Brewdog 5AM Saint

Almost a staple in some stores in KL, but often overlooked, is it time to give 5AM Saint another try?

Anyone in Malaysia reading this blog really shouldn't need an introduction to Brewdog. One of the pre-eminent global craft brewers, they've been pushing the bar for what a craft brewer can be for years and have been a consistent presence on the Malaysian craft scene pretty much since day one. And whether it's their chain of global bars, their "beer" hotels or their "Equity for Punks" crowdfunding scheme, their business ideas are often just as big and bold as their beers.

Brewdog can be found in many of KL's ever increasing number of beer bars, but to really check the extended range available in Malaysia you need to visit Taps, who have cultivated a close relationship with the Scottish brewer. As well as looking to see what's on tap (Please let it be Jack Hammer, please please!), it's always worth scouring the fridges behind the bar to see which Brewdog bottles are lurking back there, often something beyond the core range you normally find in KL.

But it's that core range that I think has become really important, because in certain stores it's become a permanent addition to shelves otherwise covered in commercial lager. And that is amazing. Knowing that I can walk into places like BIG or Jaya Grocer and find alongside the Heineken, Tiger and Carlsberg there'll be Brewdog, Fullers and various German and Belgium staples is a huge difference to what I would see 10 years ago.

And obviously many stores have other great beers rotating across the shelves as stock comes in, but it's great that I can wander down to the local supermarket and pick up a Jack Hammer or ESB whenever I want.

If you are lucky enough to live near a store that has Brewdog year round, one of the beers you will likely see is 5AM Saint. This red ale first arrived in Malaysia very early on alongside its stablemates Punk IPA and Dead Pony Club pale ale and was a class act immediately, but has somewhat been overshadowed by the various trends since then as big hop, haze and sour flavours have dominated.

But we shouldn't dismiss 5AM Saint just yet as it really is a very good ale which, at supermarket prices, should be picked up whenever you can. Brewed at 5% it's easy yet flavoursome. A slight ruby colour (which is why it's called a Red Ale) hides that it is in many way just a really nice amber ale. Malty, with some caramel and well balanced hops it's a great beer to relax with on a hot day.

One day, maybe, we may have a Brewdog bar here in Malaysia (and hopefully not too long, eh, guys?). Until then, their beers are here to stay anyway, and that's worth celebrating. 

2021 UPDATE: Brewdog have flourished in Malaysia since this post in 2019 (not withstanding their issues elsewhere, with some very unsavoury allegations abut their business and operating practices.)

What hasn't flourished is 5AM Saint, which seems to have disappeared from shelves just after (and quite possibly, because) I called it a staple on the shelves. Still, I can pop to my local store and find a range of 8 different Brewdog beers on the shelves, which was unthinkable even when I wrote the above 3 years ago. So Farewell 5AM Saint... hello Jackhammer in a can!