Hops Craft Beer Garden & Restaurants — Restaurant in Khan Daun Penh

I came here for one reason only: well-cooked wedge fries, ideally w/ mustard condiment. The first was quick and maybe worth the 4 km bicycle ride. The second took an extraordinary long time to arrive. As in, never. I brought my own Frenchies as backup so let it go. However, when near the end of my meal I asked the waitress if they had 'malt vinegar' she asked if I meant 'red vinegar'. I got it. And quickly. Was it malt vinegar? Too acidic to be standard malt vinegar for chips and I did not recognise any malt aroma.

What I received as wedge fries was similar to the Google Maps photo of chunky-cut taters with skin intact but not quite there. It is as if they had been coated with some sort of flavouring. I would have preferred pure potatoes. I asked for extra crispy and they were. Setting the deep frier on a slightly higher temperature would be more to my liking than cooking them long as then the inside would be not quote so soft. The wedge fries were good, just not great.

Photo is after I have eaten four fries. I asked for stout to accompany my snack. This alcoholic drink ( ike Guiness) is apparently available only occasionally, as a daily special.

The day I was there mid-day (30% off dishes) there were three large tables of Japanese enjoying the food. Appeared to be a company or NGO.

Beautiful burl wood tables. Comfortable padded-seat chairs. Air-con was not freezing, but close. Pleasant decor and in cooler season one might want to sit on the bit narrow top benches outside. Music not too loud. Server tried to upsell me. I get this a lot in India too.

As I am rarely a drinker I am not certain I will return. Perhaps if friends are going out drinking I will try one of the vegetarian dishes. I like that they offer taster...

I visited Hops Craft Beer Garden on a Wednesday evening during Pchum Ben and appreciated that they were open for those of us staying in the city during the holiday. The venue itself is impressive—large space, an on-site brewery, pool tables, a big courtyard, and an air-conditioned area at the back.

Unfortunately, they turned off the air conditioning shortly after I arrived, but I pressed on and ordered a beer tasting sampler and five Aperol Spritz in sequence.

In terms of décor, they also seem to be getting ready for Halloween, or maybe the decapitated head decoration in the men’s bathroom was a nod to Pchum Ben. Either way, it was odd.

As for the beer, despite “Hops” being part of their name, this was hands down the worst craft beer I’ve ever tasted—worse even than East West Brewery in Vietnam, worse than BrewHaHa in Vietnam as well. I tried every variety from the tasting sampler, and none had any real character or flavor. Honestly, water with bitters would have been a better experience. If the owner wants to understand how craft brewing should be done, they might want to check out Est. 33 in Bangkok and learn from the Boonrawd family who have been in the business since 1933. Tell ‘em I sent you.

The Aperol Spritz, at $7.20, was on the high side for Cambodia, but considering that neither the beer nor the Aperol provided good value, Hops has some real challenges to do sustainable business.

If I ever feel like a nice place to chill and enjoy locally brewed beer, Hops won’t be my...

Generally the place is nice and has lots to offer in terms of atmosphere. The big garden with picnic tables, the terrace on the second floor, AC indoors and even private rooms. In terms of entertainment, very good American style pool tables and darts. The food for my taste is way overpriced ($3,75 for just a lime juice, seriously??) and the service (nevertheless there are so many staff walking with walkie talkies) was unfortunately very poor and not professional. First, no salt and pepper were brought to the table which was really missed with my potato wedges. We ordered the spicy chicken and when asked for more chili sauce the waiter got confused about what we want and came back with ketchup. Then he had to take the saucer to the kitchen for a refill. When we asked for water there were only two options from the menu, mineral and filtered, which were overpriced of course. And the waiting time for the water was ridiculously long while my girlfriend was chocking from the spiciness. Luckily the beer was good, after couple of pints of the delicious IPA I was relieved a bit. I can imagine that maintaining such a facility is not cheap but what I can't understand is why should it come on the customer? If I pay these prices, I expect to get served fairly at least. I really felt that I'm spending my money for nothing tonight, at the price I paid I could get 2 fried ducks and have a really festive meal. Hops, unfortunately you...