LIBC 11th Anniversary
Eleven years. One little island.
Nobody told us it would be easy. Nobody told us it would be this hard either.
Eleven years ago, we opened the doors at Little Island Brewing Co. in Changi Village, Singapore, with cold beer, a dream, and absolutely no idea what the next decade would look like. Today, on our 11th anniversary, we want to tell you the real story — the highs that made every early morning worth it, and the hard times we’d be lying to pretend didn’t happen.
If you’ve been with us from the beginning, this one’s for you. If you found us last month — welcome. Pull up a stool and let us catch you up.
Making it here
Eleven years in Singapore F&B is not a small thing. The industry has a brutal attrition rate in normal times. Then came Covid.
We watched restaurants we loved go dark. We watched friends in the trade pivot, close, start again, or just stop. From takeaway craft beer during the circuit breaker to cutting costs without cutting corners, we did whatever it took. There were weeks where the question wasn’t ‘how do we grow?’ but ‘how do we survive until next month?’
We survived. More than that — we came out of it knowing exactly what Little Island Brewing Co. is and who it’s for.
And now we face a different challenge. The Cross Island Line roadworks along Loyang Avenue have taken a real toll on our little corner of Changi Village. Footfall is down by an estimated 50%. Getting here isn’t as simple as it used to be. But you keep coming. You call ahead, you carpool, you tell your friends.
The redevelopment of Loyang Industrial Estate has compounded things further. Many of the businesses that made up our regular corporate clientele — the lunch crowd, the team dinners, the function bookings — have been displaced or relocated entirely. It’s a different neighbourhood from the one we opened in.
Consumer spending has shifted too. The years since Covid, the trade tensions, the cost of living — people are more careful with how and where they spend. We understand that. We feel it. It makes every visit, every table, every pint mean more to us than it ever did before.
Eleven years of independent craft brewing in Singapore, through all of it. We’ll take that.
The people who made it with us
A craft brewery and restaurant is only ever as good as the people in it. We’ve been extraordinarily lucky.
Khim has been behind the pass as our head chef since August 2016. He knows these dishes better than anyone alive — including us. Ask him what keeps him going through the hard days and he’s precise about it:
“Good teamwork from colleagues and constant support from the boss. All our regular customers are my motivation to keep improving our menu and maintaining the quality of our food. All to make them feel at home.” — Khim, Head Chef
Sheena joined us as our operations manager in June 2016 and has been the quiet engine of this place ever since. Ask her what a really hard day at Little Island looks like and she won’t flinch:
“Long queues everywhere. A waiting list for seats. Improvised extra tables and chairs. Broken glasses. Sauce on our shoes. Spilled beer on our shirts. And — we’re running out of beer!! A busy night is challenging, but I love it. That adrenaline rush. Those nights create memories, bring you friends you won’t forget, build good relationships, and strengthen our teamwork. It’s a place where you can’t find anyone — customer or colleague — because it looks like Taylor Swift or Coldplay is having a concert.” — Sheena, Operations Manager
If you love what you do, she says, nothing can stop you. We believe her entirely.
Andrew, our head brewer, left a comfortable corporate life to join us. He remembers his first week vividly:
“The brewhouse has its own climate — steam, humidity, water everywhere. No aircon, completely open to the environment. Some days it gets up to 39°C in the brewhouse. I’ve found something much more peaceful here. No CBD hustle. And the surroundings — the environment of Changi Village, the beach and the river — that was something else entirely.” — Andrew, Head Brewer
He’s been making our beer ever since, with Allan, his lead brewer, right beside him.
Ah Leng has greeted more guests at our front of house than we can count. She joined in 2016 and has been a constant warm presence for nine years — the person who remembers your name, remembers your drink, and makes people feel like they belong here.
“Little Island is more than a workplace to me. It is a place where lasting friendships are made.” — Ah Leng, Front of House
She tells us about one customer in particular — someone who became a genuine friend over years of visits. When he told her he was returning home, she treated him to a meal. “It was an emotional moment, and we both shed tears when we said goodbye.” That is the kind of place we have always wanted to be.
Melissa has kept our accounts in order through every storm: Covid, supply shocks, the lot. If Little Island is still standing financially, Melissa is a significant reason why.
These aren’t just colleagues. They are Little Island Brewing Co. We are humbled that they chose to build this with us.
A tribute to Steve
We would be telling an incomplete story if we didn’t mention Steve, our previous head brewer, who passed away during our journey together. Steve was part of the foundation of this place — his craft, his standards, and his warmth are baked into everything we do. We carry him with us. We always will.
The holy trinity — food
Some things are on menus because they sell well. Some things are on menus because they’re part of who you are.
Our fish and chips, our 15-hour smoked wagyu beef brisket, and our crispy pork belly have been with us since Day 1 at our Changi Village restaurant. They have outlasted trends, survived menu reviews, and been the subject of more return visits than we can count.
The brisket goes into the smoker the afternoon before service. Fifteen hours later, it comes out with a bark that crackles when you touch it and a smoke ring that goes all the way through. Khim has been refining it ever since — from the seasoning and meat quality to the type of wood used for smoking and the hours spent cooking.
“We are constantly refining and improving. But the commitment — putting it in the smoker the afternoon before, no shortcuts — that has never changed.” — Khim, on the brisket
The fish and chips are what they are: done properly. Fresh-caught seabass, proper batter, chips that are actually crisp. Simple, and because of that, very hard to get right consistently.
The crispy pork belly — ask anyone who’s had it on a good day. Ask Khim:
“The secret lies in fresh pork belly, well air-dried skin, and the right cooking method.” — Khim, on the pork belly
These dishes are not going anywhere. They are Little Island Brewing Co.
The holy trinity — beer
The food has its constants. So does the tap.
Sister Golden Ale has been pouring since the beginning — our golden ale, approachable and easy-drinking, the one that’s converted more lager drinkers to craft beer than anything else we’ve made. It’s the beer that says welcome before you’ve even sat down. Andrew puts it simply: the Golden Ale carries on the foundation of Little Island Brewing Co.
Ye Ole Black Magic is our stout, and if you haven’t tried it, you’ve been missing something. Five-time Asia Beer Awards winner. Rich, full-bodied, and built for the kind of evening that doesn’t need to end early. The accolades are nice. The fact that people keep ordering it is nicer.
Naked Lager is exactly what it sounds like — a light lager with nothing to hide. Clean, crisp, and dangerously easy to drink in the Changi Village heat. The one you order first and the one you end up coming back to.
Three beers. Eleven years. Still on tap at our Changi Village brewery.
Our first wedding couple — Chuan and Victoria
When Chuan and Victoria got married at Little Island Brewing Co., we had no idea we were at the beginning of something.
Victoria had been working in church, and a church wedding felt too familiar. They wanted something different — meaningful to them. Chuan loved a good craft beer. They wanted somewhere relaxed, indoor-outdoor, with a real atmosphere. They had visited another brewery first but it didn’t feel right. Then their wedding photographer, Joel, pointed them towards Little Island. It was new. It had the vibe. They came down, met Francis, and knew immediately.
“It fit the vibe and vision we were looking for. We met Francis, and he was so hospitable, we felt like we clicked. Safe to say, the rest was history.” — Chuan & Victoria
As our very first wedding couple, they were part of our learning curve too. They joked warmly about being our “guinea pigs” — but remember the day fondly. The clear skies. The live band. The guests who are still talking about the beef brisket and smoked salmon. Victoria’s mother-in-law, who had planned to leave after dinner, ended up staying later than most guests because the house band was playing songs from her era.
“Since it was the first time, we were relieved and heartened that the LIBC team pulled it off. A buffet line, staff who celebrated with us and remember us till this day, and happy guests who had zero complaints.” — Chuan & Victoria
That was July 2016. This year, they’re celebrating ten years of marriage. They have four children. And every anniversary, they come back to Little Island Brewing Co. in Changi Village.
“LIBC will always hold a special place in our hearts. We make it a point to come back every anniversary, and every other event LIBC organises. We are so thankful that LIBC held on and survived through Covid and we hope that you guys will still be around in the next few decades. It really is a special place for us — and now the kids too.” — Victoria
To every couple that has ever celebrated something here: thank you. You made this place more than a brewery.
Here’s to year twelve
The roadworks will end. Loyang Avenue will reopen. And God willing, we will still be here in Changi Village — pouring good craft beer, smoking brisket through the night, and welcoming everyone who finds their way to our little corner of Singapore.
On 11 July 2026, we’re celebrating with a proper party. BBQ, Brews & Beats — free entry, 12pm till late. Live music from 5pm. Good food. Good beer. Old friends and new ones.
If you’ve never visited: come. If you’ve been before: come back. If you’ve been coming for years: you already know where the table is.
Eleven years. Thank you. All of you.
— The team at Little Island Brewing Co., Changi Village, Singapore
Little Island Brewing Co. | 6 Changi Village Road, #01-01/02, Singapore 509907 | libc.co