What’s Up in Beer: Guest Beers, Monkey’s Fist IIPA, Jing-A Free Beers and Parties, and Deals

Ladies and gentlemen, the weekend is going to be hot. Like 36 Celsius degrees hot. But we don't let that stop us – nay, the extreme temperatures mean this weekend, cold brews are basically a medical necessity. For your health, we have boozy news as always, including some great news from Jing-A.

Jing-A will release part two of their collaboration with No. 18 Brewing in Wuhan on Friday (Aug 4), following the Guo Zao Breakfast Stout that was released last month. This one is called Hop into Houhai, a Beijing riff on No. 18’s signature Tiao Donghu IPA. This IPA is brewed with Australian and New Zealand hops and soured for tartness and hop bitterness. It's juicy with aromas of tropical fruit, citrus, and black pepper with 6.2 percent ABV.

Great Leap Brewing (GLB) has guest beers on tap from the “close friends” that collaborated with them before, Wabi-Sabi Japan Pale Ale and Shizuoka Summer Mikan Ale from Baird Beer in Japan. The former is a hybrid of pale ale and IPA, and is brewed with local Japanese wasabi and green tea, combined with various herbal-character hops and 6 percent ABV. The latter is an American pale ale with a zesty and tart fruity character from the local natsumikan fruit (a yellowish-orange citrus) with 5.5 percent ABV. Both beers represent Baird’s brewing philosophy well.

Also at GLB, try Beer Hop Breakfast, Spontanberliner Yuzu, and Ich Bin Berliner Weisse Apricot from popular Danish brewery Mikkeller, which is famous for its use of varied ingredients like civet coffee and yuzu fruit (a Japanese citrus fruit that's quite sour). They brewed over 100 unique beers just in 2015. And Moon Dog from Australia (yes, the one that collaborated with GLB to brew our favorite Leaping the Dog series) has Love Tap and Beer Can Lager on tap. All of the aforementioned beers will be on tap for the next little while at all three GLB locations.

Slow Boat now has Monkey's Fist IPA’s older brother, Monkey's Fist Imperial IPA, on tap, which is a boozy and hefty beer with 10.4 percent ABV. You may have had the bottled version during the Chinese New Year in 2016, but now the draught version is waiting for you in the “gold-plated, jewel-encrusted chalice” at the Sanlitun brewpub. You can also take it away in a 500ml can.

The following news will be Jing-A heavy, so take a breath. Ready? Let’s go! Releasing the bottled version of one of their original brews, Worker’s Pale Ale on Aug 3, Jing-A will host a series of promotional events. As you know, this popular American pale ale is perfect to wash away the fatigue of a long work day, with notes of grapefruit, pine resin, hoppy bitterness, and a backbone of pale and specialty malts. Jing-A Taproom will have a Pallet-Cleansing Party on Aug 3, during which you can get a case of 24 bottles to go only for RMB 188 (one case per person, and 50 cases in total). The price will be RMB 480 for a case in the future. Feel free to send an email to book at john@jingabrewing.com.

MoxiMoxi will throw a party on Aug 4 starting at 6pm. All guests can enjoy buy-one-Jing-A-draught-beer-get-one-free. And a combo of falafel pita and a beer will be RMB 55. There will also be live music performed by Zhege.

Also, the first 24 people who show up at the following places on Friday (Aug 4) after work will get a bottle each for free:

But that’s not all! Home Plate will team up with Jing-A to offer a special on the Worker’s Pail of Ale on Aug 5. An ice bucket filled with five bottles of Worker’s Pale Ale will be RMB 125. From 6-9pm, they will hold a bottle cap lucky draw to win T-shirts, buckets of beer, or a pass to the 8x8 Brewing Project beer festival. DJ Jay 1,2 will take over the stage after 9pm. If you’ve quit or been fired from a job in the last week, they will give you a bottle of the pale ale on the house.

Last but not least, Out of Step is having a promotion: if you order any beer or food, you can enjoy French fries for RMB 1 (one portion per table). Also, if you follow their WeChat (id: ooschina) and get the RMB 30 coupon, then you can use it on the burgers (RMB 55-66) made with Australian beef.

More stories by this author here.

Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @flyingfigure
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Photos courtesy of venues