So, anyone who knows me well knows that I love a good brew, especially craft, and even home brews! But to be completely honest with you — what Aussie bloke doesn’t like a good beer? And what Aussie bloke doesn’t love a holiday, plus beer? So, on one of my recent trips to Bali, I decided that checking out this cool craft beer brewery in Canggu was high on my list of things to do — (i.e. to go and get a brew in Canggu!)

When you visit Bali you invariably think that you’re going to be eating at a few restaurants, and that you’ll get a massage or two, walk along the beach, get pursued by street hawkers, and be able to enjoy luxury at an affordable price, but what you may not have expected from Bali is… CRAFT BEER!

Standing out the front of this brewery I can hear the banging together of beer kegs, and the moving of beer cans along a metal surface, and the sounds of beer glasses being clinked together… and it sort of reminds me of home. And I also immediately know… this must be where the brewery is (on the other side of this wall).

From the outside this brewery looks a bit like a villa crossed with a factory of some kind… it sort of has industrial-like character, but step inside and you’ll soon see the brick veneer tells you a bit of a different story to the Bali I know of temples, and rolling green rice paddies. It sort of has a Bali feel to it (if only in name — Black Sand), and there are hints elsewhere too. For example… go out the back of this place and you’ll see a few rice paddies sort of within close proximity. I think the vibe their angling for is urban Balinese, so if you’re more into the hustle, and bustle, and the streetscapes of Bali around areas like Kuta and the like, then perhaps this is your watering hole. You can always buy a six pack, or even a case of beer from this place, and take it back to your villa, or hotel — or whatever! You don’t have to drink here, but it’s worth at least trying a beer from this place if you enjoy craft beer and happen to be visiting.

So, where am I, anyway? Well, I’ve arrived at a place called the ‘Black Sand Brewery’ — aptly named after the Indonesian archipelagos’ reputation for volcanology, and its resulting crunchy igneous rock surface found on beaches all over the islands coastlines. The ‘black sand’ has evidently formed after years, and years of volcanic activity, the end result is that with these volcanic explosions, and eruptions black sand has formed.

The Black Sand Brewery is located in the cool Balinese (South Coast) neighbourhood of Canggu. Enter this area and you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to dining, and drinking too. The brewery is a great hangout if you’re wanting to follow British inspired traditions of spending all-day Saturday, or all-day Sunday (or any day of the week for that matter, if you’re on holiday!) ‘down the pub’, and having a ‘Sunday sesh’ with your mates at the pub, or if you’re after a few quiet bevies before heading to a restaurant (yes Gents, it’s not ALL about you, and you MUST take the ladies to dinner, lunch, or breakfast too!) But maybe don’t stay up all night on the tinnies, and then go to breakfast… that wouldn’t be a good look, eh? And taking your lady out to a brewery is perfectly OK too — no, not for breakfast! But for lunch, or dinner only, and only if the food is of a decent quality!

So, beer is in hand… and I’m sitting inside this brew pub because it’s far too hot to sit out in the Black Sand beer garden — even though it looks very inviting… firstly, I didn’t come in a Bintang singlet (whoops!) and I sure as hell am not taking off my shirt, to drink beers in the sun… It seems there’s not a pool (or Bintang singlet for that matter) in sight, and no watering holes to dip your toes, or to cool your spurs. But that’s OK too, because I’m getting hydration from BEER, baby — and if you want to swim (or wear a Bintang singlet!) go someplace else, as the craft (not big brewery) beer here is the core focus here in this place.

I seem to recall eating some kind of empanadas off the ‘bar snack menu’, and didn’t have anything distinctly Balinese after that… so, was it just a liquid dinner? (tell the truth!) perhaps, perhaps, perhaps… In terms of culture, this beer bar has a bit more of an urban, almost industrial feel to it… but there aren’t too many hints of Indonesian, or Balinese culture (apart from the name). Yes, there are things which give it a distinctly Balinese and Indonesian name, and the logo has a Balinese mask, but in terms of what makes Indonesia’s craft beer scene unique… it’s somewhat lacking. There is a story to tell (I’m sure), but I’m just not getting it served up to me in the glass, or in the pub decor at all, and that’s OK too, as I’m ‘only here for beer!’

The beers however are good, and are quite easy to drink. I’m not getting beers with big flavours, or big statements of sour, hops, or even distinctly lagery beers, rather beers that are easy to drink, and are going down quite well on this very hot and humid (stereotypical) Balinese day.

So, what exactly does Balinese beer have to offer, I hear you ask? For starters it’s inspired by many of the typical flavours that you’d get anywhere else on the planet, but it’s very much informed with flavours that point to the tropically goodness that is quintessentially Balinese.

So, what beers did I drink while I was at this craft brewery anyway? Well, I’m glad you asked, so here goes… (in no particular order).

1. Black Sand Kolsch — as the name suggests this German-inspired brew has something that I can’t quite put my finger on… is it sweet? A little. Is it clean? Very. And is it easy to drink? Somewhat. It is a German beer after all, so it has a bit more complexity, but at the same time it’s refreshing at 4.2% (so not overly heavy percentage wise).
2. Black Sand Amber Ale — a very easy to drink beer at 4.8% (a little higher in alcohol volume), and it’s golden colour is highlighted in the feature photo, the top right-hand corner photo to be precise. It’s balanced, and has a slightly sweet, and sticky taste on the pallet (hinting at caramel, and toffee), with little hints of flowers (hello, hibiscus!), and a more bitter finish and aftertaste.
3. Black Sand Pilsener — this beer was the easiest of them all to drink. It was dry, and crispy-ish, with a slight maltiness. (A bit more on the lighter side, and a bit easier to drink at only 4.1%).
4. Black Sand Big Hazy — lookout, Mt Agung! For this is the biggest BANG of them all! And at 8% (there’s no guessing why), and you can bet you’ll be getting a lil tipsy if you have one, and definitely tipsy if you have two or more. A refreshing lager that’s good if you’re after a more paced-out, and slower session.

The Black Sand Brewery in Canggu, on the Indonesian Island of Bali is well worth a visit, even just a sneaky beer before heading out to one of Canggu’s many restaurants. The beer is well and truly unique, and different when it comes to Bali. For people who have travelled here in the past, especially during the 90’s they may recall the famous beer ‘Bintang’, and may even recall the propensity for tourists (Aussie tourists) in particular to don, or wear Bintang singlets all around the island, and then when you return home when see someone in a singlet you instantly know that this is what holiday dreams are made of. Bali is basically the Greek Islands, or Spanish coastal holiday destination British equivalent, and perhaps the Cancun, or Porto Vallertas equivalent for the Americans. It’s where football teams go to celebrate the end of the season, and it’s where families go for a relatively affordable holiday. Like I said, it’s where holiday dreams (and Australian) dreams are born, and enjoyed. So when I joke about the Bintang singlet, there’s a certain nostalgia about it for me… it really is a special (laugh on the inside kinda) moment as you not only associate the Bintang singlet with holidays, and fun, but you recall the other fun that you’ve had along the way (on previous trips, and holidays). So when I saw that there was a craft brewery in Canggu I immediately knew that it marked progress of sorts for this tourist island, as the old (Bintang) can still be found, and is still around, and can also be enjoyed, but in with the new — and new brews (craft brews) in particular are the ‘in’ thing now around here.

So, now that I’ve enjoyed beers at this place, the quintessential question now remains — would I come back to this place? The short answer is ‘yes’ I would. The long answer is I’d be more inclined to come back quicker if there was more of a Balinese story to be told either in the beers, or in the feel, and vibe of this brewery. While I can give these people marks for trying to brew, and serve up beers, I couldn’t give them a lot of marks for the cultural aspect of the brewery, or the beers. I don’t know, for me Bali is full of those ‘awakening’ the senses kind of moments, and the smells, the tastes, and the sights are kind of special and unique, so I would have appreciated more of that when it came to this brewery.

What would i score this brewery out of ten? I would give this brewery a Six and a Half out of Ten. The beers are great, and the vibe is sort of chilled, and relaxed, but there’s something that’s a bit lacking.

How would I rate, and score each beer individually?

• Black Sand Kolsch — a Seven out of Ten. A bit more on the lighter side (not as heavy), had me stumped on what one core ingredient was (I still don’t know). Easy to drink.
• Black Sand Amber Ale — an Eight Out of Ten. A bit higher percentage wise than the Kolsch (to be expected), and had hints of hibiscus, and caramel and toffee notes, followed by a more bitter finish.
• Black sand Pilsener — a Seven Out Of Ten — the easiest to drink out of the lot, and lower alcohol percentage wise at 4.1%
• Black Sand Big Hazy – A Seven Out of Ten — this is a very heavy lager at a whopping 8%! So, in the words of ‘the back of the bottle’ this ones to be most enjoyed in moderation, so to speak! I wouldn’t any more than two, or three (max!) of these beers. Worth a try, but just remember that it’s heavier alcoholic content will have you ‘on your arse, and on the grass’ a lot quicker!