Bacolod City (Philippines) Smiles, Great Food, Jazz and Craft Beer!

In preparation for my annual trip to The Philippines in Jan/Feb 2011, I came across Felix “Bogs” Hagad from Bacolod City (about 60 minutes by air south of Manila). Felix had started a small craft brewery in Bacolod and he peaked my interest. Not only was he brewing craft beer in The Philippines, but he was doing it outside of Metro Manila, which would seemingly be the demographic zone to do so. My curiosity got the better of me and I arranged for a short visit to Bacolod in January which would turn out to be one of the highlights of my trip.

On the late afternoon of Monday, January 24th I flew to Bacolod from Manila on a very hospitable Cebu Pacific Airlines flight. On my arrival, Felix was there to greet me and drive me into the city. After about an hour to refresh at my hotel in Bacolod City (I highly recommend The Circle Inn for comfort, service and price!), Felix returned with his wife, Catherine,  and two daughters to take me out for some famous Bacolod cooking.

Chicken Inasal is the local cuisine, now making waves throughout the country. We dined on this delicious fare at The Chicken House which provided some mouthwatering grilled chicken and pork, and some ice cold San Miguel Beer to wash it down with. Everything was fantastic, including the service! I’ve been experimenting with my own version of chicken inasal.

After dinner, we dropped the ladies off at home and Bogs and I made our way to a local watering hole known as KG Bar. This was nothing I ever expected to find in Bacolod. Funky lighting, cool music and comfortable seating made this a great spot to unwind and try my first Bogs Brew! Over a few bowls of locally roasted peanuts, Felix and I shared our passion for craft beer as I enjoyed a few of his signature blends of Organic Craft Brewed Bogs Brew.

BogsBrew by Negros Island Craft Brewing

Brewed with organic local muscovado sugar and cool spring water, these beers were a very welcome change from San Miguel. Best poured in a glass, the carbonation thinned out a bit and one could really smell the toffee and caramel which came from the local organic sugar. I feel that if a beer had to say “Bacolod”, then BogsBrew did just that.  Although I wanted to hang out all night and drink more and enjoy the laid back atmosphere with my new drinking buddy, we had to call it quits as we had a very exciting day ahead of us on Tuesday.

I had a very good sleep at the Circle Inn, and for just over $21 USD per night, this place was a real steal. The front desk girls were incredibly courteous as all three greeted me in unison “Good Evening Sir!” after I returned from my night on the town.

My Room at The Circle Inn, Bacolod

Tuesday morning arrived and I was greeted again by Felix and his wife who drove me about an our out of the city to their special mountainside retreat for a day of feasting and beer drinking. On the way to our destination we passed endless plantations of sugarcane which Negros Island is famous for.

We arrived at the mountainside retreat to find a spread of food worthy of a king. The centrepiece was a whole roasted goat stuffed with lemongrass. The view was incredible and we feasted while quenching our thirst with freshly brewed craft beer from Bogs Brew.

Lunch at the Hagad Family's Mountainside Retreat.

Aside from the ale I sampled the night before, Felix provided his “Primo” All Grain Beer today which paired nicely with the goat and stuffed baked potatoes.

We spent the afternoon in conversation as we relaxed admiring the incredible view of the valley and lowlands below us. The gentle breeze was refreshingly cooler at this elevation which was a welcome relief from the humidity and heat of the city.

As the daylight hours wained, we loaded up a cooler of beer and made our way to a viewing deck overlooking a cliff. From here we continued to converse and watch the beautiful sunset as the day came to an end. This was an incredible moment that I did not want to end.

Enjoying Bogs Brew with the guys as the sun sets over Negros Island.

We finished the evening by picking at leftovers back at Felix’s lodge, which he actually designed himself. Not only does Felix brew great beer, but he is an architect and furniture manufacturer by trade. Also to my surprise is the fact that Jazz music is incredibly popular in Bacolod. As my favorite style of music it made the day even more special as we finished off the last of the beer and enjoyed the company of fellow craft beer drinkers.

Primo All Grain Beer

My short trip to Bacolod was over the next morning as I returned to Manila for the rest of my stay in The Philippines. The hospitality that Felix and family gave me was top notch and I  hope to return the favor one day soon. I will indeed return to Bacolod again.

Bogs Brew is indeed a unique craft beer capturing the flavor of Bacolod. The beer suits the location perfectly. Craft beer enthusiasts in Metro Manila can find BogsBrew at Cafe Bob’s in that city. Felix also offers his beers on display at Organic trade shows on occasion which are held in the Manila area to showcase many of the organic products being produced in the Bacolod area.

I envy Felix. He’s been able to turn a passion from his youth into a business reality that is ahead of the curve while still remaining a successful business man, husband, father and top notch ambassador for craft beer, Bacolod City and Negros Island.

Cafe Bob's - Bacolod

Cafe Bob’s is a Bacolod original. The restaurant also features a gelato bar and a deli offering a wide selection of imported goods. You can pick up your favorite Negros Island Craft Beer or choose from a selection of Gordon Biersch beers that are imported by The Global Beer Exchange.

Bacolod is my kind of town. Friendly people, great food, a taste for jazz and of course some great craft beer brewed locally with local organic ingredients.

Enjoying an evening of jazz, craft beer and likeminded people. Felix and me at his mountainside retreat.

Check out our awesome 2011 Craft Beer Tour of The Philippines!