B'ross Craft Beer (Bross Beer Taproom)

Bross (B'ross) is the taproom brand of Bia Son Brewery, a Hanoi producer of American-style craft beer made with American hops, European malt and Vietnamese ingredients, and honey runs through much of the range. This second-floor taproom at 5 Thợ Nhuộm street is one of three the brewery lists in Hoàn Kiếm, alongside Bảo Khánh Alley and Hàng Mã, and it is a straightforward, beer-first space in the Old Quarter.

The house list is the reason to come. The flagship Bross IPA (8.5%) leads with passion fruit, orange and honey; the Honey IPA (8.5%) adds mango to its bitter finish; and the Red Flamingo IPA (10.2%) is a strong grapefruit-and-honey IPA. Lighter options include a hibiscus cider and a butterfly pea beer, both 4.5% with floral, honeyed notes, plus a Belgian ale and the Eclipse stout, with chocolate and vanilla. There is also a non-alcoholic Zero IPA.

A curated run of Belgian and Czech imports backs up the house range, along with imported cider and lager, so drinkers who are not after an IPA are covered. Come for the house range's local flavour twist, but go steady: the strong ABVs mean a couple of glasses goes a long way.

Listings show it open from 12.30pm until 10.30pm Monday to Thursday and until 11pm Friday to Sunday, which makes it an easy afternoon stop between Old Quarter sights. The brewery's beers also appear in bars, restaurants and hotels around Hanoi, so look for the Bross sign if you want to try them elsewhere.