PM – 11:30PM
Landmark
- Address
No. 68號, Section 5 of Zhongxiao East Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City - Open location on Google Maps
- Call +886 2 2722 0592
- Like on Facebook
- Follow on Instagram
- Operating hours
Monday – Thursday: 5PM – 11:30PM
Friday – Saturday: 3PM – 1:30AM
Sunday: 3PM – 11:30PM
Gyoza Bar
- Address
No. 155號, Jinhua St, Da’an District, Taipei City - Open location on Google Maps
- Call +886 2 2391 0150
- Operating hours
Monday: 4PM – 11:30PM
Tuesday – Thursday: 12PM – 11:30PM
Friday – Saturday: 11AM – 12:30AM
Sunday: 11AM – 11:30PM
Redpoint Brewing Co.
Another local brewery built on a bedrock of American verve and expertise. United by a love for beer, rock climbing, common origins, and both its founders having spent a good chunk of their lives in Taiwan, Redpoint became operational in 2013. It is the first foreign owned and operated brewery in Taiwan.
Redpoint is best known for its American-style IPAs and pale ales. Its signature brew – the highly quaffable Tai P.A. – is billed as the island’s first locally brewed IPA. The brewery’s core range consists of six other beers, including the Hazy Platypus NEIPA, Disco Macaw Juicy Pale Ale, and Rock Monkey American Stout. A total of 15 limited releases and collaboration beers have also been released over the years.
Unfortunately, Redpoint’s taproom was permanently closed in January 2024 after the municipality decided that the old building in which it was housed is to be demolished for urban renewal. Nevertheless, the brewery’s range is still readily available all over Taipei, at craft beer bars and restaurant chains such as TGI Friday’s and Texas Roadhouse alike. Redpoint also distributes to other parts of Taiwan and Hong Kong.
SUNMAI
One of the first microbreweries to open up after the Taiwan Beer monopoly came to an end, SUNMAI has grown into one of the most recognisable local beer brands on the island. Its range boasts quite a few unusual flavours – like the award-winning honey lager – and can be found in most convenience stores and supermarkets in Taipei, and even at the beer kiosk in Taoyuan International Airport.
While SUNMAI may be finding it increasingly difficult to compete with some of the newer breweries on the scene, it remains an established brand capable of keeping its head above water. Having said that, there has been some criticism among the local beer faithful pertaining to recent price hikes which – according to some – has left the price-quality ratio of the SUNMAI range horribly skewed.
Jolly Brewery & Restaurant
Next up, another post-monopoly pioneer, and one of Taipei’s original brewpubs. At Jolly’s, homemade staples (pilsner, pale ale, scotch ale, stout, and weizen) and a seasonal brews are combined with Thai food to create an all-round sensory experience. Please note that this experience is in high demand; the place is packed almost every night so you may want to call in advance to make a reservation.
- Address
No. 469, Section 6, Minquan E Rd, Neihu District, Taipei City - Open location on Google Maps
- Call +886 2 2632 2229
- Visit Website
- Like on Facebook
- Check-in on Untappd
- Operating hours
Monday – Thursday: 11:30AM – 2:30PM & 5:30PM – 10PM
Friday: 11:30AM – 2:30PM & 5PM – 11PM
Saturday: 11AM – 2:30PM & 5PM – 11PM
Sunday: 11AM – 2:30PM & 5PM – 10PM
Jim & Dad’s
A small and cosy taproom and bottle shop with couch seating on the second floor, Jim & Dad’s is located a few steps away from the southern end of Dihua Street. Its vicinity to what is considered to be Taipei’s oldest street means it is conveniently situated to attract locals and tourists alike.
Jim & Dad’s is dedicated to the use of local ingredients, the majority of which are sourced from Yilan county. This is where the actual brewery stands, amidst rice paddies and green onion fields, not far from the Kavalan whisky distillery. The range of brews inspired by such ageless Taiwanese settings include a guava wheat beer, kumquat beer, passionfruit IPA, and a number of tea beers.
- Address
No. 4號, Section 2, Yanping N Rd, Datong District, Taipei City - Open location on Google Maps
- Call +886 2 2550 5030
- Visit Website
- Like on Facebook
- Follow on Instagram
- Check-in on Untappd
- Operating hours
Monday & Wednesday – Saturday: 4PM – 12AM
Sunday: 4PM – 10PM
Tuesday: Closed
Crafted – Beer & Co.
Located roughly in the middle of the covered food stall, restaurant, and bar street at Maji Square, Crafted is an intimate bar and bottle shop known to every craft beer aficionado in Taipei. Opened in 2016, it is an undisputed landmark on our tour through the city’s craft beer scene.
Half a dozen taps pour a rotating selection of primarily local brews, although foreign creations are regularly brought into the fold. What truly sets Crafted apart, however, is the imposing variety of bottled and canned beers stocked in its fridges – over 150 at any given time! Do not despair though, the owners and staff are all craft beer lovers themselves so you are in good hands.
- Address
No. 1號, Yumen St, Zhongshan District, Taipei City - Open location on Google Maps
- Call +886 2 2598 7415
- Visit Website
- Like on Facebook
- Follow on Instagram
- Operating hours
Tuesday – Friday: 5PM – 12AM
Saturday: 2PM – 12AM
Sunday: 2PM – 10PM
Monday: Closed
ON TAP
“A real English pub in the heart of Taipei.”
Hearty pub food, sports on the telly, an expansive patio for warm summer nights, and plenty of good beer. ON TAP is a lively, British-styled and British-owned pub that has been up and running since 2011.
A rotating medley of local and imported craft beers are available on tap – such as Redpoint’s Long Dong Lager – or by the bottle, including various Badger Ales. All fairly priced, might we add!
True to its roots, the bar also stocks several ciders and sometimes hosts cider nights.
- Address
No. 21, Alley 11, Lane 216, Section 4, Zhongxiao E Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City - Open location on Google Maps
- Call +886 2 2741 5365
- Like on Facebook
- Follow on Instagram
- Operating hours
Monday – Tuesday: 5PM – 12:30AM
Wednesday – Thursday: 5PM – 1:30AM
Friday: 5PM – 2:30AM
Saturday: 4PM – 2:30AM
Sunday: 4PM – 12:30AM
Ximen Beer Bar
Ximen Beer Bar is situated in the popular Ximending district, just off Cinema Street, where you will find a number of movie theatres and a cinema-themed speakeasy. The bar itself is decorated with kitschy memorabilia, its walls adorned with photos. On some nights a pandemonium-type atmosphere reigns, when loud music and shouted conversations set the tone.
Beer-wise, the bar serves a long list of draft and bottled beers of local as well as foreign origin, both craft and mainstream. Current options on tap include 23 Brewing’s PURE AF IPA and Taihu’s Vanilla Coffee Cream Ale. Do take note that a minimum charge of TWD 300 (comparable to two drinks…) is levied.
- Address
No. 83-2號, Section 2, Wuchang St, Wanhua District, Taipei City - Open location on Google Maps
- Call +886 2 2331 1145
- Like on Facebook
- Operating hours
Sunday – Thursday: 7PM – 2AM
Friday – Saturday: 6PM – 2:30AM
BeerGeek MicroPub Taipei
While BeerGeek may very well be the smallest venue on this list in terms of floor space, its assortment of brews rivals that of any respectable craft beer establishment in Taipei. With six taps on constant rotation and many more bottles of domestic as well as international manufacture resting in a pair of fridges, the bar is a little slice of heaven for all us mortal guzzlers. Significantly smaller but equally satisfying selections of cider and whisky are available too.
- Address
No. 8, Yongji Rd, Xinyi District, Taipei City - Open location on Google Maps
- Call +886 2 2748 7558
- Like on Facebook
- Follow on Instagram
- Operating hours
6PM – 2AM daily
Far Yeast Taiwan
The first overseas restaurant directly managed by Japan’s Far Yeast Brewing Company, this gastropub serves modern Japanese cuisine in combination with (predominantly) Japanese craft beers. While the majority of the 15 brews on tap are house staples, other Japanese breweries are represented too. Curbside pickup is possible.
- Address
No. 322號, Guangfu S Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City - Open location on Google Maps
- Call +886 2 2776 2877
- Visit Website
- Like on Facebook
- Follow on Instagram
- Operating hours
Monday – Thursday: 4PM – 12AM
Friday – Saturday: 4PM – 1AM
Sunday: 2PM – 12AM
Revolver
“NO Reservation. NO Outside Drinks. NO Coldplay!”
Welcome to one of Taipei’s best underground music venues. While live bands and DJs crank up the volume and energy levels on the first two floors, the third floor lounge allows beer lovers to take a breather over a solid selection of brews. Craft or mainstream, domestic or imported, the flow of beer at Revolver is more than adequate to prevent you keeling over from dehydration!
- Address
No. 1-2號, Section 1, Roosevelt Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City - Open location on Google Maps
- Visit Website
- Like on Facebook
- Follow on Instagram
- Operating hours
Monday: 6:30PM – 1AM
Tuesday – Thursday & Sunday: 6:30PM – 3AM
Friday – Saturday: 6:30PM – 4AM
ABV Bar & Kitchen
ABV Bar & Kitchen is a restaurant chain with a dozen themed branches in northwestern Taiwan, 5 of which are located in Taipei. Not only can you select a location based on the type of food you happen to be craving, you can rest assured that there will also be craft beer on the menu wherever you choose to go.
More than 100 bottled craft brews – mainly of American, Belgian, English, and German origin – are available at these Taipei outlets: ABV Americano, ABV Caribbean, ABV Japanese, ABV Mediterranean, ABV Southeast Asian
Alchemy
Lastly, an honorable mention of sorts. Alchemy is a classy speakeasy with wooden furnishings that has consistently ranked among the top bars in Taiwan since it was opened in 2016. Located across the street from Taipei 101, visitors are drawn in by the prospect of exquisite cocktails – served in a wooden box and wrapped in newspaper – and live jazz music. Delightful place; the only thing that’s missing is craft beer on tap!
- Address
16-1號2樓, Xinyi Rd, Section 5, Xinyi District, Taipei City - Open location on Google Maps
- Call +886 2 2720 0080
- Like on Facebook
- Follow on Instagram
- Operating hours
Monday – Thursday: 7:30PM – 2AM
Friday – Saturday: 7:30PM – 3AM
Sunday: Closed
