Stylish New Canadian Craft Beer Bar Out of Step Opens in Sanlitun, and Count Us Fans
Over on the quiet Dongsanlitun Lu, right next to our favorite Hainanese chicken rice Ji Kun Café and near the New Zealand Embassy, Canadian craft beerpub Out of Step opened its doors just as we welcomed the new year. We're happy to say that the beer gods heard our prayers, and that our first craft beer experience of 2017 was a wholly positive one.
The warm light of the red neon signage for the bar pulled us in off the street before the bar seduced us with its simple but cozy layout; on the concrete bar there sits a wooden tabletop surrounded several bar stools. Black and white tiles at the foot of the bar spell out “Out of Step” and “Cheers.”
There's also an additional private room for smaller groups, bringing the total seats to around 40. It is clear that their Japanese designer has put a lot of thought into providing a comfortable drinking experience, the aura somewhat reminiscent of C2H6O near the Forbidden City, as well as Tiny in Xinyuanli.
Wiki, who opened the bar with co-owner Nick, describes how in the space, “all of the sofas and chairs are movable, and the whole place can be shifted into a gallery. We would like to make it a unique place to link people from around the world and create a bridge to exchange ideas.”
So far Out of Step has 10 beers on tap, all from four local breweries in Vancouver: Hearthstone Brewery, Black Kettle Brewing, Fuggles & Warlock Craft Works, and Postmark Brewing. Six out of the 10 beers fall on the heavier side, while on the fruitier side there's one pale ale, two IPAs, and a milk stout, with prices ranging between RMB 55-65.
Why Canada? “Water is one of the essential ingredients in beer, and Canada is famous for its pure glacier water. Also, we found that the [Beijing] market is American-heavy, and there is not much from Canada at the moment.”
As a very conscientious beer editor, I tested everything on offer. Of the lot, the Hearthstone chocolate milk stout (5.5 percent ABV) was my favorite thanks to its toffee, coffee, and cocoa aromas. The Hearthstone bohemian pilsner (4.5 percent ABV) also stood out for being fruity, floral, and bitter all at the same time, and the wyld lychee (3.2 percent ABV) is a good option for looking for light and not-so-sweet sipper.
Finally, the Postmark West Coast pale ale (4.8 percent ABV) was zesty and floral, and the destiny IPA from Fuggles & Warlock (6 percent ABV) was crisp, hoppy, and earthy. I can heartily recommend both for lovers of IPAs.
Because the abovementioned kegged beers are brewed in small batches in Canada, Out of Step will change the menu from time to time. “There will also be some pop-up brands from the rest of the world,” Wiki told us, adding, “we also plan to make beer cocktails.”
Aside from Canadian beers, they also offer bar food (think french fries and tapas), and seasonal dishes designed by food stylist Juno Kimi. The finished products, however, look much too pretty to be bar food. Our favorite was the grilled chicken (pictured above), which was juicy and covered in a delicate and crispy skin, well-seasoned with spices and homemade mustard.
As lame as it may sound, we also enjoyed the fact that an afternoon here feels like time spent hanging out with a bunch of cool kids – Nick is a photographer and a skater boy who has overseen the setup of a professional-grade turntable at the bar, and the music is carefully curated by local musicians. Wiki's passion lies in her attention to detail, which can be seen throughout the entire bar: the T-shirts and coasters are stylish, and even the toilet is fixed with shiny pretty neon lights with special bulbs to make it easier to apply makeup. The growlers are imported directly from America and the glasses are standard (and expensive) IPA-specific pints from Spiegelau.
We can only imagine that Out of Step's genuine passion for details, beer, and food will help this bar thriving in the future, and we can't wait to bear witness to the team's growth, even if it's one that we might have to shell out a little more for.
Out of Step
Daily 10am-1am. 4 Sanlitun Dongsanjie, Chaoyang District (8532 5266)
朝阳区三里屯东三街4号
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Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @flyingfigure
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Photos courtesy of Out of Step, Tracy Wang
