Date Night #13: A birthday bash at Lion Brewery – the Pressure Hour challenge 

For my husband’s birthday, we decided to shake things up a bit and try something unconventional. Instead of the usual intimate dinner, we invited a group of our closest friends to join us for a celebration at Lion Brewery. It wasn’t your typical date night, but with the right group of people and a unique twist, we ended up having one of the most fun nights we’ve had in a while.

Where?


🍻 Lion Brewery, Club Street – A lively spot known for its craft beers, hearty food and one unforgettable experience: Pressure Hour.

What?

Lion Brewery is famous for its wide selection of craft beers and lagers, but the real fun starts with Pressure Hour. Every Thursday from 6–7 pm, the brewery offers ONE free-flowing beer (this week it was Mountain Lion Lager, 4.3% ABV). The catch? If anyone leaves the bar or needs to use the bathroom, the game is over, and everyone loses their free drinks. It’s a true test of endurance, strategy, and bladder control—and we were all in for the challenge!

Here’s how the night went down:

The Pressure Hour:

The gong sounded throughout the bar, signaling the start of Pressure Hour. We queued up at the bar (along with everyone else) to grab our first pint of free beer.

Everyone got into the spirit—some of us even took a lap around the bar while drinking, immediately swapping our empty glasses for fresh ones (not me, but my husband and a few of our friends definitely did!).

Things got pretty intense as the clock ticked down, and we all kept a close eye on the door, waiting for someone to cave and make a run for the bathroom. I may have pretended I needed to go at one point—just to see if anyone was watching. Let’s just say I got a few horrified looks from fellow customers! I slowly backed away… 😅

The pressure was on—and honestly, it was kind of stressful—but in the best way possible! It was an absolute blast.

The free beer (Mountain Lion Lager) was light, crisp, and easy to drink—perfect for the challenge!

But then… just when we thought we had the hang of it, at 6:42 pm (42 minutes into the challenge), the dreaded horn blew, signaling someone had left the bar. The entire pub erupted in boos! The villain of the hour had gone to have a cigarette! It’s 2025—everyone knows smoking kills, and now, smoking was killing our fun! Another boo from me!

Though we didn’t quite make it the full hour, it was still so much fun. I’ll definitely be back for another Pressure Hour soon! 

In our group, the competition was fierce. A couple of people (including my husband) managed five pints in 42 minutes—impressive, but how were they still standing?! I had three pints before feeling comfortably tipsy—fun, but definitely tipsy!

After Pressure Hour:

Once the horn blew, signalling the failure of our Pressure Hour challenge, we relaxed and ordered food and more drinks of our choice. They use a QR code system to order and pay, which was super convenient for a big group like ours!

We ordered some hearty pub food to soak up all that beer. My husband and I shared the scotch eggs—absolute perfection, and I cannot recommend them enough!

For mains, I had a chicken burger, which hit the spot and helped line my stomach for more beer. My husband went for the chicken curry, which came with naan bread (but no rice—just in case you love your double carbs like me!). It was delicious, nonetheless.

As a group, we continued enjoying our beers. My husband and I opted for the Lion Brewery Two to Mango (4.7% ABV)—a mango beer that was like drinking dessert: sweet, thick, and oh-so-delicious. I managed a few of those.

As the night progressed, we sipped on more drinks and had a blast. However, we couldn’t help but notice that the night would’ve been even better if it weren’t for the not-so-great service.

While everything else about Lion Brewery was fantastic, the service left something to be desired. The staff was a bit out of sorts, slamming food on the table, shouting rudely when they brought our food and drinks, and some even seemed less than thrilled about our rowdy group. I get it—18 people after a free hour of booze can get loud—but it was a little off-putting.

That said, the food and beer were fantastic, and the overall vibe of the night made up for the service hiccups.

WOW tips:

• Group Vibe: Pressure Hour is definitely more fun with a larger group, so if you’re planning to try it, bring a crew and make a night of it.
• Get There Early: Lion Brewery gets packed during Pressure Hour, so grab a good spot or book a table ahead of time.
• Have Fun with the Challenge: Pressure Hour is as much about having fun as it is about the beers. Don’t take it too seriously—just enjoy the madness!
• Know Your Limits: It’s a marathon, not a sprint!

Worth it?

This wasn’t your typical date night, but it was FUN! Pressure Hour added such a unique twist to a birthday celebration, and honestly, we had a blast. The lively atmosphere, fantastic beers, great food, and amazing friends made it a night to remember.

I give it a solid 8/10 for fun!

What HE said…

“It was great company with great food and good beer. If the service was a little kinder, it would be one of the best pubs in Singapore.”

He gives it an 8/10 (knocking 2 points off for the service).

Wrap-up:

If you’re looking for a fun and slightly chaotic way to celebrate a birthday (or any occasion, really), Lion Brewery’s Pressure Hour is the place to be. While it wasn’t a classic, intimate date night, it was filled with laughter, great food, and delicious beer. 

We’ll definitely be back!

Have you ever tried a Pressure Hour challenge? Let us know in the comments! And stay tuned for our next adventure!

Wanna see?




For more photos, check out Instagram.