Booze News: Founders Brewing Back in China, Drink Deals, New Brews, 2021 DRiNK Awards

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

A craft beer titan returns to China

One of America’s biggest and best craft brewers (and a personal favorite) is back and warming up the market at Larry the Bird.  For a sneak peek check out All Day IPA and All Day Vacay, two  sessionable beers on tap, as well as a selection in bottles tonight (Friday, Dec 17) at Larry the Bird in Sanlitun. 

Founders is known for their super bold flavors and is consistently ranked at the top of craft beer nerd charts. From refreshing session IPAs to the coveted Kentucky Bourbon Stout (KBS), Founders brews world class beer to warm you up this winter. 

Drink deals you (might) not know about

Commune Reserve

•    Happy Hour – Buy 1 Get 1 Beer – Every day from 2pm to 5pm
•    All you can drink everyday from 9pm-11pm
•    Wednesday Members Night – Buy 1 Get 1 Beer – Wednesdays from 9pm to 1am

Tube Station

•    FREE MULLED WINE – Every day from 7pm to 10pm spend on an item in store and receive a free mulled wine.  Deal available at all Tube Station locations.

Home Plate BBQ

•    Happy Hour – RMB 10 off all Draft Beers, Cocktails, Well Drinks, and Wines by the Glass

Giada Garden – China World Hotel

•    Happy Hour – Dec 17 from 7pm to 9pm – Buy 1 Get 1 Free for all House Cocktails and Selected Wines by the Glass

New beer at Jing-A, New Wangjing location to open next week

Jing-A wants you to go green! Eat Your Greens is a new beer on tap at all locations today. This DOUBLE DRY HOPPED sessionable brew clocks in at 4.7% ABV and is packed with hops from New Zealand. 

Much like grapes and wine, beer hops can be split into old world (UK, German, and Czech) and new world (US, Australia and New Zealand) categories. Old world hops (also known as noble hops) normally produce herbal, floral, tea, and earthy flavors, whereas new world hops create citrus, dank, and tropical flavors. 

Eat Your Greens’s New Zealand hops are no exception, providing huge hop flavors of honeydew and white grape.

Slow Boat Releases Keelboat Kolsch at Dengshikou

Originating from Cologne, Germany, the KÖLSCH style is meant to be refreshing and drunk in volume. In Cologne, wait staff walk around with freshly poured KÖLSCH, looking for patrons with glasses that are almost empty. The waiter or waitress drops off a beer and marks your coaster.  When you’ve had enough (around four or five is average) you place your coaster on top of your glass, signaling that you do not want anymore and are ready for the bill. 

Slow Boat’s example of this highly crushable ale fermented at lager temperature is waiting for you to throw it back. Currently you can only find this ale at the Dengshikou location, but it will soon be available at other outlets.

Two Beijing bars take home prizes at 2021 DRiNK Awards

Congrats to two local Beijingers for taking away two prestigious awards at the 2021 DRiNK AWARDS. For those who aren’t familiar, the DRiNK AWARDS, hosted by Shanghai-based DRiNK magazine, are like the Oscars for the beverage industry.

Longtime Beijing brewery Great Leap took home Best Beer Program, and Union, the swanky hotel bar at Sanlitun-based The Opposite House, took home Best Hotel Bar.

READ: Booze News: Jing-A Opens Two New Locations, New Holiday Beers, Cheers' Bistro & Paddy's Anniversary

Images: thehousecollective.com, DRiNK, courtesy of the venues