In a city where neighborhood bars and restaurants form the heart of the social scene for many, dedicated craft beer bars are few. However, these interesting, progressive beers, made by smaller-scale breweries are seemingly invading the palate of our city’s beer connoisseurs. Now, there is an increasing number of bars and pubs that serve craft beers and a few specialising in them. Here are three bars where you can find these untraditional beers, often explosively hoppy.

Taps Beer Bar prides themselves on being the only bar in Malaysia that serves only craft beers. With their rotating tap concept, the range of beers changes regularly to ensure the freshness of the beers and to showcase the extensive variety of craft beers from all around the world. This is a no-nonsense craft beers bar. With so many different types of beers, where to start, you ask? We did the work for you, and tried a few beers from the long and impressive list. The Hightail Ale from Australia, which is an English pale ale, has a thick malty body with toffee, caramel and juicy fruit hop notes. While the Pale Rider, an American Pale Ale has strong passion fruit and orange aromas with a hint of toffee at the end. If you are into bitter beers, try Mr Sno’balls – which tastes of bready and biscuity malts, with a touch of zesty citrus hops. Robust Porter, on the other hand, is dominated by toasted grain and milk chocolate with some roasted coffee rounding out the aroma and palate. Best thing about the beers here? Nothing over RM30 a pint.

Brux-Ale
With more than 18 types of Belgium beers available in bottles and on tap, Brux-Ale could as well be the Belgium beer specialist in KL. As you’ve guessed, they only serve Belgian beers (and Belgian food) here. Decadently dark, yet this cosy little tavern looks nothing like a monk’s basement. Now, straight to their beers: there are three types available on tap and the rest are served in bottles. These include five award-winning Belgian beers, including Barbar with honey and Floreffe Prima Merlior. These strong ales contain 8% alcohol, so you might want to go easy on them. Otherwise, opt for the white Blanche de Bruxelles, which is light and very easy to drink; best paired up with some mussels and fries. Ladies would love the Kriek, a cherry beer which is refreshing and sweet. So if you are a discerning beer guzzler looking to open up your ‘beer experience’ this is the place to start.

Craft Brews is one of the earliest establishments bringing micro-brews into our city. They were the first drinking hole to bring in Rogue beers from America too, both on taps and in bottles. Beers fanatics might recognize names like Juniper Pale Ale, Dead Guy Ale, Mocha Porter, Mom Hefeweizen and Dad’s Little Helper. These funky-looking beers each have distinct tastes and characteristic; some beer guzzlers have called the Juniper Pale Ale ‘the beer version of a gin and tonic’! Dead Guy Ale has been featured on popular American TV series, Supernatural. More recently, Craft Brews also brought in a series of Japanese indie beers. These include Sapporo, Oyster Black, Nest Beer, Shiga Kogen Porter and some Japanese words that we couldn’t recognise. Craft Brews is always packed, especially with the after-work crowd.