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John Wei
Yeast Whisperer/Founder of Brewlander
John Wei is the founder, CEO, and self-proclaimed "Yeast Whisperer" of Brewlander, Singapore's leading craft brewery.1 His journey in the brewing industry began unexpectedly when he transitioned from a career in finance to become an award-winning brewer.2
Career and Achievements
Wei founded Brewlander in 2017 with the ambitious goal of putting Singapore and ASEAN on the global beer map.15 Under his leadership, Brewlander has become known for its innovative approach to brewing and commitment to quality.
Brewing Philosophy
John Wei's passion for brewing is evident in his approach to crafting beer:
- Constant Innovation: He aims to continuously innovate and improve Brewlander's offerings.1
- Yeast Expertise: His self-given title of "Yeast Whisperer" suggests a particular focus on yeast management in the brewing process.36
- Quality Focus: Wei is dedicated to producing high-quality craft beers that can compete on a global scale.4
Personal Journey
Wei's brewing journey began in 2008 when he first started home brewing after a transformative experience with beer in the UK.26 This hobby eventually led him to establish Brewlander, despite the challenges of setting up a brewery in land-scarce Singapore.4
Impact on Singapore's Beer Culture
John Wei is recognized as a pioneer in Singapore's beer culture.7 His efforts have not only established Brewlander as a prominent craft brewery but have also contributed to the growth of the craft beer scene in Singapore and the broader ASEAN region.14
Through his work at Brewlander, John Wei continues to push the boundaries of craft brewing in Singapore, aiming to create beers that can stand alongside the best in the world while putting his home country on the map for beer enthusiasts globally.
Highlights
A cool cross border collab we recently did at Brewlander with our friends Samata Brewing and The Brewing Project from Thailand.. Beer truly does bring people together!!
A memory showed up on my FB this morning. This was my first go at commercial brewing, went from 20 litres homebrewing to 3000 litres per batch. I did 4 initial brews, Hope (Summer Ale), Pride (Saison, RIP), Love (Wild IPA), Courage (DIPA).. Having never sold a bottle of beer in my life to having to move 30k bottles was daunting, I've gotta sell 400 bottles a day to clear the stocks within 3 months, and I had zero accounts!!!
The trickiest brew for me was Brewlander Love. I had cold feet the night before the brew, how do I explain then to people what a Wild IPA was? Most don't even know what's an ale, let alone an IPA or one that was Wild. I decided to stuck to our guns, and we went back to brew our second batch of Love in 3 weeks because it was selling out.
Extremely humbling how that decision turned out because Brewlander Love is likely the reason we get to keep our lights on till this day. I defo ain't that smart. You plan the way you think you know best, but market forces almost never regards your plans lol.
Big hugs to everyone who got us here. XOXO
