On The Source: Vote For Beijing's First Crowd-Sourced Beer

Beijing's bubbling with brewmasters and chock-a-block with craft beers. Whether you want to drink ale or make it yourself, a number of locally based producers and helpful homebrewing societies are happy to oblige.

Now Slow Boat has added another element to the city's microbrew culture: Beijing's very first crowd-sourced brew. We won't insult you by explaining what crowd-sourcing (or beer) is, but we will tell you that you can vote now for one of their five new recipes. The top vote-getter will be made for a very special voter-only tasting party before it is released to the general public. That'll happen in mid-December. Meanwhile, you have until the end of this month to cast your ballot. Read on for your choices of beer.

White Squall IPA (ABV 5.5%, SRM 6, IBU 50) A White IPA, a strong wheat beer with a fruit nose from a mix of yeast and hops, with some spicy bitterness.

Black Butte IPA (ABV 5.25%, SRM 55, IBU 60) A medium bodied Cascade Ale, or Black IPA. Full of chocolate and toasted malt notes, balanced with some sweetness, and single-hopped with Cascade.

Sea Anchor Imperial Vanilla Stout (ABV 6.5%, SRM 50, IBU 28) Full-bodied stout with some malty sweetness, and mild hop notes, rounded out with a great vanilla flavor and nose from fresh vanilla pods.

Rowlock Rauch Beer (ABV 4.25%, SRM 45, IBU 30) A mild dark beer. Smoked malts with local apple wood provide a delicate mesquite like flavor.

ESB (Eye Splice Bitter) (ABV 3.75%, SRM 10, IBU 40) A proper session bitter, low in alcohol for all night drinking sessions, but is balanced with some hop kick and aroma, and good malt flavor that won't leave you wanting.

Photo: USA Today