We are still nursing our hangover from last week’s Gin Lane party but that is not going to stop us from indulging this month. Come on, it’s the end of the year anyway! The holiday season is pretty much here, so get off your chairs and head out for some hangover-inducing Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties and welcome 2017 with a warm, boozy embrace.
A beer-centric run for those who like to drink and exercise (at the same time)
If you’re looking to try drinking beer and running long distance at the same time, try the one-off Beer Run ORTO (Dec 17) which is having its inaugural event at ORTO’s promenade. Taking its cues from beer mile events from across the globe, the event asks participants to cover 1.8km consisting of two laps of 900m each. The catch is you have to finish a pint of beer after your first lap. There will also be other beer-centric activities like a beer pong tournament and team chug, which rewards you with beer coupons. But to be clear, it’s only half a run. The other half is a party.
Bring in the new year with a bang
2016 went by so swiftly and there is a slew of countdown parties to celebrate the new year. Channel your Old World elegance at this themed countdown party (Dec 31) at the Grand Hyatt, where the lobby will be abuzz in ornate decorations and live music. They will be serving premium beverages like Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque vintage Champagne. Nothing says classic NYE in Singapore like the countdown and firework display at Marina Bay (Dec 31), this year headlined by the fifteen-time Grammy Award-winning singer Alicia Keys and Hoobastank. The lineup for Rock On 2017 also includes Asian pop artists like Rainie Yang, Shin, Penny Tai and others. If all those big countdown parties are too mainstream for you. If you prefer something cozy and cool, why not head to Coastes and Sand Bar’s two-in-one countdown beach and barbeque party (Dec 31). They’re doing a buffet spread of seafood, meats, mains and desserts. House pours start from $10 if you want to fuel up. Don’t worry, we will come up with an exhaustive list of countdown parties for you to choose from soon.
Champagnes and wine for the holiday season
It is the holiday season and that means lots of bubblies. Janice Wong and ChauteauAsia are working together to host a unique champagne and dim sum pairing event (Dec 1) at her restaurant in the National Museum of Singapore. There, she’ll share her creations and expertise about dim sum. If you’re planning to host a Christmas party, this one is for you. Stewords Riverboat is having a wine and canapes fair of sorts (Dec 3), where you will get to taste over 40 wines from all over the world and how to make tantalizing canapes. Wine aficionados will know that California’s Napa Valley Wine Country is a place of great wines and Camp Kilo Charcoal Club is bringing a little slice of Napa Valley to you (Dec 3). You will get to meet chief winemakers of Beringer Vineyards, Beaulieu Vineyard and more, alongside hearty plates of barbeque food by Camp Kilo. For those with a keen interest in how Champagne is made, ChateauAsia will be hosting a champagne tasting at Tower club (Dec 8). On top of sipping on exquisite champagnes, there will also be delicious canapes for you to nibble on .
Countdown to Christmas with craft beers
Thirsty, one of Singapore’s leading craft beer sellers, has created a fun way to countdown to Christmas this year. The “craft beer advent calendar” is basically a carton of 24 different craft beers placed in 24 different compartments with the dates leading up to Christmas written on it. So you’re supposed to drink one bottle a day starting on Dec 1, and by the time you’re done with it, it’ll be Christmas Eve. Exciting.
Escape the bustling city life at this new bar
Away from the bustling city life, Youngs Bar & Restaurant is housed in one of the many colonial bungalows in Seletar Aerospace Park. This 130-seater establishment has a very cozy and modern vibe, with its warm lighting, padded walls, marble-like tables and wood furnishings. Apart from their mains, they also have small bar bites if you are looking for something light, like the polenta fries with truffle mayo ($12), tomato and cheese meatballs ($14) and deep-fried crab cakes ($16).They have a wide range of draught beers, classic cocktails, red and white wines and Scottish, Irish and Japanese whiskies. Not forgetting their speciality cocktails such as their Bonnie and Clyde ($15), a nutty concoction with scotch and Irish cream and Dillinger’s Cranium ($15), a fruity mixture of a whole passionfruit with Snow Leopard Vodka.
Haji Lane gets its first craft beer house
Located below Anthony Zhong’s (ex-Jigger & Pony) Shin Gi Tai, Good Luck Beerhouse sports a rustic and vintage outlook to create a super laidback vibe for all to enjoy. And with a small seating capacity of 25, you won’t have to shout at each other just to have a proper conversation. Drinks-wise, they offer over 50 different kinds of apple ciders, bottled craft beers and other alcoholic beverages including Zeffer apple ciders ($13), Yeastie Boys’ pot kettle black beer ($16), Stone’s arrogant bastard ale ($18) and citrusy wit ($15) and more. They feature local craft brewers like Innocence brewery and Crossroads, and have their craft beers pouring permanently. When it comes to food items, their small menu offers $2-$4 dim sum where you can find anything from your typial chives & pork dumplings ($4.50) to your chicken glutinous rice in lotus leaf ($5).
A local microbrewery is throwing a party in Jalan Besar
Unusual location, we know, but Drink Eat Party 2016 (Dec 10-11) may be the most hyperlocal block party we’ve seen so far. Treat yourself to roast beef, BBQ chicken, sambal stingray and grilled squid. Microbrewery 1925 Brewing Co. will be serving their craft beers and there will be live music by local band Paraphrase.
Kilo Lounge finds a new space in Tanjong Pagar
We were definitely saddened when Kilo Lounge closed down early last year but as promised they have finally found a new home in Tanjong Pagar. Though the space isn’t up and running just yet, but they’re throwing two parties, aptly named, Under Construction (Dec 2-3), where you will get to check the unfinished space while dancing to sick beats by international DJs.
Rooftop Christmas happenings
Lepark
Thirsty Craft Beer Shop will be throwing a Christmas pop-up party (Dec 3) (which could possibly the last party they throw ever) at MyVillage @ Serangoon Garden’s rooftop. There will be six craft beers on tap such as Zeffer Red Apple Cider and Modern Times Black House Coffee Stout for you to make merry as well as exciting beer floats. You can bring your own food or order some great fare from the vicinity such as the spicy grilled stingray from Chomp Chomp food centre or Korean fried chicken from Yogiyo Chicken. Chinatown’s rooftop hipster eatery Lepark and concert organizers Getai Group are teaming up again for a special Christmas party (Dec 24), with a line-up of live performances. Details are scant as of press time, but they have done a series of these already, so if you like local bands, craft beer and low-slung rooftop view.
The exciting and almost religious beach party for revellers
It is December and you know what that means, it is time for ZoukOut 2016 (Dec 9-10), Zouk’s annual outdoor overnight dance party, happening at Siloso Beach, Sentosa on Dec 9-10, under its new management. The final line-up is out, and it’s a nice mix with a lot of big names such as Hardwell, Alan Walker, KSHMR, GTA, Martin Garrix and Zedd, who will be headlining the festival, alongside techno maestro Fritz Kalkbrenner, Belgian DJ Lost Frequencies and British DJ Hot Since 82, who will be spinning deep house, along with more techno and hard-hitting house tracks from Tiga, and Tokimonsta’s unique blend on electronic, hip-hop and dance music.
The Refinery gets a cheeky sister establishment
Little Bastard is a 38-seater space, which was once an extension of The Refinery, shares a similar atmosphere as its sister outlet just downstairs, though it really does look like an upscaled version of a dingy mahjong den: wooden tables and chairs, unfinished ceilings, painted oil drums… that kind of stuff. They serve up thai-Cantonese fare perfect for sharing. Their drinks menu is a familiar mix of our favorite childhood drinks with a boozy twist like Simply Yeo’s ($18), a unique concoction of sous vide gin with lemon peel, barley, barley and pandan leaves, bird’s nest and fresh lemon juice; Cheng Tng Gao ($18), which is the Little Bastard’s take on the classic Cheng Tng, spiked with a splash of Brandy; as well as classics like their version of the Smoky Bastard ($24), where they use bourbon sous vide with preserved plum, peated whisky, grapefruit bitters and a pinch of sugar.
