Our Story Begins with a Beer and a Dream

Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore (APBS, formerly known as Malayan Breweries) has been a stalwart of Singapore for over 90 years. As the home of Tiger Beer since 1932, we’ve since expanded our portfolio to include a wide portfolio of brands including Heineken, Guinness, Anchor, ABC, and more—brewed right here on our local shores.

Take a trip down memory lane with us and enjoy a curated collection of anecdotes and archives, each one telling a unique story of our journey.

Celebrating SG61

Enjoy this film that celebrates the legacy of Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore and the values we share with the nation, which have guided our journey from a humble brewery to a dynamic business that continues to grow alongside Singapore.

Fun Facts on Tap:

Our Journey Alongside Singapore’s Growth

APBS and our beers have been part of Singapore’s story through the years. Here are some fun facts from our shared history.

1937

Lending a Hand Beyond Borders

In 1937, APBS donated an ambulance to aid the China war effort during the Japanese invasion, followed by a $10,000 contribution to the war fund in 1940 to help purchase aircraft for the Royal Air Force. Even in our early years, we were committed to doing good.

1945

Brewing Against the Odds

During World War II, a shortage of raw materials didn’t stop us from brewing. To adapt, we created Tiger Cub, a lighter version of Tiger Beer, made with less malt and served in a smaller bottle. It remained in production until 1947, until the original Tiger Beer made its comeback.

1970s

Uniform Tastes

Our beers have long been a part of everyday Singaporean life. In National Service camps, Anchor and Tiger were once sold for just 90 cents, stamped with ‘Duty Unpaid’ and ‘Not For Sale’. Over time, beers became more than just a drink. They became a symbol of camaraderie and connection among generations of citizen soldiers.

1973

A Symbol of Resilience on Screen

The 1960s and 1970s were tumultuous times for Singapore as the nation sought an identity of its own. During this period, the country faced massive unemployment, a declining entrepot trade, and the challenges of rapid population growth. In this context, APBS debuted our first television commercial for the Singapore market. The TVC positioned Tiger Beer as a steadfast symbol of resilience, portraying it as an unshakeable beer for unshakeable people. Staying true to Tiger’s brand values of boldness and strength, the advertisement served as a call to arms, encouraging Singaporeans to persevere and push boundaries despite the odds.

1990s

Uniting ASEAN through Football

When Singapore exited the Malaysia Cup in 1994, many were crestfallen and some even lost their patriotic fervor. APBS stepped up and founded the ASEAN Football Federation’s (AFF) Tiger Cup, a biennial regional football championship that saw a decade of friendly ASEAN competition and renewed national spirit.

1994

Giving Back to People and Planet

In 1994, APBS set up a foundation with a capital sum of $10 million. The Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation seeks to inspire a better Singapore by caring for both people and planet. Today, this remains a key platform in our commitment to building a better future.

2020–2022

Cheers to Resilience

When Covid-19 hit, APBS stood with Singapore’s F&B community, supporting local businesses through tough times. And when the 10:30PM alcohol curfew was finally lifted in 2022, Tiger Beer marked the moment with free beers from 10:30 to 10:31 PM to celebrate the revival of nightlife together.

Today

Brewing Big for Singapore

Our Tuas brewery now produces over 1 million hectolitres of beer each year. That’s enough to fill over 40 Olympic-sized swimming pools! It’s not just about scale, but our continued role in Singapore’s economy as a key manufacturing and export hub.

Today

Greener with Every Brew

We’re the pioneer of sustainability. Around 27 million glass bottles are reused each year, each one collected from bars, restaurants, and coffeeshops and washed for reuse—up to 9 times each. Spent grains are repurposed into animal feed, diverting 20,000 tonnes of waste from landfills annually. With only 1% of our waste ending up in landfill, we’re proud to support Singapore’s Green Plan and push towards a zero-waste future.

Made In Singapore

One useful piece of pub quiz trivia is that the first official can of Tiger Beer rolled off the line in 1965, the same year Singapore became an independent republic.

However, the brewery’s story started long before 1965. In many ways, it runs parallel to the island’s sprint from colonial-era entrepot to the bustling city-state that it is today.

These days, the beer is not only easy to find in Singapore, but it has also become one of the island’s most recognisable exports.

Brewed to meet a local craving for a lighter and cheaper pint, Tiger Beer has evolved through Singapore’s war-time years to post-independence and rapid economic development.

Source: The Straits Times

Read the article here

Brewed in Singapore: Discover Untold Stories Beyond the Bottle

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