There were 640 entries from top breweries across Asia that joined this year’s Asia Beer Championship and a Philippine-made beer clinched the coveted Champion Beer of Asia—Summer Breeze Saison by Elias Wicked Ales & Spirits.
The five-year-old microbrewery emerged as Country Champion Brewery, winning the award two years in a row. It also took home a Gold for Summer Breeze Saison (Saison category), a Bronze for Supperr Fruit Punch (Session Fruit Beer category), and three Chairman’s Selection awards namely There She Gose and Gose Busters (Gose category) and Proppa Pale Ale (British Pale Ale category).
While Elias has consistently received medals in previous years, winning multiple awards this year holds a special significance for the team. Elias’ marketing consultant, Cyrus Cruz, expresses his elation, saying, “This is the first year that we got a gold medal and also received the Champion Beer of Asia, which is one of the most prestigious awards that a brewery in Asia can get.”
He adds that they were genuinely surprised because there are many strong breweries in Asia, and the usual winners are the well-established ones from Singapore, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Majority of these breweries have been in the industry for a long time.
Cruz believes that what sets the Summer Breeze Saison apart from the other beer contenders is the fermentation process. “People noted hints of pineapple and peach in it, but we didn't introduce these elements [into our Saison]. It simply means our brewers did a great job in crafting this beer,” he says.
Elias' founder and president, Raoul Masangcay, credits their recent success to maintaining a continuous improvement mindset, a crucial element in the microbrewery's growth. He also acknowledges their brewing consultant, Jason Matthews, whose extensive experience has been a valuable resource in their pursuit of crafting exceptional beers.
“We also made several improvements on our recipes based on the learnings from the past competitions,” Masangcay offers. “We studied the global trends in the F&B industry, the taste preferences of our customers and of the great flavors of our country.”
Similarly, his attendance at brewery courses and conferences in the U.S. has also proven beneficial when brainstorming recipes and processes. “Combined with the disciplined execution of our recipes by our head brewer, Miljohn See, we successfully achieved our desired outcomes,” he says.
Masangcay admits it’s especially challenging to be competing against more established breweries in Asia considering the lack of brewing equipment suppliers and limitations in the availability of ingredients. “We had to import some [ingredients] in small quantities from the U.S. to achieve the desired flavor profiles,” he shares.
In some cases, they innovated by incorporating as many local ingredients as possible to craft the flavors they aimed for. “An example of our success in this approach is our award-winning Supperr Fruit Punch gose-style beer, which featured fresh lansones, mango, pineapple, and toasted coconut, setting it apart from other entries,” he says.
Engineer-turned-cicerone
It might come as a surprise to learn that Elias’ founder is in fact a software engineer by profession. His IT career took him to Singapore, where he crossed paths with a group that ignited his passion for brewing beer. The engineer developed a deep appreciation for the precision and craftsmanship required in beer production. “I love beer because it's like engineering that you can taste,” he would often tell people who ask about his fondness for the beverage.
When he relocated to the U.S., a nation known for its love of beer, he introduced his homebrew creation, the Manila Pale Ale, to a community of hundreds of fellow homebrew enthusiasts on the East Coast. This experience further fueled his passion and drove him to delve deeper into the art of brewing.
Upon his return to the Philippines, he observed a noticeable absence of craft beer in the local market. He couldn't help but think it was a missed opportunity, given the abundance of diverse fruits and flavors in the country. This realization prompted him to establish a small brewery within his sister-in-law's restaurant on Ubay Street in Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City, which eventually grew into the thriving brewery it is today.
Gamechanger
As many might have already guessed, Elias draws its inspiration from the character in Dr. Jose Rizal’s novel “Noli Me Tangere.” “Elias’ character is inherently revolutionary, always challenging the status quo. Essentially, that’s the same spirit we want Elias to embody—uniqueness and individuality,” says Cruz.
At present, they maintain a selection of approximately 25 beers, hard ciders, and seltzers on tap, which they rotate regularly at their 150-seater taproom-slash-brewery in Quezon City. "In addition to our flagship flavors, we enjoy experimenting with seasonal offerings. We also supply our beers to other bars and restaurants looking to feature our brews," he adds.
The craft beer industry in the Philippines is still young compared to other countries. While winning competitions is great, the hardest part, Cruz admits, is winning the hearts of more Filipinos, who are used to drinking commercial beers. This is the reason why they opt to focus more on making lighter, refreshing, fruity beers that more Filipinos can appreciate and enjoy.
They are also opening a second taproom soon at Madison Galeries in Alabang in order to offer a diverse range of beverages and delicious food to more people in Metro Manila.
The engineer-turned-cicerone says their victory in the Asia Beer Championship reaffirms their confidence in the innovative approach and meticulous execution they apply to crafting beer. “We are thrilled to see the momentum we’re building. At Elias, our vision has always been to bring high-quality craft beers infused with local flavors to every Filipino. This achievement provides an exciting start as we continue to experiment with local ingredients and work towards the future goal of expanding our brewing facility,” he says.
Banner photo by Jar Concengco for F&B Report
Other images courtesy of Elias Wicked Ales & Spirits