What’s Up in Beer: New Brews and Imports in The Windy Slow Season

What’s Up in Beer: GLB Invitational Craft Beer Festival is Back, Deals at El Nido, New Brews

Tracy Wang, Senior Editor | Jan 13, 2017 6:30 pm | Add a comment | 2502 reads

It’s been a windy week, and finally we can see our surroundings clearly, having us asking, “What? There’s a mountain in the west?!” “Wait, I didn’t know there was a building there,” and, "I can see! The alcohol must be wearing off!" Thanks wind, we like you, please don’t go.

This week things are still in warming up after the holidays, so take a deep breath, and finish this blog in one big gulp.

Great Leap Brewing have announced that the third Beijing Invitational Craft Beer Festival is to return this March 10 to 12 at TRB Copper. Among the usual old friends, such as Moon Dog from Australia, Yeastie Boys from New Zealand, Sunmai (used to be Le Ble d’Or) from Taiwan, and Baird Beer from Japan, there will be some newcomers, including world-renowned breweries Warpigs and Mikkeller from Denmark, Lervig from Norway, and Odell Brewing from Colorado, Last Name from California, and Young Master from Hong Kong. Definitely one to mark your calendar for.

Over on Fangjia Hutong, El Nido has a new daily discount, from 7-9pm: buy two beers, get one free. Recently, they've stocked Hel & Verdoemenis (10.2 percent ABV) an Imperial Stout; Tsarina Esra (10 percent ABV) from Dutch brewery De Molen; 3 Bean Stout (13 percent ABV) from Norwegian brewery Lervig Aktiebryggeri; Founders Porter (6.5 percent ABV); and Rogue 7 Hop IPA (7.77 percent ABV), all on tap.

In other news, Steamrhino has a new cranberry beer (5 percent ABV), which is nice and sweet and not too bitter. They will also soon release a black tea IPA.

NBeer Sanlitun isn’t our favorite bar thanks to its lousy service and crappy 80s disco music, but it doesn’t stop us from enjoying Ligui Black IPA back on tap. Take your earplugs and head in with your best brave face on.

Also, their original space at Huguosi has several interesting guest beers on tap, such as Seeing Double IPA from Arrow Factory, Strawberry Cream Wit from 1/2 Sugar, Double-Faced Imp Double IPA from TripSmith, Shanghai Girl Wheat from Bmax, Captain IPA from Urbrau, as well as Omnipollo Mazarin Oatmeal Pale Ale from Sweden.

One the off chance you will happen to be traveling to Nanjing tomorrow (Jan 14), make sure you stop by Tap Planet, where they'll be pouring Jing-A's Worker's Pale Ale, Mandarin Wheat, and Koji Red Ale, with a RMB 10 discount from 7-9pm.