Beerfest Asia fizzes in Hong Kong

Asia’s “largest beer festival”, Beerfest Asia will descend upon Hong Kong this December in its first venture overseas.

As reported by the Straits Times, the festival has already had eight events in Singapore with the last beer-soaked bash held in June with more than 500 beers from over 35 exhibitors and which attracted a 27,500-strong brew-loving crowd.

The organisers, Sphere Exhibits, a subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings decided to expand the festival to Hong Kong, citing Hong Kong’s “huge base” of beer fans who are becoming “affluent and increasingly sophisticated beer drinkers” as the primary draw.

Ian Lim, senior manager for festivals at Sphere Exhibits said: “We are very excited. This will be the first major beer festival in Hong Kong that brings together both commercial and craft brews.”

Beer geeks can expect more than 400 beers, which include Hong Kong’s own of Gweilo Beer and Little Creatures, and craft beers and ciders from around the world brought in by specialist beer importers such as Bel-Boy Express, Seven Brews and Artisan Imports.

Beerfest Asia will run from 1-4 December West Kowloon Cultural District Waterfront Promenade with tickets available from Ticketflap.

Hong Kong has seen a huge surge of interest in all things related to craft beer, from brewing its own and opening specialist bars to hosting the ever-popular Beertopia, which this year is scheduled for November.