De Refter, Sanlitun: Business Class Belgian Beer

Belgian beer is nothing new to Beijing. You can find it in any chain store in the city, which definitely signifies the intense interest Beijingers must have in these delightfully potent beers. We honestly wonder how those rotund Trappiste monks, diligently brewing the concoctions, keep up with the ravenous demand.

The newest place to quench this thirst is De Refter, located next door to Janes & Hooch. Red neon honeycombs decorate the ceiling and a warm wood and brick design scheme give the place a smart and cozy vibe. Although it lacks the discounted prices and delicate fragrance of urine wafting from the bathroom at places like Heaven Supermarket, this new kid in town definitely follows the same template of filling up fridges with a supreme selection of fermented potions.

The menu is divided according to type of brew, including abbey ales, dubbels, trippels, and lambics. There are even a couple of uncommon ones that you will unlikely find at any other bar in town, including Deus (RMB 380), which is quite literally the “Champagne of beers.” It undergoes fermentation and maturation in Belgium, then it’s sent off to the Champagne region of France, where sugars and yeast are added for re-fermentation and further aging. These come with an understandable price tag, but at least they are available if you are willing drop the drinkgeld. Make sure to slip in between 5.30-8.30pm for their daily happy hour where all drafts (RMB 45-70) are buy-one-get-one free. The management informed us they will eventually serve up burgers, paninis, barbecue and other beer-friendly eats by the time of their official opening in April.

Whether or not Beijing needs another bar specializing in posh beers, we have it and now with a slightly different and swankier angle, which is definitely where this new brew house succeeds.

De Refter
Daily 5.30pm-2am. Courtyard 4, Gongti Beilu (across from The Rug), Chaoyang District
朝阳区工体北路4号院

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Email: danielkippwhittaker@thebeijinger.com

Photo: Kipp Whittaker