Would-be founders of Burbrit discovered craft beer in Singapore in late 1990s. After a few years of living Friday evenings on a liquid diet, we thought we should be given shares in the brewpub we were frequenting on a frequent drinker basis. Needless to say we were rudely rejected, leading to the first idea of founding our own microbrewery at several exotic locations such as Phuket, Pattaya and Bali. It was at that time more of fantasy rather than a serious plan.
Some 15 years later with two of the founders moving back to Yangon from Singapore, the idea of pursuing a microbrewery project turned from fantasy in to something remotely possible. After a couple of years of research, with a sketch of what would later become a business plan, founders released that it was very difficult to get a brewing licence in Myanmar. A crazy idea of brewing without a licence was dismissed along the way. Instead, they sent a letter to authorities to ask for permission to brew in the name of craft beer, though they did not expect to hear back.
After no news for several months, we were suddenly summoned by the authorities in latter half of 2015 to be notified that our request was declined. Without taking “No” for an answer, we appealed against the decision in late 2015. To our great surprise and immeasurable delight, the authorities, this time, gave us the permission to actually apply formally for a brewing license.
Our brewing license was eventually issued, almost two years from our initial application, in the middle of 2016. The brewery was set up in North Dagon Industrial zone in the second half of 2016 and our first brew was savored in December 2016 celebrating 500 years anniversary of Reinheitsgebot (German Beer Purity Law). We opened the doors of the Tasting Room @ the Brewery to the customers on 20th January 2017.
