DP Booze News: Bring the Bar to You, RMB 10 Pints, and Jing-A Head to Tianjin

Booze News: Sanlitun Update, The Hutong Brings the Bar to You, and RMB 10 Pints

Tom Arnstein | Jul 17, 2020 8:30 am | Add a comment | 751 reads

Thirsty? Wet your whistle with Booze News, our wrap-up of the week's best bar deals, parties, drink concoctions, industry gossip, and more.

First, an update on the Sanlitun bar situation

While many Sanlitun bars remain closed – a hangover of the second wave of coronavirus cases Beijing witnessed last month – it does appear that bars should be able to reopen by Monday, Jul 20. Of course, there are various stipulations the authorities are demanding establishments meet before they welcome back guests. Among them are requirements for all venues to install a temperature machine in each entrance, register guests, and control customer numbers, ensuring a one-meter distance among all diners. The kicker? Even with those measures in place, venues will be prohibited from selling alcohol until the end of the month at the earliest, at the discretion and satisfaction of the authorities. Well, it's a start.

RMB 10 draft beers at Queenie's

Here's one for the unemployed. Raggedy sandwich shop and bar QS is now offering RMB 10 on Goose Island, Boxing Cat, and Carlsberg draft every Wednesday evening, starting at 9pm and running all the way through to 7am. Good lord. Better get there in the next couple of weeks as the deal's only valid while stock lasts.

Café Duet team up with Simple Drinks for a new wine list

Shizipo Street's Café Duet (pictured at top) has teamed up with wine distributor Simple Drinks to stock a whole new range of bottles. The current list offers a decent mix of European, New World, and Chinese wines that can be purchased by the bottle (RMB 320-600), 120ml glass (RMB 60), or a flight of three 75ml pours (RMB 120).

The Hutong wants to bring their bar to you

If you want to keep the drinking-at-home vibe alive but are too lazy to get shaking, The Hutong may have just the thing for you. For a limited time, they're offering cocktail catering services at discounted prices, spanning three packages depending on your drinking needs: RMB 1,188 for 20 drinks (3-5 pax), RMB 1,988 for 40 drinks (6-10 pax), or RMB 2,388 for 60 drinks (10-15 pax). Prices cover all ingredients, up to five types of cocktails, and three hours of bartender service until midnight. However, you'll need to cover the bartender's transport costs. If you want to order or learn more, click here.

Jing-A launches apricot beer, heads to Tianjin

Over at Jing-A this Friday, they'll launch their latest beer, Juicy Paradise (6 percent ABV), on tap and in cans. Made in collaboration with Tianjin brewery Lao Dao Taproom, this "enigmatic, delicious West Coast IPA features Xinjiang apricots and raspberries alongside a heavenly blend of Rakau, Citra, and Mosaic hops." Additionally, in honor of their Tianjin-based cohorts, the new brew will be available alongside seven other Jing-A beers at Tianjin's Lao Dao Taproom and Mellow Craft Beer on Saturday from 7pm onwards. Read more about the project here.

Skinny Bitch vodka comes to a bar near you

Finally, we end with a new Beijing brand you're likely to see popping up in bars near you: Skinny B#tch (伏露) premixed vodka drinks. There are currently two flavors on offer: tangy lemon and sweet peach (plus vodka), both of which are low calorie and 0 percent fat and sugar (hence the name) and contain 5 percent ABV, to as they say, "add a bit of spice to life." Both flavors are refreshingly subtle – as is reflected in the minimalist and clean can design – making for a welcome change to your average "female-oriented" carbonated drinks, which can often overly sweet and cloying. For the launch, they're offering discounts on bulk buys including RMB 340 for 24 cans or RMB 96 for six, both with free shipping. Scan the QR code below to order or learn more: