Written by Milo Tobin / Translated by I.St.Onge

There are few moments in life that are finer than that first sip of frosty beer after a hard day at work. It is certainly one of life’s rare moments. And it is only made better when the beer is fresh from the tap.

Traditionally, this has been a difficult task for those living on Taiwan’s East Coast. With delivery times from Taiwan Beers; major breweries on the west coast averaging about three days, fresh beer was simply a rumor. But not anymore.

Taiwan Beer opened their first East Coast brewery in Hualien in May of 2008. With the capacity of producing 120 kegs of premium beer per month, the East Coast’s only Taiwan Beer brewery is set to supply the entire east coast and, starting next year, Taipei with quality suds for years to come. The brewery, located near the village of Chishingtan, is currently equipped to produce three types of beer: pilsner, dark and bitter, as well as an interesting concoction known as the Golden Liquor.

Taiwan Beer brought its distinct brewing technique from the German built brewery at Tsingtao in China. Taiwan Beer continues to use the German brewing techniques today, often sending technicians to Germany to learn the latest brewing strategies. These strategies are brought back to the shores of Taiwan and directly affect the beer produced in Hualien.

“We feel it is important to provide fresh beer for our consumers on the East Coast,” explains brewery manager Lin, Shi-Jie. “Besides, producing beer in Hualien helps reduce our carbon footprint.”

Environmental reasons aside, the Taiwan Brewery in Hualien has quickly gained a reputation as a popular tourist attraction. The factory sits atop the Chishingtan bluff on a stretch of picturesque land and is open for tours daily. Furthermore, the brewery is also home to the East Coast’s first on-site brew restaurant where patrons can sample the freshest pilsners over a traditional Chinese food.

“Beer drinking is essentially social.” Notes Lin, explaining the reason why Taiwan Beer decided to open a Brew restaurant. With plans to expand the establishment to include an outdoor patio for the summer of 2009, the future of the brewery is certainly bright.

If you are visiting Hualien, drop by the Taiwan beer Brewery. For tour information call 038227151. The brewery is open daily from 10:00am to 6:00pm.