Enjoy free and fresh beer at Jianguo Beer Factory / 到建國啤酒廠喝免費的新鮮啤酒

Got a chance to taste the upcoming product of Taiwan beer, weissbier, at a lecture.
在講座品嘗台灣啤酒的新產品 - 小麥啤酒。

This was the first time I drank beer at a lecture. I was lucky to sign up a lecture held by Urban Redevelopment Office Taipei City, "The First Pint of Beer in Taiwan - Jianguo Beer Factory", which was held at Jianguo Beer Factory (the so-called Taipei Brewery). The lecture was about the history of Jianguo Beer Factory. The lecture was about one hour, and the tour was another hour. They are both free.

我第一次聽演講的時候喝啤酒。如此幸運，是因為我參加了台北市都市更新處主辦的講座「台灣的第一杯啤酒－建國啤酒廠」，講座正是在建國啤酒廠舉辦，內容是關於建國啤酒廠的歷史。講座大約一小時，導覽也大約一小時，完全免費。

In the tour after the lecture, I got to look around the inside of the factory to see the beer brewing process, guided by a senior employee of the factory and the factory's executive director Mr. Chao Ming-yuan.

講座後的導覽參觀了建國啤酒廠內部，瞭解啤酒的釀造過程，這次導覽是由建國啤酒廠的資深員工和理事長趙銘圓帶領。

It was not a tour that takes you to a museum. It really lets you look at their facilities.
這不是一個只帶你看看展示館的導覽，而是真的讓人看到酒廠的設備。

In the tour inside the factory, their enthusiastic employees kelp pouring beer for everybody. They were treating us unfiltered beer, which tasted really fresh! My friend said he was a little drunk.

參觀酒廠內部時，熱情的酒廠員工不停拿為過濾的啤酒出來招待大家，我朋友說他有些醉了，啤酒非常新鮮！

There were a lot of old pictures in the factory. It was quite interesting looking at pictures from old bottles and trademarks to the old buildings.

酒廠內有許多老照片，看這些舊瓶子和舊商標，以及老廠房的照片非常有趣。

Pictures of the previous Taiwan Beer bottles.
台灣啤酒以前的包裝。

This bottle was sold overseas. It says "China Beer" and has a plum tree and a Chinese ancient on it.
這一個包裝因為外銷國外所以包裝成「China Beer」，上頭還印有梅花和古人。

The welfare of the beer factory was good enough to have a kindergarten.
以前啤酒廠的員工福利很好，有幼稚園。

Jianguo Beer Factory was established under the Japanese colonial government and named "Takasago Beer Company". This was the registered trademark during that time.
建國啤酒廠日本時代的登錄商標。

This was the old trademark of Taiwan Beer. The "wan" (灣) was printed as simplified character to make it clearer due to the unadvanced printing technology.
台啤舊商標的「灣」之所以是簡體字，是因為當時的印刷無法印得很精細，若把「灣」印成繁體，會糊成一塊，只好印成簡體字。

The red brick building was built during the Japanese colonial period in Taiwan.
紅磚建築是日人在台時建造的紅樓。

The beautiful old building can be seen from a corner of the factory.
建國啤酒廠美麗的老建築可以從廠內一角瞥見。

Jianguo Beer Factory runs a restaurant serves Taiwan Beer and stir-fried dishes in one of their factory building called "346". The name of "346" was originated from the extension of the factory's phone number. "346" was the extension of the factory building where the restaurant located in, while "347" and "348" were next to it.

建國啤酒廠也在廠內開了一間叫「346」的餐廳，可以吃熱炒、喝台灣啤酒。「346」之所以命名為346，是因為過去廠房的電話分機是346，而347、348則是餐廳旁的兩間廠房。

There is a live band playing at 346 at weekends. The band plays random Taiwanese pop music. The restaurant is quite loud and has an atmosphere like typical stir-fried places in Taiwan. The restaurant serves vegetarian dishes too, but not many. The price of each dish is around 200 NT.

週末346會有現場演奏台灣流行音樂，氣氛其實很像台灣一般的熱炒店。他們也有一些素食的菜，但不是很多。每盤菜的價位大約是200元左右。

Visiting information / 參觀資訊:

• Open hours: The factory's warehouse restaurant "346" opens from 17:30 till midnight. To visit the factory facilities and have free beer, a call for reservation is needed. 建國啤酒廠的346倉庫餐廳17:30開始營業到深夜。若要參觀酒廠內部和喝免費啤酒，需要事先預約。
• Phone No.: (02) 2541-0082
• Address: No. 85, Sec. 2, Bade Rd., Zhongshan District, Taipei 台北市中正區八德路二段85號
• Transportation: Taking MRT to Zhongxiao-Xinsheng Station (Exit 4), and walk past Guanghua Market towards Bade Rd. and turn right on Weishui Rd. The brewery is across Civic Blvd. (about five to eight minutes on foot) 搭捷運到忠孝新生站4號出口，往八德路步行經過光華商場後在渭水路右轉。(約5-10分鐘腳程)