If there is heaven for beer lovers, then The Perfect Pint is IT.
A new gastropub squeezing its way through the throng of bars claiming to specialize in beer, The Perfect Pint is not one you would miss. Not with its trendy setting—a mix of vintage and industrial elements. Or more notably, its fresh take on this drinking staple: introducing handcrafted beers you wouldn’t find anywhere else.
Its interiors immediately pull you in, inviting you to stay for a beer or two, maybe even more. Brick patterns provide a relaxing backdrop to the bar, in light shades that make the place look bigger than it is. Wooden tables—high and low ones—bedeck the space; beer bottles line up on overhead shelves. Beer-related statements are splashed all over the walls in fancy lettering.
More than the relaxing ambience itself, The Perfect Pint’s beers take center stage—as they should. A selection of the finest craft beers from local microbreweries make up the bar list, with options to experience them in a glass or in a full pint. Local brands like Pivo Praha, Craftpoint, Fat Pauly’s, and Katipunan are in the selection—merchandises that aren’t mass-produced.
As an intro to the “craft concept”, guests can start with The Perfect Pint’s beer sampler, which consists of four different brews. There’s the Weizen, light and sweetish, and the best-selling Katipunan Indio Pale Ale, which The Perfect Pint describes as “an ideal gateway to craft beers” with its balanced malty, citrusy, and bitter flavors. This one was light and refreshingly familiar.
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| The Perfect Pint Craft Beer Sampler. Choose any 4 variants or let them choose for you and be surprised! L-R: Weizen, Katipunan Indio Pale Ale, Pivo Praha Dark Lager, Fat Pauly's Sultan Stout |
I preferred the dark beers—specifically, the Pivo Praha Dark Lager, a roasted malt beer with a bitter taste, and a hint of caramel. I was pleased that an aftertaste was present but wasn’t too strong, and the caramel flavor seeped through only so slightly. This one was my favorite among all the variants I've tried. On the other hand, the Fat Pauly’s Sultan Stout had coffee and chocolate notes, which I thought would pair really well with dessert.
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| Pivo Praha Dark Lager, PhP220/pint or PhP150/glass |
The G-Point Wild Ride has a citrusy flavor with a slightly bitter finish. To me, it actually smelled somewhat like guava, and reminded me of sinigang sa bayabas (which I ABHOR), so I shooed the glass away.
Another dark beer worth mentioning is the Katipunan Signal No. 1 Stout: a strong, rich brew with hints of cocoa and coffee. I was worried I might end up with a beer so sickly sweet, but amazingly, it wasn’t; in fact, all the beers I have tried were perfectly balanced in terms of flavor. A word of caution though: halfway through my Signal No. 1, I was already feeling a bit buzzed so if you’re not the beer-drinking champion type, you might want to get only the 330ml size (glass).
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| Left: G-Point Wild Ride (PhP200/pint, PhP140/glass) Right: Katipunan Signal No. 1 Stout (PhP220/pint, PhP150/glass) |
The Perfect Pint also offers food pairings with their craft beers—dishes with quirky names like Kapal Muks and Stinky 5-Cheese Pizza. We tried the Crispy Kapal Muks with Black Pepper Rice (PhP220). The brined pork mascara was ultra-crisp, slightly pinkish at the middle, and very tender—perfectly complementing the pepper rice, which simply made me speechless. It was awesome with the Pivo Dark Lager.
People who love sausages would find The Perfect Pint’s Sausage Sampler (PhP650) an instant favorite: four huge pieces of smoky artisanal sausages. The platter comes with a side of fries and some spicy and acidic mustard, which further enhances the sausages’ flavors.
Fans of bacon must order the Bacon Pops (PhP290)—six huge chunks of bacon on sticks, smothered in a BBQ beer glaze. I loved the contrast of sweet and salty tastes, and as I always say, I would choose bacon slabs over crispy bacon strips anytime.
It's amazing how The Perfect Pint dishes out food of substantial quality, unlike other bars which focus on overpriced booze and offer shitty food; thanks to the genius, Chef Gene Gonzales, for creating the menu. Great beer plus great food—add that to an incredibly “social” ambience where you can just enjoy watching sports with friends and you get something close to perfection.
Compared to mass-produced local beers like San Mig and Red Horse, and popular foreign brands like Heineken or Stella Artois, these craft beers definitely taste different. It’s hard to describe exactly, but somehow it’s like drinking something pure, not watery, and full-bodied, with flavors that penetrate every corner of the mouth. You’ve got to try it to tell the difference.
With microbrewers sprouting out intent on highlighting quality and taste, and lovingly creating beers that are extender-free, I have no doubts that a perfect drinking experience is not far from being possible. In fact, I think The Perfect Pint has just raised it several bars higher.
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The Perfect Pint
2/F Crossroads Bldg., 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
02.823.1320
Operating Hours: 10:00AM – 2:00AM
Facebook: ThePerfectPintPH
Instagram: @theperfectpint_ph
Budget: around PhP500 for 1 dish and 1 drink
Have you tried the Perfect Pint? What's your favorite brew?
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