MANILA, PHILIPPINES — I wouldn’t describe myself as a beer enthusiast. In fact, I started drinking beer by reluctantly downing glass after glass during my university days, driven by peer pressure. Today, I tolerate a few sips here and there while enjoying the company of a few colleagues. Believe me when I say I tried, but I could hardly stomach it, and I doubt anyone could ever convince me to like beer or any of its variants.
However, that changed when I visited Palm Tree Abbey, a charming brewery located on the ground floor of Comuna, an up-and-coming creative community hub based in Makati.
View this post on InstagramSponsor
Instead of forcefully placing a glass of beer in my hands telling me to chug, this brewery opened its doors and said, “Welcome; have a seat, make yourself comfortable, and let’s chat – or we can just sit back and enjoy the music.”
And when I met Joel Darwin, one of the co-founders of Palm Tree Abbey, I knew that this space was made by the right people, and built in the right place, at the right time.
The exterior felt like stepping into a welcoming neighbor’s living room, decorated with cozy furniture, warm lighting, and a wall adorned with posters and records that perfectly evoked a laid-back vibe.
The brewery’s name originated from its Canadian Co-founders, Jonathan Heppner and Evan Graff, who were both involved in ministry and non-profit work. It is a tribute to an abbey, a place where monastics gather to do intentional and spiritual work, and a place that’s intended to be a sanctuary.
“It’s also a nod and homage to Belgian beers, which we really love. Trappist beers in particular were the gateway for me into the world of beer,” Joel added.
On setting up the brewery at Comuna, Joel explained that the main priority they considered for Palm Tree Abbey is the surrounding environment, particularly the presence of green space. “A lot of the breweries and taprooms have an open-air kind of garden experience that we always liked. My friends enjoyed breweries in Belgium, where they would have a playground for kids.”
“As soon as we walked in and saw this intentional communal space, without the garden being turned into commercial space, that was like, ‘Oh man,’ we were sold,” Joel shared.
Joel has always envisioned Palm Tree Abbey as an intimate space where people can comfortably drink, eat, and engage in organic conversations. According to him, sharing and oversharing about beer was something he’d always found interesting. “It brings people together, because everyone has an experience and a relationship with beer or these beverages. So, it’s not hard to get people interested and then have them open up to a much bigger world of beer.”
And he’s proving himself right, as I barely noticed I was drinking the pint of stout he poured for me at the beginning of the interview with pure ease — look, ma, no peer pressure!
“We don’t really like the very sterile environments that are snap-sheet metal, very hard to hear (people), and loud music (…) we want people to feel comfortable.”
While I further admired the brewery’s relaxed atmosphere, Joel credits his wife, Marla Darwin, his partner-in-crime in creative firm NS Design, as the woman behind the brand identity and interior design.
The space, splashed with dark-colored flooring and walls, decorated with cozy wooden furnishings and paired with warm, dim lighting, created a vibe that isn’t overstimulating — making the brewery a perfect space to be in after a long day of work, study, or just plain old urban chaos.
“I think her first idea for the brief of this space was, ‘How can we de-bro-ify craft beer?” Joel laughed. “I’m a craft beer bro through and through, but I’ve always trusted Marla. The space, really, is their interpretation of that. And the good news is, all my friends, craft beer bros and all, love it – they come in and feel welcome and they actually really enjoy the space.”
Before I enjoyed the rest of my night in the brewery, I asked Joel to influence all you readers with some beer (or “styles,” a more apt term) recommendations.
“I highly recommend our Abbey Wit,” Joel answered. “I think this encompasses our affinity towards Belgian styles. It’s a lighter type of beer, so it’s not gonna get you really drunk. You can enjoy it at your own pace – there’s a lot of flavor that we added to this experience.”
Lagers, according to Joel, is also another style that deserves more appreciation, because of its deep roots to craft beer.
For non-alcoholic drinkers, Palm Tree Abbey currently has a quaint selection of kombuchas for you to enjoy. The brewery plans to expand its beverage and bar chow offerings in the near future.
Lastly, the best way to enjoy craft beer, according to Joel, is with your friends. “Drink with people, talk about stuff, and don’t get snobbish.”
“I hope (Palm Tree Abbey) can be a place where people from all walks of life feel welcome. I want them to immediately feel like you’re invited into my living room. It’s a house party that’s small enough not to make you feel awkward and not know anybody, but public enough for you to make friends and get to know people,” Joel enthused.
Palm Tree Abbey is open from 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm every Tuesday to Sunday at Comuna, Makati. For updates, follow the brewery on Instagram, and follow Comuna for community event announcements and more.
