Filipinos deserve better beer!
There's gotta be more than this...
This thought echoed in Fred Calope's mind as he sat in a Manila bar in 2010. After years of traveling and experiencing the diverse beer cultures abroad, Fred knew one thing — Filipinos deserved better.
Beer here could be more than just a drink; it could be an experience, an adventure in a bottle. And that’s when the spark was lit — Boondocks Brewing was born from the desire to bring world-class, bold flavors to the Filipino beer scene
So, armed with nothing more than his desire for variety and his memories of brewing beer in college 15 years prior, Fred set out on a journey to realize his dream - tasty beers at awesome prices.
He went back to basics and began brewing beer in his kitchen on a stovetop in 2011.
By 2013, Fred’s vision had outgrown his kitchen. With a 1BBL brewhouse and a few fermenters, he set up shop in a modest townhouse in Cubao, transforming it into Boondocks Brewing’s first home.
The official launch came in 2016, but the real milestone was in 2018, when Boondocks moved into its current facility in Marikina, equipped with a 30BBL brewhouse — ready to take on the craft beer world, one bold brew at a time.
#TaongBoondocks
The term "boondocks" has long been used in America to describe remote, rural areas, much like our own probinsya. But the familiarity of the word to Filipinos is no coincidence — it stems from the Tagalog word bundok, meaning "mountain."
Fred embodies that same spirit of rugged adventure. A proud probinsyano from Laoag, Ilocos Norte, Fred's journey reflects the essence of the Boondocks — he's ventured far from home, experienced the world, yet remains deeply rooted in his origins.
Just like our brews, Fred’s story is a blend of the familiar and the bold, and embracing change while staying true to his roots.