Photo credit: IOI
In a sea of bland craft beer brands, Islands of Imagination (IOI) is more than a drop in the ocean—it’s a tidal wave. This Bali-based microbrewery has carved a niche with its inventive, Indonesian-inspired brews that don’t just hint at flavors; they explode with them. Founded by husband-and-wife duo Laura and Pieter Prinsloo, IOI recently shook up the Asia Beer Championship, snagging the title of Best Brewery in Indonesia and a Gold Medal for its Coffee Porter—a dark, luscious blend made with Flores Bajawa coffee beans roasted to perfection in-house. The coffee beans aren’t a gimmick; they’re a passion. “We love geeking out over flavor,” says Laura. “For us, it’s a craft, and it’s our way of introducing people to Indonesia’s richness, one glass at a time.”
IOI isn’t following craft beer trends—it’s setting them, unapologetically so. Take their Honey Kölsch, which clinched the Chairman’s Award, infused with Acacia honey from Sumatra. Or the Padiluwih Lager, a crisp, rice-based lager that pays homage to Bali’s UNESCO-recognized Subak irrigation system. Each beer doesn’t just showcase ingredients; it’s a love letter to Indonesia’s landscapes and people. The labels themselves are tiny works of art, each capturing the essence of the island it represents—a visual and sensory journey across Indonesia’s islands.
The story behind IOI is as rich as its brews. Laura, a former publisher, and literacy advocate, and Pieter, a coffee aficionado with his own specialty coffee venture in Jakarta, found common ground in their love for local flavors and cultures. Their combined experience lends a rare depth to IOI’s creations—these aren’t your average craft beers. They’re layered, unexpected, and intensely local, with each ingredient carrying a story that’s as important as the taste itself.
But IOI’s philosophy isn’t just about flavor; it’s about integrity. Located in the lush heart of Sibetan, Karangasem, IOI is committed to environmental sustainability with a passion that’s more than skin-deep. By working directly with local farmers and reinvesting production waste back into local agriculture, IOI supports a circular economy, making each sip taste that much better. Their packaging? 100% recyclable cans, of course.
With its slogan “Journey Beyond Craft,” IOI invites drinkers to go beyond the expected, to taste something real, something Indonesian. As Charles Guerrier, founder of the Asia Brewers Network, put it, “IOI isn’t just another brewery; it’s a masterclass in creativity.” For a microbrewery just two years into its journey, IOI is already redefining what craft beer can be—bold, rebellious, and unapologetically Indonesian. So here’s to the bold and the brave: raise a glass of IOI and take a sip of Indonesia’s wild side.[]
