What’s Up in Beer: Something Old and Something New for the Year of the Dog
Hey beer lovers, congrats on surviving CNY! As is compulsory with the passing of a new year, and seeing as this is the first beer blog of the Year of the Dog, we'd first like to start afresh and make one thing clear heading forward: In the interest of transparency, we do not list Beijing's boozy happenings in any particular order each week and we'd like to remind the breweries that this blog is first and foremost for the readers. So, all you brewers out there, focus on what you do best: Bringing Beijingers some of the best beers in Asia.
And on that note, rant over. Ok, let's start this long, long list of the best beer happenings this week!
First off, if I were you, I'd hurry up and secure your ticket for the fourth Beijing Invitational Craft Beer Festival. Organized by Great Leap Brewing, this year's event runs Mar 23-25 at TRB Copper and takes the cake for being Beijing's largest beer fest in the first half of the year. The fest will be packed with approximately 170 unique beers from 40 breweries, including Bells, Pasteur Street, Mikkeller, Pipeworks, Begyle, Stone, Moon Dog, Lervig … the list goes on.
Pricings are as such:
- RMB 200 - access to one session (three or four hours) and a 150ml glass to fill up with free-flow the beers on site as well as canapés by TRB and the chance to talk to brewmasters from each brewery
- RMB 488 - all of the above as well as a five-course brunch with limited-edition beers on Mar 25
- RMB 550 - a three-session pass to be used throughout the weekend
- RMB 988 - for the true beer fanatics. Gives you entrance to all sessions and the brunch.
Click here to buy a ticket, and stay tuned for our beer guide.
Staying with GLB, they've begun the month with a clean menu, launching three new March-only items at GLB #12 and #45, including Backhouse Bacon Broccoli Balls (RMB 40) with marinara sauce and creole aioli; roasted romesco potatoes (RMB 35); and barbecue chicken salad (RMB 55), featuring barbecue chicken, avocado, corn, kidney bean, cucumber, tomato, tortilla strips, mixed greens, and ranch dressing.
Another annual event, the Jing-A boys are prepping their skiing, snowboarding, and of course, drinking Spring Fever Ski Break on Mar 10-11. It's basically like this: For RMB 1,700 you get a round-trip charter bus, ski or snowboard rentals (and accessories) for two days, ski passes, free-flow Jing-A beers, an après-ski dinner and party on Saturday night, and hotel accommodation at Wanlong Ski Resort. Space is limited to 50 people. If you are Mug Club member, make sure to use coupon code MUGCLUB to save RMB 100. Click here to register.
In town, Jing-A Xingfucun launches a new brunch this weekend (Mar 3-4, pictured at top), including dishes like eggs benedict on barbecue brisket and cornbread, fried chicken on a HK-style egg waffle with mala-bourbon maple syrup, a freshly-baked cheddar biscuit breakfast sandwich, and three choices of breakfast taco, all with choices of draft beer and draft cocktails. For the first weekend, they will limit it up to 20 spots each day (sittings at 12.30pm or 1.30pm). Call 6416 5195 to book a table and you'll get a free drink (from Tuhao Gold Pils, Worker's Pale Ale or Mandarin Wheat, or a Beer Bellini, Brunch-sized Beergarita, or coffee/tea) on arrival. Following this initial weekend, the Brewer’s Brunch will be served at Xingfucun Brewpub from 11am-2.30pm every Saturday, Sunday, and on public holidays. (Alternatively, head to this Saturday's (7pm-late) Red Lantern Party for buy-one-get-one on Jing-A's Koji Red Ale.)
During Chinese New Year, we stepped into the Crib for food and were happily surprised to find that Australian brewery Little Creatures have opened a small taphouse in the first floor dining area. There are seven Ozzie beers on tap, including a pale ale, Bright Ale, and Rogers’ from Little Creatures, white and dark ales from White Rabbit, and James Squire Orchard Crush Cider from Malt Shovel Brewery. Beers are treated equally, with a half pint costing RMB 35 and a full pint RMB 50. A paddle of six costs RMB 158. They also offer several snacks such as Cajun-spiced chips, cheeseburger, curry arancini, seabass croquettes, and deep-fried shrimps (RMB 18-68).
Now for some sad news: British-style pub Dirty Duck Pub & Brewery will officially close this Saturday due to the ongoing Great Brickening. To say goodbye, they'll offer RMB 25 pints of all beers through the end, including IPA, Hefeweizen, Stout, and Pilsner brewed in-house by Wade Kelly of Nine Gates Brewing. They will also be selling off bar items such as glassware, bar stools, TVs, and appliances. Come by, grab a drink, and give the crew a cheers for the last two years.
Over to Fangjia Hutong, the Great Friend Outdoors Club greets the spring with three draft beers from Taihu, Taiwan, including Guava Session IPA (5 percent ABV), Passion-fruit Saison (5.5 percent ABV),and Dingding Dawn Fruit Beer (4.5 percent ABV).
Over in Wukesong, NBeer Pub wasn't alone for long and has now been joined by Heaven Supermarket's newest outlet in the "LIVE hi-up!" As is usual, the space is crammed with fridges filled with beer as well as a range of pub food from the kitchen. The new venue operates daily from 4pm-2am at B1, 69 Fuxing Road (Subway Line 1, Wukesong Station).
Beersmith at Hotel Jen has kicked off their new happy hour (called Mad Dog), during which you can get buy-one-get-one-free on all craft beers, house wines by glass, and house spirits on weekdays 5-7pm, and weekends 11am-9pm. Think cheap pints of Skinny Blonde, Pils, Golden Ale, Amber Ale, IPA, Porter, and Russian Imperial Stout – what a way to finish work!
Last but not least, Quality In Brews, or QIB, a distributor of award-winning American craft beer is seeking two sales in Beijing. The role will include promoting and selling QIB beer to bars, restaurants, bottle shops, supermarkets, and more; representing the brand and attending industry events (read: beer festivals). Applicants will be sales-focused individuals who are fluent in English and Mandarin. If you like drinking beer, and meet the requirements, check more info here and give it a shot!
More stories by this author here.
Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @flyingfigure
Instagram: @flyingfigure
