I’ve been to Cubao Expo more times than I can actually count, but somehow, Cubao X Brewery never really caught my attention.
I’ve wandered aimlessly around the creative compound plenty of times already, browsed through its various shops, stopped for food and drinks, and generally treated Cubao Expo like one of those places where you can spend an afternoon without really having a plan.
Yet despite all those visits, I kept skipping the brewery—though that changed recently after a friend convinced me to give their brews a shot. The funny part? I don’t even consider myself a big beer drinker.
In fact, I think I’ve had more glasses of beer at Cubao X Brewery since discovering it than I’ve had in the last handful of years combined. So naturally, I had to ask myself: what was it about the place that convinced me to drink beer again?
The Place I Kept Walking Past
With all of the eye-catching sights in Cubao, the open-air, two-floor establishment tucked inside Expo doesn’t necessarily stand out. Based on my experience, people usually gather by the bar downstairs, but there are plenty of tables and chairs upstairs for settling down.
The whole place, though, feels like an old Filipino home from a bygone era. With lots of wooden details, it has that warm, almost old-school feel. This feels even more apparent on the second floor with a couple of really large, capiz-shell windows that swing open to give you little framed views of the people walking in and out of the compound as you drink.
It’s a small detail, but one that makes the brewery feel connected to the community around it. And sometimes, there’s no better way to spend an afternoon than sitting with a beer while watching the familiar chaos of Cubao Expo unfold.
The ground floor is pretty much the same—lots of wood, a view of the compound, and even the same capiz shell detail on the folding doors. But there are also plaques from BrewKing hanging near the bar to commemorate the brewery’s most creative brews, which feels like a fitting little touch for a place where beer is clearly meant to be taken a little less seriously and enjoyed a little more creatively.
The Beer That Changed My Mind
Speaking of creative brews, a good example is my personal favorite, the Kiamoy Sour.
Inspired by the familiar Chinese-Filipino dried plum snack, Kiamoy Sour brings together sweet, salty, and sour flavors in a way that feels much more playful than the typical glass of beer. Before you even start sipping, though, its bright orange color will definitely turn a few heads—especially when you’re used to the pale yellow of most mainstream beers.
It’s also the kind of drink that makes me understand why craft beer can be fun even for people who don’t necessarily consider themselves beer drinkers. The flavors are familiar, but the format is completely different, so instead of reaching for a piece of kiamoy, you get those nostalgic sweet, salty, and sour notes in a glass of beer.
While that was enough to turn me into a repeat customer, their rotating roster of flavors is a compelling reason for others. Alongside tried-and-true ales and some IPAs, they also have a bunch of other interesting offerings that all have fun, playful names. While I didn’t get to try these for myself, I’ve seen photos of both chai and ube brews online—which tell me that there’s always something to look forward to at Cubao X.
A New Side of Cubao Expo
What surprised me most about Cubao X is how much it made me reconsider something I never thought I cared much about.
I’ve always been more of a zero-calorie drink person, so alcohol, beer in particular, was never something I felt the need to explore. But after discovering a sour I genuinely enjoyed, I’m starting to wonder if I’ve been leaving an entire side of the beverage world untapped.
I still have plenty more glasses to chug before I can comfortably call myself a proper “beer drinker,” but if one Kiamoy Sour was enough to change my mind, I’m curious to see what else they have brewing in the back.
Cubao X Brewery is located at 33 Cubao Expo Driveway, Cubao, Quezon City.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cubao X Brewery is at 33 Cubao Expo Drwy, Cubao, Quezon City, inside the Cubao Expo creative compound. The open-air brewery spans two floors, with a bar on the ground level where most people gather and additional tables upstairs overlooking the compound’s walkways and shops.
Craft Beer is beer typically made by smaller breweries that emphasize traditional methods, quality ingredients, and playful flavors.
Kiamoy Sour is a craft beer flavor from Cubao X Brewery inspired by the classic Chinese-Filipino dried plum snack. Bright orange in color, it’s capable of turning a few heads because of its mix of sweet, salty, and sour flavors.
Alongside the Kiamoy Sour, Cubao X Brewery also has ales, IPAs, sours, and even other exciting flavors like Ube and Chai.
Yes. Cubao X Brewery’s flavored brews, particularly the Kiamoy Sour, offer an accessible entry point for people who rarely drink beer. Drawing on familiar Filipino snack flavors rather than the profile of mainstream pale lagers, these sours and specialty brews make craft beer approachable for casual drinkers.
