Tourist YouTuber slams S’pore brewery after negative experience, review draws mixed responses

Tourist slams Singapore brewery after alleged ‘rude and weird behavior’

A Scottish craft beer reviewer has criticised a Singapore brewery after an unpleasant interaction with the owner.

The reviewer, who goes by RampantLionReviews on social media, posted a 20-minute long video on YouTube, detailing his negative experience at Pink Blossoms Brewing Singapore. 

“I always try to keep the channel positive but for the first time in 11 years, this proved to be impossible,” he wrote in a Facebook post promoting the video.

The review has caused quite an uproar among viewers online.

However, some have defended the Scotsman and sympathised with his bad experience.

When approached by MS News, he said he found the commotion “quite funny”.

Brewery recommended by locals

Last Friday (29 March), RampantLionReviews, also known as James Marshall, posted his review of the local brewery titled ‘Don’t Visit Pink Blossoms Brewing’. 

Mr Marshall, who lives in Hong Kong, said the aim of his videos was to showcase local breweries and try local beer. This is especially the case for Singapore’s beer, which is not “so accessible” outside of the country.

He also noted that the craft beer scene here is still “in its infancy”.

Upon his arrival, he reached out to local craft beer enthusiasts to find out where he could get the best beer in Singapore.

He was recommended Pink Blossoms Brewing, a microbrewery located in Ubi.

‘Weird’ interaction with owner

After arriving at Pink Blossoms Brewing around 5pm last Thursday (28 March), Mr Marshall noticed there were five people at the bar, including the owner.

According to him, the owner was eating a McDonald’s meal, but quickly went behind the bar with apparently a sundae in hand when he noticed Mr Marshall walking in.

Mr Marshall then noticed a sign at the bar saying the brewery only accepted cash or PayNow.

As he was not carrying any cash, he spent a bit of time sorting out payment via bank transfer as he did not have the relevant payment methods as a tourist.

He then revealed he was a YouTuber promoting craft beers and wanted to make a video showing the bar and what’s available on tap.

The owner reportedly told him he was uncomfortable with “impromptu things on social media”, but said he won’t stop him as it’s a “free country”.

Mr Marshall was taken aback by the owner’s response, as in his experience, most owners were usually open to the idea of the breweries getting free coverage, he shared.

“I was just sitting there in my head thinking, right, this is a bit weird,” he added.

Owner didn’t want to be filmed

After the owner left to serve other customers, Mr Marshall said he began filming the beer tap list at the bar, mentioning it was “impressive” the brewery served 19 beers on tap.

When the owner returned, he explained that he was filming as he sincerely wanted to promote Singapore’s craft beers, especially the beers from Pink Blossoms Brewing.

However, the owner reiterated that he had already told Mr Marshall he was uncomfortable with being recorded, but he “filmed a bit anyway”. He then asked what was the point of asking for permission if he was going to record regardless.

According to Mr Marshall, the owner also pointed out that the bar “was a little messy”, and he could get fined if a health inspector came across the video showing his ice cream behind the bar.

He then apparently asked why he had such an “entitled attitude”.

Surprised by the reception

Mr Marshall said the response was baffling, as the owner had unintentionally admitted to not living up to “cleanliness standards” by consuming food behind the bar.

He also didn’t understand the reaction, as he had not asked for free drinks, and had in fact intended to buy “a good few” to try.

He then said the owner seemingly realised he made a mistake and offered him a drink, saying he would feel “uncomfortable” if the reviewer did not try one of his beers after travelling a long way.

Mr Marshall replied he came across some negative Google reviews calling out the brewery’s bad service, and has heard about its reputation from other people in the brewery business, too. He had wanted to visit with an open mind, he added.

However, he was not going to support the business if the owner continued behaving this way, he said, and left the brewery.

He then uploaded his review on YouTube and shared it onto the Craft Beer Lovers (Singapore) Facebook page.

Mixed responses from netizens

After watching the YouTube review, many commenters defended Pink Blossoms Brewing, saying the owner had the right to decline being filmed.

One netizen said Mr Marshall came across “as somewhat entitled and disrespectful”, given the owner had explained his reasons for being uncomfortable.

Another asked why he made a video talking about a bar owner who “quite reasonably” didn’t want him to video.

Some agreed with James, sharing their own negative interactions with the brewery’s owner.

Overall, many viewers felt he had the right intentions, but the wrong execution.

RampantLionReviews unfazed by reaction

Speaking to MS News, Mr Marshall said he found the response, such as comments that he was an “entitled foreigner”, quite “amusing”.

He has had several positive experiences with others in the craft beer scene in Singapore, but there has been a lot of focus on a “single negative”, he said.

He also clarified that, contrary to comments saying he acted this way because he thought he was famous, his videos were just a hobby showcasing a niche area, and never meant “to be massive”.

“Stating an opinion is always controversial, regardless of the context,” he said.

“The reality is that it should be a case of bad service = bad review.”

Explaining his position, Mr Marshall said while he “can certainly appreciate that some feel the “their house, their rules” mantra applies regarding filming”, he was simply shocked by the owner’s “snappy attitude” that was “there from the get-go”.

“Having worked in the F&B industry, I always found it quite fun to interact with customers and give them a good experience. Craft beer is a really nerdy thing that originated in the US — good vibes are expected — and it seems he forgets or ignores this.”

In the end, he did try a beer from Pink Blossoms Brewing — an IPA called ‘Centre of the Universe’ — at another venue.  “It was okay, but certainly not on par with a number of other beers I tried from other producers in Singapore, such as Alive, Sunbird, Outtamost to name but a few.”

Asked if he would visit the bar again and he had this to say: “It would certainly be fun, but there really is no need because there are better venues with better local beer in Singapore. I made a video about that, too.”

MS News has reached out to Pink Blossoms Brewing for comment.

Also read: Tourist From Australia Won’t Visit S’pore Again, Cites Rude Locals As A Reason

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Featured image adapted from RampantLionReviews on YouTube and Pink Blossoms Brewing.