The art of craft

if you aren’t an east-sider, getting to Little Island Brewing Co (LIBC) takes some commitment. But it’s definitely worth the journey if you know your ales from your lagers. How serious is this three-year-old microbrewery? There are 10 massive brewing tanks and a whopping 30 self-pouring tap stations dispensing original local craft beers, house-brewed sodas and wines. Now, that’s dedication.

Located at a 10,000 sq ft area in Changi Village, the casual joint sits within an industrial-style warehouse space furnished with concrete counters, communal wooden tables and twinkling fairy lights. Once you’re there, purchase a stored value card (minimum credit of $10), and then head to the self-dispensing draft wall where you can be your own bartender.

While pooches aren’t allowed indoors unless it’s raining, furkids are welcome in the sprawling 300-seater al fresco dining area. The indoor seating area can fit 182 patrons, and water, ice and cutlery are located at self-serving central counters—great for paw-rents who wish to fetch water for their furkids. The breezy establishment isn’t fenced up and the carpark is right outside, so keep your canine companion leashed at all times.

Food and drink
Start off with a plate of Chicken Wings ($8), which are coated with sticky Thai spices and topped with tangy Vietnamese dressing, and the grilled Chili Pumpkin ($10), which comes with Greek yoghurt, tomato salsa, pine nuts and caramelised onions. For those who love crunchy sides, snack on the Crispy Whitebait ($10), which is deep-fried silver fish tossed with sumac-spiced sea salt—a surefire hit with the kids.

As for mains, the Grilled Fish ($32), a chargrilled and salt-wrapped whole red snapper, was fresh and moist. We ordered the hearty Meat Platter ($48)—great for big groups—which comprised LIBC’s signature 15-hour smoked Wagyu beef brisket, crispy roast pork belly, chicken inasal and smoked pork sausage. But our favourite was the Balinese Pork Ribs ($26), which was so tender, the meat slid off the bone. We concluded the meal with a classic Sticky Date Pudding ($12), a sinfully indulgent combo of butterscotch sauce, dense pudding and vanilla ice cream.

While LIBC has a wide variety of drinks, including beer, cider, homemade soda and wine, we recommend the Naked Lager ($12 for 450ml)—an extra pale beer that fills your mouth with notes of sweet honey, vanilla and malt—and That Old Black Magic ($12 for 450ml), a dark, creamy Irish stout with hints of chocolate and coffee. The brews are also sold in 100ml quantities ($1.90 to $5), so if you can’t make up your mind, try them all! The draft beer list is rotated regularly because the brewery is always concocting new brews in small batches, so call to check if your favourite drink is available before dropping by.

Pet-friendliness
There’s plenty of room outdoors, so bigger breeds should have no problem fitting in. However, dogs aren’t allowed indoors and have to be leashed at all times. There’s no furkid menu, but you can help yourself to an unlimited supply of water and ice.

To read our full review, flip to Pet-Friendly Venue (pg 32) of our Apr/May 2018 issue!