Taiwan Head Brewers Taproom

Taiwan Head Brewers (啤酒頭釀造) is among the most critically respected breweries in Taiwan, best known for its Twenty-Four Solar Terms series — a rolling programme of beers each built around one of the traditional Chinese calendar's seasonal divisions, using ingredients appropriate to that point in the year.

The Sanchong taproom was conceived as Taiwan's first craft "tourist brewery": floor-to-ceiling windows look directly onto the working brewhouse, and the space doubles as a 100-plus capacity event venue. Twenty-four taps pour the house range, including Solar Terms releases that are difficult to find anywhere else once they sell through.

It runs on a tour and tasting booking model rather than fixed bar hours, so contact ahead rather than turning up. Note that Sanchong is in New Taipei City rather than Taipei City proper, though it is a straightforward MRT ride from the centre and well worth the trip for anyone serious about Taiwanese beer.