Torch Brewery
Brewpub
in
Istanbul,
Marmara,
Türkiye 🇹🇷
Associated Venue: The Populist
Description
While it is thought the Chinese sipped the first beer in 7000 BC, Mesopotamia is where craft beer got its roots. The ancient Sumerians viewed their brew as a daily necessity and considered it a gift from the gods to promote joy and health. The unresolved argument remains today…what came first, the beer or the bread?
Brewers were typically female and highly regarded in early Mesopotamia. In fact, Ninkasi, goddess of beer, was not only the beer itself, she was also the boss brewer of the gods. Her responsibility was to supply the good drink to the temples and sacred sites. Her recipe evolved into medicinal potions, religious sacrifices, and a nutritious dietary staple for all classes of society.
Please, join us to honor Ninkasi and bring craft beer back to the cradle of civilization.
Brewers were typically female and highly regarded in early Mesopotamia. In fact, Ninkasi, goddess of beer, was not only the beer itself, she was also the boss brewer of the gods. Her responsibility was to supply the good drink to the temples and sacred sites. Her recipe evolved into medicinal potions, religious sacrifices, and a nutritious dietary staple for all classes of society.
Please, join us to honor Ninkasi and bring craft beer back to the cradle of civilization.
6.1/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Amber colour and creamy mid-sized white head. Light malty, spicey aroma. Medium-bodied. Smooth palate. Malts, some spicies, gooseberry bush in the flavour. Ok.
Tried
from Draft
at
The Populist
on 05 Apr 2026
at 15:13
5.6/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 5.5
Flavor 5.5
Texture 5
Overall 5.5
Amber colour, small off-white head. Sweetish aroma with strong ginger. Light-bodied. Sweetish. Malts, ginger, honey. Novelty.
Tried
from Draft
at
The Populist
on 05 Apr 2026
at 15:07
5.8/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 5.5
Flavor 5.5
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Clear yellow colour and small white head. Neutral sweetish malty aroma. Light-bodied. Crisp, neutral flavour, some sweetish malts and hayish hops. Bitterness low.
Tried
from Draft
at
The Populist
on 05 Apr 2026
at 15:01
6.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6.5
Texture 7
Overall 6.5
Opaque colour, thick brownish head, some lace. Light toasted aroma. Smooth palate. Coffeish, a bit sweetish. Ok.
Tried
from Draft
at
The Populist
on 05 Apr 2026
at 14:56
4.3/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 4
Flavor 4
Texture 4
Overall 4
Pale yellow colour and small white head. Very neutral nose. Hints of sweetish maltyness. Light-bodied. Flavour is also neutral like Bud with slightly more maltyness.
Tried
from Draft
at
The Populist
on 05 Apr 2026
at 14:43
5.6/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 5.5
Flavor 5.5
Texture 5
Overall 5.5
Copper colour and small beige head. Light toasted, caramalty aroma. Light-bodied. Some cereals, caramalt, low bitterness. Easy.
Tried
from Draft
at
The Populist
on 05 Apr 2026
at 14:39
5.8/10
—
Appearance 5
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 5
Overall 6
16/3/2026. Bottle from The Barrels Pub Konyaaltı, Antalya. Enjoyed back at the hotel. Very lively pour. Aroma is jasmine tea. blossom, sweet malts, citrusy, chalky. Taste is sweet, floral, low bitterness, slightest tartness. Moderate body, quite carbonated. Sweet candied tea finish. Fine for what it is but wouldn’t want it again.
Tried
from Bottle
at
The Barrels Pub Konyaaltı
on 16 Mar 2026
at 16:50
7.6/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8.5
Texture 6
Overall 8
16/3/2026. Bottle at The Barrels Pub Konyaaltı, Antalya. Good pour into the brewers branded glass. Very herbal, piney, spruce, citrus, grapefruit, caramel aroma. Dank, ripe, tropical. Moderate sweetness, heavy grapefruit bitters. Totally different to pretty much anything else I’ve tried from Türkiye. I like it!
Tried
from Bottle
at
The Barrels Pub Konyaaltı
on 16 Mar 2026
at 11:33
7.5/10
Pretty not bad!
Tried
on 09 Jun 2025
at 15:19
7.5/10
Hoppier than a German one
Tried
on 09 Jun 2025
at 15:17