The teetotaler owner opened Hsinchu’s only brewery—and lets people drink for free

▲Chen Yilian, founder of Hsinchu Xiangshan Taiwan Finebrew Beer Factory. (Photo provided by Dai Linli)

By Zhao Yuting, Hsinchu Reporter

Have you ever tried beer in its purest form? "Taiwan Finebrew Beer" was established in 2008 and is the only beer brewery in Hsinchu, renowned for its "authentic craft beer."The owner, Chen Yilian, mentioned that the hardships of starting a business are like the aftertaste of beer—bitter at first but sweet later, and that the process of enduring bitterness before sweetness is the most valuable.In this small beer factory, you can witness the entire process from fermentation to canning, and Owner Chen even generously offers tastings.

The most unique thing about Owner Chen Yilian is that he "doesn’t drink alcohol at all."But as soon as the topic turns to beer, Owner Chen becomes like a professor, sharing his wealth of brewing knowledge and making you feel like you’re taking a masterclass in beer-making. Beer is categorized into Lager and Ale based on yeast types. Owner Chen’s brewing technique is based on Germany’s pure beer brewing method, which he gradually refined into his own style. He specifically noted that some beers taste more bitter because they contain more hops. Therefore, when brewing Ale, he uses American hops combined with the traditional English Ale brewing method to mellow the bitterness, resulting in a much smoother taste.


▲Brewing barrels inside the factory. (Photo by Reporter Zhao Yuting)


▲The freshly tapped beer has a very smooth taste, with especially fine bubbles. (Photo by Reporter Zhao Yuting)

● ETtoday News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive, and don’t drive after drinking.

The alcohol content of the beer brewed by Owner Chen is around 5%, but he guarantees that drinking his beer won’t give you a headache, because the quality of alcohol depends on the raw materials used.Owner Chen explained that good alcohol won’t give you a headache—in fact, it can even promote blood circulation. As long as it’s made from pure ingredients and the alcohol content is moderate, it can actually benefit your health.

Besides beer, the factory also produces non-alcoholic pure black rye juice, using raw materials such as Australian barley and malt roasted by China's National Grain Bureau. The brewing of the black rye juice partly uses basic malt and partly malt roasted to produce a toasty and dark flavor. The roasting process generates polyphenols, which are beneficial to the human body. With its sweet and tangy taste, it’s very refreshing and easy to drink.


▲Finebrew product series. (Photo provided by Finebrew)

It’s precisely because of his commitment to high-quality raw materials that Owner Chen never actively markets his products yet has a large base of loyal customers. He laughs and says, “Beer is a century-old business—if you like it, it’s fate.” In addition, Owner Chen, who has now expanded into his own brand, contract brewing, and the production of beer equipment, has also launched beer brewing courses and opened the factory for tours. He emphasizes that he simply wants to share the most authentic beer-brewing process with the public, so a visit to his factory might take up to three hours.

He started his beer empire at the age of 48, and many groups, including Rotary Clubs and motorcycle clubs, have become loyal customers after just one taste. Visiting his factory allows you not only to enjoy authentic craft beer and non-alcoholic black rye juice, but also to learn a lot of valuable knowledge from him if you're interested in brewing.Owner Chen laughs and says, “I want to develop a beer tourism factory in the future, but I won’t push it—just come and try it if you’re interested.”


▲Staff organizing canned beer.


▲The beer canning process. (Photo by Reporter Zhao Yuting)

Those interested in visiting Taiwan Finebrew Beer Factory should take advantage of the “Xiangshan Mini Tour” launched by the Hsinchu City Government, as the beer factory is one of the stops on the itinerary. Additionally, if you’d like to gather friends for a visit, Owner Chen warmly welcomes you and simply says, “Just call the factory to make a reservation.”


▲Non-alcoholic roasted black rye juice. (Photo by Reporter Zhao Yuting)

Finebrew Beer Factory
Address: No. 3-1, Jinsui Street, Xiangshan District, Hsinchu City
Phone: 03-540-3472

● ETtoday News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive, and don’t drive after drinking.