A new brewery is making its mark in Sarawak, building on the state’s growing as an incubator of Malaysia’s craft beer industry.

Hornbeer began commercial production in late 2024, following several years of development and studying the local market.

The launch underscores the growth of the Southeast Asian nation’s craft beer industry over the past three years, with the arrival of at least three craft breweries in Sarawak (1602, Leyd and Zebrew), in addition to Paperkite in Peninsular Malaysia.

The flagship Hornbeer range leans into tropical flavours and local character whereas the Mulan line (inspired by eponymous narratives of female strength) uses hops sourced from New Zealand and is driven by a storytelling-led brand.

Current releases include a ‘dry beer’ (positioned as a clean, easy-drinking option similar to industry lagers), pale ale, wheat beer, and a session IPA.

Hornbeer is planning to introduce more flavours soon, with a stout and additional IPAs already in development.

These styles reflect both local tastes and international beer trends, positioning the brewery to serve a diverse market as craft beer demand steadily increases in East Malaysia.

At present, distribution is limited to Sarawak, but plans are already in place for a wider launch in Peninsular Malaysia (known locally as Semenanjung) within the year.

The brewery also has export ambitions, targeting Singapore as its first overseas market.

As beer production in Malaysia has generally remained stable despite regional volatility according to the recently released BarthHaas 2024 report, the emergence of new breweries highlights Malaysian drinkers growing interest in local craft and premium beer brands.