Great Leap #45 Powers into the Final Four with its New York Style Pies

With voting in the Final Four of the 2015 Pizza Cup open until Monday, Nov 16 (click here to cast your opinion), we continue our Pizza Profile series introducing some of Beijing's best pies.

Today we talk to Carl Setzer, co-founder and brewmaster of Great Leap Brewing, whose newest outlet – the eight-month-old #45 Brewpub – has taken the Beijing pizza scene by storm, powering into the Final Four in this year's contest. 

What's your style/pizza philosophy?
Make good pizza with cheese, sauce, and other toppings.

In a market crowded with over 100 different pizza shops, what do you do to stand out?
Our pizza is only served at our Great Leap #45 Brewpub and tastes great paired with Great Leap beer.  

What would you say your style is?
I guess people would classify us as New York style pizza. Our slices are big and cheesy.

Thick vs Thin: What's your take?
Thin all the way. Unless I can have some nice Chicago style deep dish from Lou Manalti’s.

What's the secret to your sauce?
It’s saucy.

What kind of cheese do you use?
We use a special blend of cheeses because ... it's good.

Any specials currently on offer?
We have pizza-by-the-slice specials available daily as well as a weekday lunch special where you can buy two slices and get a Pale Ale #6 or an Edmund Backhouse Pilsner for free. Slices are also buy-one-get-one free everyday after 10pm.
 

Tell us about your standard pizza.
Name: The Cheese Pizza.
Thick or thin crust? Thin crust.
Type of sauce? Red Sauce.
Type(s) of cheese? Special blend of cheese.
What makes it special? It’s made with love. And cheese.
How many sizes? A full 16-inch cheese pizza runs RMB 100. A slice of 18-inch cheese runs you RMB 25.
 

Tell us about your most unique pizza.
Name: The Little Nunzio.
Thick or thin crust? Thin crust.
Type of sauce? Red sauce.
Type(s) of cheese? Special blend of cheese.
What makes it special? It’s made with house made GLB sausage, banana peppers, chili flakes and topped with basil.
How many sizes? A full 16-inch Little Nunzio pizza runs RMB 120. A slice of 18-inch Little Nunzio runs you RMB 30.

Hungry for more? Compare and contrast some of Beijing's best pizzas in our ongoing Pizza Profiles series, or tell us about your favorites by filling out our Pizza My Mind survey here.

Photos courtesy of Great Leap Brewing