What’s Up in Beer: New Brews on Tap at GLB and Jing-A, Arrow's Two-Year Anniversary, and a Beer Claw Machine at NBeer

Welcome back, sudheads. The beer scene in Beijing seems a little quiet this week, which may just be the city's way of telling us to take it nice and easy. With sunny days like this, who needs a promotion or event to sit outside and grab a nice pint of ice-cold beer, anyway? Nevertheless, here is this best of this weekend's beer news, in case you needed just a little more incentive.

Starting on a sad note, Jing-A Taproom at 1949 Courtyard has yet to re-open, but on a positive, they have brought back the Party Beer Helles to their Xingfucun Brewpub. A refreshing and bright Helles lager, it was brewed using single (Saaz) hops and light malts to give it a restrained 4.2 percent ABV – the perfect sipper for a long summer afternoon. On Saturday, May 5, to celebrate its return, they'll be pouring it with a special all-night happy hour price of RMB 10 off (RMB 39 total). In addition, their Beergaritas at the Back Bar will be RMB 40 (down from RMB 50) and barbecue brisket and pork tacos will be available all day long.

The team will also be at Palms L.A.'s Pinko de Mayo party on May 5 from midday-6pm, where all Jing-A beers and margaritas will be RMB 35 and served alongside RMB 15 tacos (more on all of this weekend's Cinco de Mayo parties here).

Great Leap Brewing has two new beers hitting the tap at all their locations today, May 4. The first is the Illegitimate General IPA, an American IPA that is brewed and dry-hopped with US Centennial Hops, yielding citrus and pine on the nose and a long, bitter finish. This beer is named after Huo Qubing, who despite his illegitimate beginnings, went on to become a Western Han dynasty (140-170BC) general before his untimely death at 24. There's also the Prosperer, which is pale in color and made with 100 percent local malts and hops, making for a light and hoppy American-style blonde ale with Chinese characteristics.

Over at Arrow Factory Liangma River, they've brought back The Bitter End Rye PA on tap. This English-style IPA is brewed with a touch of rye for a peppery-malt flavor and earthy and piney hops. Also, don’t forget that their second anniversary falls on this Saturday, with the celebrations kicking off at 4pm on the rooftop with deals on their Easy Ale (RMB 20), Blonde on Blonde Belgian Ale (RMB 25), Guanxi Pale Ale (RMB 30), and Seeing Double IPA (RMB 40). DJs Jay 1,2, and Arrowsmith will be on the turntables, and there'll be a chance to win free beer and a one-year Arrrowhead membership.

Elsewhere, NBeer Huguosi has just bought itself a beer claw machine and filled it with cans of their Beijing gose beer. At RMB 2 a pop, this may be one of the best beer deals in town (though it'll all depend on your skill with a joystick).

Finally, SteamRhino has a new Belgian wheat beer, the "4am" with 5 percent ABV. This brew is named as such because “Beijing at 4am is a marvelous time and when a lot of stories happen but while most of the people are still sleeping,” explains SteamRhino's management. To match the atmosphere, they also provide shisha, that is RMB 100 for a single, RMB 160 for a double pipe, or RMB 220 for four pipes with five fruity flavors to choose from.

And with that, head to your nearest terrace and go enjoy the sun!

More stories by this author here.

Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @flyingfigure
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Photos courtesy of venues