CHILL CHOICES BY TWO  POPETORN SOONTHORNYANAKIJ

Al Fresco Supper

Before being amazed by the light and sound show at the spectacular Supertree Grove, head to the top of these striking man-made "trees" to sip perfectly-mixed cocktails and enjoy creative bites at SuperTree by IndoChine (18 Marina Gardens Drive, Gardens by the Bay, (65) 6694-8489, open Sun-Thu 10am-noon (Drinks), noon-1am (Meals and drinks). Fri-Sat 10am-noon (Drinks), noon-2am (Meals and drink). Run by Asia’s top restaurant group IndoChine, this stunning venue offers an experience like no other, blessed as it is with a location at the top of the highest Supertree, some 50 meters above the ground. Snack on delicious finger food like crispy lychee with Kurobuta pork loin or terrine of chicken with walnuts and jamon iberico while enjoying sweeping views of the Marina Bay skyline and the spectacular architecture of Marina Bay Sands—either from the comfort of the indoor section, or at the al fresco bar.

Sipping on Top of the World

If you’re after something even more elevated, 1-Altitude (61-63/F, 1 Raffles Place, open Mon-Thu 6pm-2am, Fri-Sat 6pm-4am, Sun 6pm-1am, www.1-altitude.com) is an absolute must-visit. Set on the top of 1 Raffles Place building, it is currently the world’s highest al fresco bar. At a height of 282 meters, its 360-degree panoramic views of Singapore impress with breathtaking cityscapes at every turn. For drinks, you can expect a long list of creative cocktails (try the Altitude Affair!), as well as a premium wine list designed to perfectly match a menu of favorites ranging from a succulent seafood platter to spicy Thai chicken or prawn dip with crispy rice crackers. 1-Altitude’s sister venue, Stella, is another top choice for dinner, voted Best Restaurant to Impress in I-S Magazine’s Reader's Choice Awards. Make sure to arrive before sunset to witness the sky taking on a host of magical colors as Singapore dramatic skyline turns on the lights.

Primo Vino

Chilling often means a casual atmosphere and a great wine list. That's exactly what Napoleon Food and Wine Bar (206 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore, (65)6221-9282. Open Mon-Fri 11:30am-midnight, Sat 6pm-midnight) serves up, stirring up quite the buzz since it opened its doors last year. The enomatic wine dispensing machines is our favorite part, as it allows you to sample an impressive selection of 32 different European wines by the glass. On the food front, expect Southern European delicacies such as warm spinach salad with crispy bacon, lamb shank parma tier and braised chicken leg in red wine, carrot puree and vegetable. The desserts here just as elegant and delicious—the lemon tart with lime sorbet is simply to die for! Ordering is actually part of the entertainment, too, as you are given an iPad Mini to explore the menu before the attentive staff step in to serve you as soon as you push the order button. You don’t need to worry about blowing your budget, either, as Napoleon is renowned for its great value for money, with wines by the glass starting at just $8. What's more, as it’s situated on the hottest dining street in Singapore, Telok Ayer, you have the perfect chance to walk around the old town to absorb the beautiful architecture before enjoying the best food experience in town.

Beach Party

If you’re headed to Sentosa, set aside some time to take a stroll along Tanjong Beach Walk, which is home to the retro-luxe Tanjong Beach Club (120 Tanjong Beach Walk, (65) 6270-1355, open Tue-Fri 11am-11pm; Sat-Sun 10am-midnight. www.tanjongbeachclub.com). Modeled after a 1950s beach resort, the club comes replete with a pool overlooking panoramic views, two bars, a restaurant and plenty of chill-out spaces. Here you’ll find a range of cool cocktails like the Tanjong Martini, a refreshing yet heady concoction of vodka, lychee, lemongrass syrup and apple juice, the dark rum and apricot brandy-laden Tanjong Punch, as well as the Red Sangria. Their food list is just as irresistible. The aromatic Tanjong Nurger or Half Spring Chicken show their just as comfortable with turf as with surf (do try the oysters from the Arctic Sea). The club is also home to one of the hottest beach parties in town, where swimmers frolick in the pool to waves of dance music, ranging from disco to house, from the likes of DJs Has, KFC, Hook and more. Plan ahead if you want to enjoy the fun to the max as Tanjong Beach Club also hosts full moon events, too. With Tanjong, Sentosa has really go its sexy back.

Late Night Sweets

After some late-night sweet treats? You’re in luck. Singapore is home to the aptly-named 2am : dessertbar (Holland Village, 21A Lorong Liput, (65) 6291-9727, open Mon-Sat 6pm-2am. www.2amdessertbar.com), which gets packed out after dinner. Here they serve up scumptious desserts that you can’t find anywhere else, all of which can be enjoyed with special wine pairings. You might feel a bit guilty tucking into these truly beautiful desserts, though, due to the artistry of Singaporean celebrity chef and owner Janice Wong. Her innovative creations often feature unusual ingredients that she incorporates in surprising ways. Try the Kayambe H2O and Basil White Chocolate, with passion fruit puff, coconut sorbet and sea grapes. What’s more, you can nibble on your favorite treats while lying on the long white beds, the best spots in the place. 

“My trip was so chill.  When the evening comes, Singapore is so vibrant, with a really colorful nightlife. I really love exploring the old Chinatown as it’s full of charming old buildings that have been transformed into hip cafés and bars. One great place to hang out there is Napoleon Food and Wine Bar which is a super laidback spot given the fine dining food and has a superb wine list.”

“If you’re looking for an al fresco place to live it up at night, 1-Altitude and SuperTree by IndoChine are my faves. Catch a cool breeze during sunset at IndoChine before heading to sip drinks and enjoy the 360-degree views at 1-Altitude, the highest al fresco bar in the world. The view up there is unbeatable.” 

“One of my guilty pleasures is eating desserts at night and I’m pretty amazed that there is a bar like 2am : dessertbar that serves sweets until really early in the morning. Superb!” 

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The craft beer craze shows no signs of abating as we head into 2014 with new bars and new beers heading to the city. At the vanguard of it all is a wide range of craft Indian Pale Ales arriving in Bangkok from as far afield as Japan, Scotland and the USA. But what exactly is an IPA, why is it such a hit with beer lovers and where did it originate? 

While craft beers are a relatively new trend, the origins of IPA actually go a long way back. In fact, its roots can be dated back to the 19th Century and a time when Britain’s Empire was at its peak. Many a colonial ruler started to miss a drop of the good stuff from back home creating a growing market in Britain’s largest colony, India. As a result, British brewers started to make a version of pale ale, which had more hops and a longer shelf life, especially for export.  

“IPA was originally designed to survive the long trip from England to India without going sour,” explains Kan Navikapol, part-owner of Smiling Mad Dog Co., Ltd., who import craft beers from the likes of BrewDog and St. Bernardus.

However, the popularity of IPA soon spread and it wasn’t just homesick admin clerks in Bombay who were enjoying the distinctive flavor of the IPAs, which had a much hoppier or bitter flavor and a stronger alcohol level than other ales of the time. As a result, IPAs began to be brewed more extensively and spread to America, Canada and Australia by the beginning of the 1900s. “These days, it just means that the beer is ‘hopped’ and has a strong hoppy flavor,” confirms Kan.

Indeed, it’s the hoppiness (a bitter, tanginess) of IPAs and its flexibility when it comes to brewing with other flavors that have made India Pale Ale such a hit with brewers, beer lovers and foodies. “From tropical fruits to pine and citrus, it really depends on the brew master who can mix these for an endless range of flavors,” explains Brian Bartusch, GM of Beervana.

Much like wines, the profiles and flavors of different craft beers are heavily influenced by the regions or countries where they are brewed. That means that American IPAs have a very different flavor profile when compared to their British cousins. 

“American IPAs use tons of hops, and to get technical, people would call these beers ‘American India Pale Ales,” confirms Kan. “English IPAs use locally sourced ingredients and are usually more balanced between a hoppy taste (bitterness) and the sweet and smooth maltiness.”

But it can be broken down further than that, with IPA fans able to recognize major differences between the different states. The characters of the West Coast IPAs seems to be more flowery with hints of pine and fruits, while the East Coast tend to be sweeter with malty undertones.

As the popularity of craft beer explodes, more and more people are experimenting with brewing combinations and flavors, and it’s now common for breweries to use ingredients, from types of hops to fruit varieties, from all over the world. Sometimes you’ll even find those brewers who emphasize a single-origin idea, such as the BrewDog’s IPA is Dead series, which uses the same base beer but four different hops or come with new styles, such as Deschutes’ black and white IPAs.

Brian believes that the next big trend will see people brewing more sour beer and utilizing wild yeast, while Kan believes that we’ll see more gypsy brewers, individuals like Mikkeler who make amazing beer but don’t have an actually brewery. Moving forward it seems that the sky is pretty much the limit with IPAs. 

Try these different IPAs: 

Scotland: BrewDog Punk IPA (B240)

Punk IPA is just one of a range of ales from Scottish craft brewer BrewDog who claim to make irreverent beer with a soul. It is based on a classic Indian Pale Ale, meaning it’s brewed using pale malts, which in turn produce a paler beer, but Punk is given a modern twist thanks to the addition of lots of fruity hops to ensure a real burst of flavor.

Get it at: Beerosophy, Beerology, Brew Beers & Ciders, Niche Cafe and Hobs.

US: Deschutes Chainbreaker White IPA (B220)

Part of the Deschutes family of beers, who have been brewing out of Bend, Oregon (the heartland of American craft beers), since 1988. The beer itself is unusual in that it is a hybrid; brewed with both wheat and pilsner malt, plus orange and coriander, the end result is a distinctive blend of traditional Belgian-style wheat beer and a classic Indian Pale Ale.

Get it at: www.seekbeervana.com

Denmark: Mikkeller Invasion Farmhouse IPA (B1,490 for 750 ml)

Best known for being a gypsy brewer, Mikkel Borg Bjergsø started off his passion by brewing his beer in different breweries including BrewDog and many other countries before his label became famous for its great diversity, including a range of IPAs, and is now served at many top restaurants.

Get it at: Check on the update for the Mikkeller Bar in Bangkok here or at www.mikkellerbangkok.com or get it at www.wishbeer.com

England: Greene King IPA (B195)

Definitely more classic than the other IPAs on this list this beer has a much milder taste, with only a slight hint of hoppiness making it much more reminiscent of a standard English pale ale. It certainly makes it eminently drinkable, though it still packs a potent punch and you can even enjoy it on draught at certain British pubs around town.  

Get it at: Drink it on tap at the Black Swan and the Old Ship. Buy it at www.mbsthai.com or www.wishbeer.com.

MORE: Meet the guys behind Bangkok's Craft Beer Revolution, find out where to enjoy these beers and more with our round up of the Best Beer Bars in Bangkok and discover how you can also have them delivered to your door with our guide to Bangkok's Best Beer Delivery Services.