Beerfest Asia 2011

Beerfest Asia is back! Gather a group of booze-minded friends and prepare for a fun night out.

I attended it last year, and the year before, and I want to go again this year. It's like Oktoberfest in summer, only better. So many types of beer, be prepared to be spoilt for choice.

Dates: 16 - 19 June 2011 (Thurs - Sun)
Time: 6pm - 1am (Thurs)/ 6pm - 2am (Fri& Sat)/ 12p-9pm (Sun)
Venue: Marina Promenade
Early bird price: $20 - 28 (depending on day)
Normal price: $32 - 37 (depending on day)

Tips
1. There are discounts if you book with OCBC cards. For the hard-core beer guzzler, there's also the OCBC 4-Day comb ticket at $50. You can buy tickets here. There are limited early bird tickets so hurry.

2. Ticket price includes 2 free beers, remember to redeem! There's a choice of lager, cider, stout, weiss beer, ale and fruit beer available.

3. Additional beers are purchased with tokens. Don't get carried away by buying too much tokens. Although they may be cashed back, there is a 10% charge.

4. The beer list is not out yet but there were a lot of exotic beers we tried last year. Some weren't cheap, so find an adventurous friend to share with you.

Importantly, it'll be a long night, so go easy and try to remember most of it the next day!

Brussel Sprouts at East Coast

To mark my last day of being 32, I decided to check out the new outlet of Brussel Sprouts at the Playground, East Coast Park. We had earlier tried going there two months ago but it wasn't opened yet. They are one month old and I'm so glad I don't need to travel to Robertson Walk to satisfy my mussel cravings anymore!

It's a lovely location, overlooking the sea and the place has high wooden beam ceilings with a long bar at the corner. Perfect to chill out at on weekends. Service was a tad slow because it's a new outfit but the staff were generally attentive.

Tips

1. A must-order is the mussels in poulette broth (mushrooms, chicken stock, cream, butter, parsley) - it's so good I slurp up every drop while K looks on mildly embarassed. The free-flow fries are soooooo good, we polish off the whole lot and ask for more. I like the salad liegeoise (warm salad with green beans, bacon, onions, potatoes and poached egg) too.

2. Happy hours are daily till 8pm, I heart the leffe beers. They also do mussel promotions on weekdays and weekends.

3. Parking space is aplenty although if you are a beer guzzler I'd advise you not to drive :)

Level 33

There is only 1 lift to go up to the 33rd floor of the Marina Bay Financial Centre and a bit of a wait. But once up at the "world's highest urban craft-brewery", the view is awesome.

(pic from is-asia-city.com)

There's nothing quite as surreal as guzzling beer, looking out at a view like that and feeling the (oh man, what a) breeze in your hair. It really helped take the edge off my hard day at work. Clearly I'm not the only one who feels that way because the place was PACKED with thirsty office types.

Purists will like the signature brews on tap - choice of lager, ale and stout. Me, I ordered the House Porter, a mix of stout and ale. It was good, yummy velvety balance of dark beer with a 4.5% alkie buzz. ~$14 a pint during happy hours.

I was hungry and wasn't in the mood for pub grub so I ordered THIS for dinner. Ain't it a beauty? Jumbo prawns, soba in lobster bisque with mango salsa! Admittedly a bit pricey at $39 but oh so good...

I have a craving just thinking about it. Will return for a fix when I feel rich *rubs hands in delight*.