Award-winning and globally renowned Brewmaster Michael “MJ” Jordan joins Engkanto Brewery.
After eleven years of leading the brewing team at one of the most successful craft breweries in China, Boxing Cat Brewery, Michael Jordan has decided to challenge his own status quo and made his move to the Philippines.
Michael officially joined Engkanto Craft Brewery as their Brewmaster on March 16th, 2021.
The move to the Philippines comes after 11 years at Shanghai’s Boxing Cat Brewery
In a press release the Manila based brewery said it “welcomed its new Brewmaster, the award-winning and globally renowned Michael “MJ” Jordan, who brings in his artistry and expertise of the craft beer for the first time to Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines”
On the move and the challenges ahead Michael said “I learned of Engkanto’s future goals and that inspired me greatly. I thought their dedication to respect a true and traditional beer recipe by never using chemicals or adjuncts, was incredibly authentic and it motivated me. But above all, their desire to have their beers encourage others to challenge the status quo, to challenge something they’ve wanted to change for so long, hit home.”
Michael began his professional brewing journey back in 1995 in Portland, Oregon, USA. After spells at Widmar Brothers Brewing Company (USA) and Fuglsang Brewery (Denmark) Michael moved to Shanghai, China, in 2010 to take the helm for Boxing Cat Brewery. At Boxing Cat he grew his reputation as an outstanding brewer which he cemented with a Silver Medal at the World Beer Cup 2016 for their Ringside Red Amber Lager, the first Chinese craft brewery to bring home a medal from the prestigious competition.
Today Boxing Cat is China’s most internationally awarded craft brewery and Michael has won awards at beer competitions around the globe including the AIBA, International Beer Competition (Japan), Great American Beer Festival and Asia Beer Championship.
When Boxing Cat Brewery was acquired by AB InBev in 2017 Michael oversaw the transition and the upscaling of brewing operations.
When the opportunity in the Philippines with Engkanto presented itself earlier this year Michael seized the opportunity for a new challenge in a new country. “There has been a change in geography for me with this new opportunity” he says “enabling me to grow internally while also contributing to Engkanto’s growth and to the growth of craft beer across the Philippines. Thanks, Engkanto! This is going to be fun!”
