The latest addition to the Chijmes portfolio of dining concepts, Almost Famous serves up local and international brews in a sleek, monochromatic space. The minimalist craft beer bar was set up by four entrepreneurial youths wanting to introduce craft beer to the masses, and in doing so curate up-and-coming breweries in the region. Available then are 16 taps of rotating beers, including those from Brewlander & Co. (Singapore), Pasteur Street Brewing Company (Vietnam), Young Master Brewery (Hong Kong), Stone & Wood Brewing Co. (Australia) and BrewDog (Scotland). There’s even a dedicated tap pouring Pilsner Urquell (Czech Republic)—which, despite its more commercial branding, was handpicked by the founders so as to showcase its decades-old craft brewing and pouring technique.
Pints go for $14-$16, with premium beers like Pasteur Street’s Mint Chocolate Imperial Stout and Pirate Life’s fruity, mango-flavoured Imperial/Double IPA on the pricier end of the spectrum. For craft beer beginners, the Pacific Ale ($14) from Stone & Wood and Fresh Haze IPA ($14) from Deschutes are light, easy-drinking brews.
No bar is complete without great bar snacks to complement its brews, and Almost Famous doesn’t disappoint. It’s a lean eight-piece menu, but each item holds its own. We’re fans of the Chicken & Waffles ($14), a deconstructed take on the Southern classic that pairs excellently with the Anderson Valley’s Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout ($14). Also good for sharing are the bite-sized Onion Churros ($10) with sweet and spicy dip, and the Tom Yum Gyoza ($10), a dish of complex sweet and sour flavours where the smokey tom yum spice kicks in at the end. The gyozas also pair well with Brewlander’s Love Wild IPA ($14-$16), whose fruity flavours help dim the slightly funkier tom yum taste. But if you’re there for a night of drunken binging, definitely get the Encierro Garlic Wings ($27), fried in garlic aeoli for the perfect lip-smacking crunch.
If beer isn’t your thing, there’s a small selection of house wines ($10)—though you’d be doing yourself a disservice skipping the beers. As an entry-level space for craft beer, fine aesthetics, and actually tasty bar snacks, Almost Famous more than meets the mark.
