Stark Craft Beer

Stark Craft Beer is brewed in north Bali by PT Lovina Beach Brewery, and it calls itself the original craft beer brewery in Indonesia. The company has been brewing since 2011 at its own brewery in Banyuning Selatan, Singaraja, in Buleleng regency, using spring water from the mountains of north Bali. Its founders are Bona Budhisurya and Jacob Suryanata. PT Lovina Beach Brewery listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2023 under the ticker STRK, and alongside beer it now also makes spirits for export. Stark makes two beer brands, Stark and 1945. Its Lychee Ale won silver for Best Beer in Asia at Beer Fest Asia in Singapore in 2017.

The beers

• IPA (Indonesian Pale Ale), double dry-hopped session IPA, 5%
• 1945 Pilsener, pilsner brewed with Balinese rice, 5%
• Lychee Ale, fruit ale, 5%
• Mango Ale, fruit ale, 5%
• Lovina Lager, dry-hopped lager, 4.5%
• Milk Stout, sweet stout, 5%

The range also takes in a Wheat Beer, a Dark Wheat and a low-carb beer, plus newer releases such as Bali Haze, a 4.8% hazy pale ale, and the Mosaic Wave pale ale. Stark is sold mostly in bottles, and it is widely stocked in Bali hotels, restaurants and shops.

Where to drink it

The brewery's own bar is the Stark Craft Beer Garden at Jl. Kartika Plaza No. 20 in Kuta, which pours the range on draught. In Jakarta, Taproom 22 in SCBD, formerly STARK Taproom, still pours the Stark IPA on draught, and Beer Hall lists Stark among its local craft labels. In Sanur, Lola's Taproom stocks it among its Indonesian beers. All four are listed below.