Our Counsel Sui Hung Yeung is also a "Judge"
Q1: When and how did you start developing your interest in beer tasting?
Perhaps like everyone, my perception of beer for a long time had been that it is produced en masse, every beer tastes the same – bitter and boring.
That changed around 10 years ago when a friend introduced me to the world of craft beer. At that time, he was the manager of a newly-opened craft beer pub called “The Ale Project” (which recently celebrated their 10th anniversary) on a quiet alley in Mong Kok. I paid a visit and had my first pint of locally made craft beer. One sip and I was never the same. I never knew that beer could have such complex flavours, and it is in fact possible to appreciate beer just like wine or whisky.
I became interested in discovering and tasting the great variety of craft beers made locally and overseas, and met a lot of good friends (whether from the beer industry or just beer enthusiasts like me) in the process. I wanted to deepen my knowledge about the world of craft beer, and decided to take a course to become a beer judge under the Beer Judge Certificate Program (BJCP), a world-wide certifying organisation for judges of beer and related products. Since then, I regularly attend homebrew competitions in Hong Kong and overseas as a beer judge.
Q2: Do you make your own beer?
As I was so intrigued by the variety of flavour profile of beers, I wanted to learn more about how beers were made and the whole brewing process. I came to know that brewing beer is a very scientific and precise process but at the same time, it gives you the flexibility to let your imagination and creativities run wild. It is in a way so similar to what we do daily as a lawyer, you have to give precise and concise legal advice and be on top of all legal technicalities, but you also have to think out of the box sometimes to provide effective resolutions for our clients. So I immediately fell in love with homebrewing and have never stopped since.
Q3: Tell us about the most unforgettable beer you have tried.
The most memorable beer for me was Cha Chaan Teng Sour, a gose brewed by Young Master, a local Hong Kong craft beer brewery. It was the first craft beer I have ever tasted and it opened my eyes to the world of craft beer. It was inspired by salted lime that is commonly found in local Cha Chaan Tengs in Hong Kong. It gives a slightly sour taste but it is also very refreshing and crisp which will increase your appetite and make you crave more.
Q4: Any advice for anyone who has a passion for beer like you?
Be open-minded and embrace the adventure that craft beers will give you.
