What are the operating hours and kitchen closing time for East West Brewing in Ho Chi Minh City?

East West Brewing operates from 11 AM until midnight on weekdays, and until 1 AM on weekends. When the article's author visited around 11:45 PM, the kitchen had already closed, making it impossible to order snacks.

Can I choose my own beers for East West Brewing's 10-beer sampler?

Yes, East West Brewing's 10-beer sampler allows visitors to personally select 10 different beers, rather than having a fixed set. The article's author mentioned that 9 out of the 10 beers they ordered were served correctly.

Are there any snacks or simple appetizers available to accompany beer at East West Brewing in Ho Chi Minh City?

When the article's author visited, ordering snacks was not possible due to the kitchen being closed. Upon inquiry, it was confirmed that even nuts or simple snack items are not provided.

Among East West Brewing's 10-beer sampler, which beers does the article's author recommend?

The article's author picked Wit Blanc, Summer Hefeweizen, and Juicy IPA as their personal best picks among the 10 sampler beers. They mentioned that Coffee Vanilla Porter was also good but was excluded due to its high alcohol content.

Ho Chi Minh Craft Beer Pub: My Go-To Spot for Local Brews

Ho Chi Minh Craft Beer Pub: My Go-To Spot for Local Brews | TRVLOGUE

Ho Chi Minh City's Culinary Gems: A Craft Beer Pub

This place was originally meant to be the grand finale in my "Ho Chi Minh City Must-Visit Spots" series,

but the post was getting way too long...

so I decided to give it its own spotlight in a separate "Ho Chi Minh City's Culinary Gems (Beer)" series! Haha.

This is a spot I first visited during a business trip to Ho Chi Minh City,

when the CEO of a partner company I was working with kindly brought me here.

A photo from back then. It was October 30, 2018.

Looking at the decorations, it must have been Halloween! Haha.

This is a photo from my recent visit.

The last time I went,

that is, during Halloween in '18,

a big issue suddenly came up at the partner company that day, and the CEO looked incredibly busy.

I was worried that if I waited, it would just add to their stress, so I actually tried to leave early.

But they asked if I had other plans for the evening,

and when I said I had nothing,

they asked me to wait just a little longer, saying they were almost done.

So, the work was successfully wrapped up,

and it was time for a celebratory beer~!!

That's how I discovered this amazing Ho Chi Minh City spot,

and this time, I made sure to revisit it.

As an aside,

it's truly wonderful to grab a drink like this with the CEO of a partner company. Hehe.

Usually, my business trips are to places with local subsidiaries,

and the conversations always tend to be the same old thing.

(Perhaps because we're all within the 'fence' of the company.)

But when I chat with a CEO from a partner company like this,

it's truly, haha,

so diverse and insightful, perfectly illustrating the saying: 'It's a jungle out there beyond the company walls.'

I get to hear real-world stories I'd never even considered or known about before,

and those stories are always incredibly fascinating.

Here it is!

The colorful signboard standing at the entrance.

Here's the night version (left) and the day version (right).

I happened to pass by during the day, so I snapped another picture! Haha.

The problem was... Google Maps said their opening hours were only until 12 AM...

I decided to come anyway,

and it was currently 11:45 PM....

So I went inside and asked. (Because it was Friday night, after all...?)

Luckily, they said they were open until 1 AM.

So, just one quick drink then.

They mentioned the kitchen had already closed, though.

The tables were mostly empty, but...

the few remaining patrons were a comforting sight! Haha.

If even those people left...

I'd feel awkward all by myself! T_T

Oh!

These two groups arrived even later than me! Haha.

This whole area was empty before. Hehe.

Let's be comrades in late-night revelry! Lol.

Time to order.

There are two menus here:

one for snacks/food and one for drinks.

Wow, I can't believe there are so many amazing menu items here!!

Last time I visited, I hadn't yet discovered the charm of craft beer, so I guess I didn't notice.

Actually, I came here partly to confirm if this was the same place I visited before, and it is!

The features I remember match up.

Very high ceilings, and tall tables too.

As I was looking to order...

Wait, a 10-beer sampler?!

This is it!

And it's not pre-set, you can choose all 10!

I carefully picked out 10 and told them, and they didn't write anything down.... haha.

I subtly gestured for them to write it down, but I guess they memorized it all LOL.

Memorizing things... it doesn't really impress me anymore.

Instead, it just makes me anxious that they might get the order wrong.

To realize this only now, haha!

What I mean is,

back when I used to work part-time,

a large group of customers ordered different beers,

and I didn't write anything down, just memorized and brought them over, and the customers were so impressed, saying 'oooooh!'

After that, I got a taste for it

and deliberately didn't write anything down.

But now that I'm on the customer side...

it actually makes me anxious LOL, worried they might get it wrong LOL.

Indeed, everything should be viewed from the customer's perspective!

Simply dazzling...

Actually, I already had a drink earlier, haha.

I rested a bit at my accommodation before coming out, so I feel like I've sobered up? (Though of course, I probably haven't).

1. Low Alcohol Pale Ale ABV: 0.5% IBU: 15

As expected for a low-alcohol beer, it's a bit mild...

I included this one because I thought I might get too tipsy.

Starting with this.

2. WIT Blanc ABV: 4.7% IBU: 12

I ordered it because it had a combination of beer words I like.

It tastes like Blanc. A little more refreshing than Blanc.

3. Czech Pilsner ABV: 5% IBU: 33

Pilsner tastes truly amazing when you drink it in the Czech Republic!

But no other place has been able to replicate that taste...

Will this one...?

First off, it's better than most Pilsners sold in Korea.

(Though the taste I had in the Czech Republic is a bit hazy now)

But the alcohol content doesn't seem to compare...

(I remember Czech ones being 10% or more)

Haha, drinking and writing like this, I feel like an expert... haha.

Even though I know absolutely nothing... haha.

4. Summer Hefeweizen ABV: 5.9% IBU: 20

My favorite Weizen.

But oh no.

Even just tasting a couple of sips from each, I'm already feeling tipsy...

Of course, the alcohol I had 2 hours ago wouldn't have worn off already;

This is my first time trying a 10-beer sampler...

I think the most I've had before was 6.

Is this going to be okay tonight...?

5. East West Pale Ale 6% 32

But there were just too many types of craft beer I liked to order only a few...

My favorite Pale Ale.

A solid, classic Pale Ale taste.

6. Juicy IPA 6.5% 45

A refreshing IPA taste.

7. Coffee Vanilla Porter 7% 20

Oh, very good. A premium coffee beer taste.

I actually quite like the Dutch beer at Bonggu Beer, and this tastes like a premium version of that.

But... I'm getting really drunk haha.

Before I even finish tasting them all...

8. Modern Belgian Dark 8.1% 23

Oh no... why is the alcohol content getting so high towards the end...?

And this one isn't great. I can't quite pick out its unique characteristics.

(Might be because I'm tipsy)

9. Peanut Butter Chocolate Stout 10% 25

Wow, double-digit alcohol content...

You can really feel how strong this one is.

It felt like a strong cocktail, beautifully mellowed by the rich dark beer flavor.

So far, everything was exactly as I'd ordered.

The last one was supposed to be a Perilla Plum Sour, but...

10. Triple IPA 10% 85

And this is what arrived instead, haha!

If just one more had been correct, it would've been perfect.

Still, remembering 9 out of 10 without writing them down is pretty impressive!

True to its reputation as a Ho Chi Minh hotspot, all the beers were absolutely delicious.

But I was getting pretty tipsy... I don't think I could finish them all.

I'd only managed about two sips of each at this point.

One by one, other patrons started to leave.

Only three groups left ㅠ And my beers are still practically full... ㅠ

Just then, a new group walked in, haha!

At 12:20 AM, no less! Haha.

Only 40 minutes until closing time.

I took another sip of each, going around one more time.

It was tough, haha!

A bit too ambitious given how much I'd already had earlier ㅠ

Such a shame ㅠㅠ I didn't even make it halfway through.

Still, the reason I took one more round was...

To try and pick out my absolute favorites!

So, out of the 10, my top picks?

Wit Blanc

Summer Hefeweizen

Juicy IPA

Those would be them, haha!

The coffee-infused one was great too,

but given my state, it was a bit high in alcohol,

and predictably, my all-time favorites still topped the list, haha!

And right at that moment, another group walked in.

Are they seriously planning to just chug one drink and head out? LOL.

I don't think I can drink any more either.

My precious beers, gone unfinished... ㅠ

And I'm really craving some snacks... like Tteokbokki...

Or anything with a bit of broth, really...

It's supposed to be a Ho Chi Minh hotspot, but I can only drink beer ㅠ

Well, it IS a beer hotspot, but still...

Earlier, I'd even asked if they happened to have any nuts or simple snacks,

anything at all I could order to munch on,

but they said no ㅠ

In the end, I just finished the sampler and headed out.

📍 181, 185 Lý Tự Trọng, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
181, 185 Lý Tự Trọng, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

East West Brewing

Location & Venue: ▲

Opening Hours: 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM

(Until 1 AM on weekends)

Phone: +84 91 306 07 28