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Four Places to Drink Craft Beer in Beijing

This article is more than 6 years old.

Arrow Factory Brewing

Say zaijian (goodbye) to Tsingtao and hello to made-in-Beijing craft beer. Four breweries in China's capitalJing-A Brewing, Great Leap Brewing, Arrow Factory Brewing, and Slow Boat Breweryare dealing in heady, frothy pints. Here's where to drink craft beer in Beijing.

Jing-A Brewing Co.

Jing-A Brewing Co.

Alex Acker and Kris Li's brewery takes its name from Jing (京, the second character in Beijing) and the "A" that's on the first license plates issued in Beijing. Their Sanlitun tap room grew out of one home-brewed IPA made in January 2012; today, they have nine core beers, seven seasonal beers, and have done 20 collaborative brews, some with fellow Chinese breweries like Boxing Cat Brewery in Shanghai (the Emperor's Horses, a pilsner with lychee) and others with breweries in Germany (Berlin's Bierfabrik), the US (Against The Grain Brewery in Louisville, KY),  and Norway (Nøgne Ø in Grimstad). The taproom, on-trend with its cathedral-high ceilings, exposed brick, and Edison bulbs, is always hopping. Try a pint of Koji Red Ale with notes of ginger and wasabi, the beer brewed with red koji rice, an ingredient in Chinese huangjiu (a yellow grain alcohol) and in sake.

Great Leap Brewing

Great Leap Brewing

Carl Setzer and his wife Liu Fang are Beijing's original craft brewers. It was 2008, and the pair decided to start brewing their own beer, setting up shop in a hutong courtyard house (siheyuan) in an area popular with expats and young Beijingers.  In 2010, this would open as Beijing's first craft brewery and the first outpost of Great Leap Brewing, now called GLB#6, so named for its address. GLB#6 serves beer and bowls of spicy peanuts, but Fang and Setzer had fans clamoring for more, so in June 2013 they opened GLB#12, a short walk from Sanlitun and with a full food menu (burgers, yes, but also a tempura cauliflower sandwich). Still, the people demanded more, so Fang and Setzer opened GLB#45, big, shiny, and immediately full. Expats and locals flocked here for pizza by the pie and slice. And on tap? Six standards (the Honey Ma Gold, GLB's first ever brew, is still tops), nearly 30 seasonal beers, and 10 collaborative brews like the Leaping the Dog Barley Champagne Rosé done with Melbourne's Moon Dog Brewery.

Arrow Factory Brewing

Arrow Factory Brewing

Mates Will Yorke, from the UK and Thomas Gaestadius, from Sweden began brewing beer to go along with the house-made sausages they served at their tiny hutong sausage joint Stuff ’d, which opened in 2012. Neither has a strong background in F&B; they met in Beijing in 2005 where Yorke a DJing and Mr Gaestadius was on the dancefloor. But, they both appreciate good food and beer, and when their craft brews found success at Stuff'd, they set up brewing operations and in 2015 opened their taproom next to Stuff'd. It takes its name from their street, Jianchang (Arrow Factory) Hutong. There are 14 beers, many with cheeky names like German-style wheat beer A Whiter Shade of Pale (a nod to Procol Harum). Arrow's open for brunch, lunch, and dinner; sausages are most popular but the pies (savory) and quiche are also delicious, and the sandwiches moreish, too.

Slow Boat Brewery

Slow Boat Brewery

Americans Daniel Hebert and Chandler Jurinka pulled the name for their Beijing brewery from the 1948 song (I'd Like to Get You on a) Slow Boat to China by Frank Loesser.  The brand has had a taproom in Dongsi Batiao since 2012, but closed it to open a three-floor brewpub in Sanlitun serving beer, the burgers for which Slow Boat has become lauded, and healthier options like grilled fish and salads. There are eight core beers, six seasonal brews and, by the bottle, three ciders and two beers (an IPA and a Pale Ale). If it's summer, go for the Limey Bastard Lager, crisp, with notes of lemongrass and lime and a low ABV. In winter, warm up with Russian imperial stout The King's Daughter.