Certified Beer Mania at 2016's Beertopia Hong Kong

Last weekend I was lucky enough to attend the fifth annual Beertopia in Hong Kong, a massive event which drew over 13,000 attendees in 2015. Taking place at Central Harbourfront on November 18-19 this year, it is the largest craft beer festival in Hong Kong, with over 500 beers from 119 breweries around the world, including 100 different IPAs and 50 porters and stouts. As a self-considered beer geek and responsible beer journalist (if there is such a career), how could I miss it?

My helpless desperation was evident when I arrived at 11.50am, only 10 minutes before the event was due to open, but yet I couldn’t find any sign of the entrance. After circling the whole venue, the staff finally put the sign out at 12.05pm, and opened the gate. The overwhelming crowds rushed in (think anxious crowds on Black Friday outside Walmart). We got our paper bracelet fast, as well as a brochure, and the all-important 10 drinks tokens. Tickets to the event cost HKD 425 (RMB 375) for an all-day Saturday pass (12pm-11pm), which includes a souvenir glass. One taster cost at least one token, a pint required between two to five tokens, and additional tokens cost HKD 100 for six tokens or HKD 200 for 14 tokens.

After walking around we found that most of the imported brews were represented by several big distributors. We started off with a Tangerine Wheat from Lost Coast Brewery, to pair with our salad from Nosh by Secret Ingredient (HKD 60). The beer proved a refreshing start to the day, delivering a crisp finish that went well with the salad made from chicken, black beans, warm quinoa, brown rice, and guacamole. Next up were Bright Ale and IPA from the popular Australian brewery Little Creatures, which went down in quick succession, followed by a Hawkers IPA, a good balance of fruity and bitter.

Then we dug into the 20 local breweries in attendence, including Black Kite Brewery, City Brew, Gweilo Beer, Hitachino HK, Hong Kong Beer Company, Kowloon Bay Brewery, Lion Rock Brewery, Lucky Dawgs Brewing Co., Mak’s Brewing, Moonzen Brewery, Nine Dragons Brewery, Yardley Brothers, and Young Master Ales. Only two breweries from Mainland China had made the trip south, our old friends at Jing-A, and a new brewpub Bravo Brewery from Guangzhou.

We enjoyed a fine Big Wave Bay IPA from Hong Kong Beer Co. (7 percent ABV), which did as the name described, bringing waves of tropical fruit aromas from the hops. Hong Kong Beer Co. opened in 1995, and was recently awarded bronze in the English-Style India Pale Ale category for this brew at the 2016 World Beer Cup. When asked, the staff said, “[even though] it won the World Beer Cup, but somehow it isn’t the best IPA in HK [laughs]." Their Sevens Stout (6 percent ABV) was also quite good, with a rich toasted oatmeal aroma, and silky texture. We regret that we didn’t have enough time or alcohol tolerance to try them all.

Instead, we moved onto a dark, smooth coffee and chcolate-infused porter (5.5 percent ABV) from Black Kite; then an IPA from Gweilo Beer, which tasted better and fresher than a previous version we had tried at a local restaurant; a double IPA from Yardley Brothers Brewing, packing a strong 7.5 percent ABV, and a fruity finishing kick; a sweet stout from Hitachino Nest Beer; a salty and sour gose from Cha Chaan Teng, and an Add Oil Stout, which had a strong coffee kick, both from Young Master Ales. We particularly enjoyed the design that had gone into the beer carts and names.

Pasteur Street, based in Vietnam and who partook in a takeover at Jing-A and Arrow Factory earlier this year, poured us a Passionfruit Wheat Ale (4 percent ABV) with a foamy head, crisp and light finish; and a Toasted Coconut Porter (6.2 percent ABV), with a delicious mix of chocolate and coconut. In fact, both beers tasted better than the ones we tried in Beijing. As their brewmaster Dave Byrn told us, Pasteur was the very first brewpub in Saigon at its founding two years ago, and has since gone onto build three breweries and win several beer awards. If you head that way anytime soon, don’t forget to give it a try.

We also tried some (off the menu) beers from Taps Brewpub, which were carried over by founder Daniel Dumbrill and brewmaster Gavin Hemple from Shenzhen. The End of Days IPA was amazing, with a medium body and a burst of tropical fruit flavors, balanced with citrusy and piney aromas from its American hops. To be honest, it was one of the best beers that I tried at the beer fest and I'll be keeping a look for its hopeful arrival in Beijing.

The day wasn’t just about beers, there was also a bunch of wines and ciders, and there were some craft beer cocktails provided by Central cocktail bar The Woods. Over 20 restaurants where also dishing up food, including Blue Butcher, Bread & Beast, Boomshack, Brickhouse, Jacomax Pizza, Mavericks, New York Fries, Nosh by Secret Ingredient, and Tiger Curry. 

The most surprising part was the Shisha garden, which was decorated with psychedelic lights and colorful Shisha pipes for rent. Shisha and beer, man – a dream come true. All in all, Beertopia gave us tipsiness, pleasure, as well as a tinge of regret from not having the opportunity to try more beer. The ecstatic little boy behind me on the plane back to rainy Beijing certainly didn't help with the hangover, but no amount of neurological pain could dissuade me from heading back next year. Dear Beertopia, see you then!

More stories by this author here.

Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @flyingfigure
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Photos: Tracy Wang