Engkanto Brewery Is Proof That Filipino Craft Beer Is the Real Deal

San Miguel, Red horse, and Engkanto, all have what in common? You’re right they’re all the biggest names of Filipino breweries! “But Niko, Encanto is about Bruno, not breweries.” Well you couldn’t be more wrong and I’m here to set the record straight. So let’s pop open a cold one, kick back, and sip on one of the most popular growing beers as we dive into: Engkanto Brewery, the Filipino beer that’s taking the craft beer world by storm.

The Creators

Ian Paradies is the creator and visionary behind Engkanto Brewery, realizing how “Filipinos are underserved when it comes to beer”, causing the spark into bringing better quality craft beers to the Philippines. In 2017, Engkanto’s microbrewery opened up in Makati City where the original lineup was brewed: Lager, Blond Ale, Pale Ale, IPA, and Double IPA, all 5 flavors coming to life with his partner in crime, Brewmaster Josh Karten. In the following year as operations started to grow larger than what their microbrewery could handle, Engkanto moved to a larger facility in Carmona, Cavite in 2018. Fast forward to 2021 when Engkanto made a monumental shift to Brewmaster Michael “MJ”, taking over the brewery and starting their  numerous international awards and rise to global popularity. According to the Engkanto website “Brewmaster MJ made their beer lineup more approachable, exciting, and collaborative to suit the local palate incorporating flavors like honey, mango, and ube”. Since then, Engkanto Brewery boasts the title of being the most internationally awarded brewery and has spread its reach all over the world and can be found in the USA, Australia, UAE, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Taiwan. 

The Dream Team of Beer Flavors

Beer is always defined by the crisp hoppy taste that has a bittersweet flavor, which can be paired with our favorite bar foods or as a standalone treat during happy hour with some friends. What truly sets apart Engkanto from other beer companies is the tasteful artisan flavors that have truly taken the craft beer world by storm. Of course they have classic, award winning beers like their Live It Up Lager, Green Lava Double IPA, and High Hive Honey Ale, the Honey specifically being noted to pair well with kare kare. But after conducting a highly scientific personal review of Engkantos beers, I think their charm is in their Filipino related beers. 

Firstly, the heavy hitter of the batch is their Paint Me Purple Ube Lager. Truly a rich and creamy beer that really masks the bitter hoppy flavor, making this an awesome entry level beer to anyone who isn’t a normal beer drinker. I almost had to do a double take that I wasn’t drinking a frothy shake with how smooth that first sip is, almost like a halo halo shake. With 5.5% alc/vol it’s a very subtle drink that might be the right dessert beer for you. 

Next is their Mango Nation Hazy IPA. I know other breweries have mango beers as well but Engkanto proudly uses the prized Manila mango to create this juicy, fruity tropical escape. Coming in at a slightly higher 5/7% alc/vol, this Mango Nation Hazy IPA has been noted to pair well with ceviche or shrimp tacos. 

Lastly, the 2 limited edition releases take classic Filipino flavors and bottle them in beer form. Their recent holiday flavor, Nutty & Nice Choco Nut Stout is described as chocolate, nutty, creamy flavor that “takes you on a trip down memory lane”. My taste buds are daydreaming about how rich and creamy the Ube Lager was and imagining that texture but in Choco Nut form, and coming in at 6.3% alc/vol this isn’t a beer for the light hearted. In addition, their limited release, Dew Drop Dalandan Wheat Ale, is described as the perfect summer beer bringing the iconic citrus flavor the famous Filipino sour fruit, Dalandan, into a refreshing tartness on a belgian-style wheat classic. I have yet to find these in any restaurant or stores but I’ll be sure to run to the register once they touch down stateside. And if anyone from Engkanto Brewery is reading this and wants to send me a bottle or two to update my review, in the name of science I will gladly take that venture. 

The Awards

Yes, Engkantos awards deserve their own section on this blog: 1. Because they have worked hard and deserve their own section to stand and receive their flowers and 2. Because there are too many awards to just write in a small snippet of a paragraph. 

High Hive Honey Ale

• 2024 World Beer Awards Winner World’s Best - Flavoured Beer - Honey & Maple Syrup Category

• 2024 World Beer Awards Philippines Gold- Flavoured Beer - Honey & Maple Category

• 2024 Australian International Beer Awards Bronze Medal Winner – Specialty Honey Beer (Best Flavoured Specialty Beer)

• 2023 World Beer Awards Philippines Silver – Flavoured Beer – Honey & Maple Syrup Category

• 2023 Australian International Beer Awards Gold Medal Winner – Specialty Honey Beer Category

• 2022 World Beer Awards Philippines Country Winner – Flavoured Beer – Honey & Maple Syrup Category

• 2022 World Beer Awards Philippines Gold – Flavoured Beer – Honey & Maple Syrup Category

• 2022 Brussels Beer Challenge Silver - Flavoured Beer: Honey Beer Category

Dalandan Wheat Ale

• 2024 World Beer Awards Philippines Silver Wheat Beer – Belgian Style Witbier Category

Paint Me Purple Ube Lager

• 2024 World Beer Awards Philippines Silver Flavoured Beer – Fruit & Vegetable Category

• 2024 Australian International Beer Awards Bronze Medal Winner – Best Flavoured Specialty Beer Category

Green Lava Double IPA

• 2024 World Beer Awards Philippines Country Winner IPA - Imperial/Double IPA Category

• 2024 World Beer Awards Philippines Gold IPA - Imperial/Double IPA Category

• 2023 World Beer Awards Philippines Country Winner IPA - Imperial/Double IPA Category

• 2023 World Beer Awards Philippines Gold IPA - Imperial/Double IPA Category

• 2023 Australian International Beer Awards Bronze Medal Winner – American Style Imperial/Double IPA Category

• 2022 World Beer Awards Philippines Silver IPA - Imperial/Double IPA Category

• 2021 World Beer Awards Philippines Bronze Double IPA – Imperial/Double IPA Category

• 2021 Asia Beer Championship Bronze DIPA – Double IPA Category

Mango Nation Hazy IPA

• 2024 World Beer Awards Philippines Silver IPA - IPA Session Category

• 2024 Australian International Beer Awards Bronze Medal Winner – Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale (Best Modern India Pale Ale)

• 2023 Asia Beer Championship Chairman’s Selection – Session IPA

Live It  Up Lager

• 2024 World Beer Awards Philippines Country Winner Lager – Classic Pilsener Category

• 2024 World Beer Awards Philippines Gold Lager – Classic Pilsener Category

• 2023 World Beer Awards Philippines Silver Lager – Classic Pilsener Category

• 2023 Australian International Beer Awards Bronze Medal Winner – International Style Pilsner Category

• 2022 World Beer Awards Philippines Bronze Lager - Classic Pilsener Category

• 2022 Asia Beer Championship Chairman’s Selection – International Pale Lager Category

• 2021 World Beer Awards Philippines Country Winner Lager – Classic Pilsener Category

• 2021 Asia Beer Championship Silver Lager – International Lager Category

Currently, Engkanto is working on their distribution in the US. Currently, you get it at the following, as well as a few select Total Wine and More stores::

📍Phlight-Whittier, CA
📍Spoon &Pork-Los Angeles, CA
📍Sampa-Los Angeles, CA
📍Lasita- Los Angeles, CA

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Written By Niko Del Rey

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