Deal Beer Brings Craft Beers, and Beer and Gin Cocktails to Jiaodaokou

2017 was a sad year for small business in Beijing, especially in the hutongs, where many of our favorite go-to hotspots were bricked up. And as most proprietors are fleeing those once vibrant alleys, the only thing that seems gutsier than staying is opening a brand new hutong joint. Yet Deal Beer has done just that, launching their soft opening on Dec 29, 2017.

Walking in the dark hutong of Jiaodaokou Beiertiao (two alleys south of former hotspot Fangjia) and opposite Café de la Poste, Deal Beer is a like a shining star at the east side of the quiet alley, providing some warmth and comfort for thirsty visitors. Rather than opt for dazzling decorations, owner Max Zhou instead keeps things traditional with the space's original tilting roof tiles, grey bricks, high ceilings with wooden beams, and crimson painted walls. Peering inside from the large windows we could clearly see eleven taps, and a line of gin bottles which were collected by Zhou.  

Inside it's neat and tidy, boasting 64sqm and several leather stools lining the bar, windows and walls. Currently they are selling draft pints (RMB 30-55) from Ballast Point, Rogue, Goose Island, and a bunch of domestic brewers. Zhou grew up in the hutongs and was a manager at Peiping Machine before opening Deal. His aim is simple: run a fun place for those in the hutongs who love to drink. He has some special kegs from Bangkok, Manchester, and other locales on the way. The beers on tap will be rotating on a weekly basis.

And while many of your boozy Beijingers have had ginger beer, have you tried gin with beer? Zhou offers beer cocktail with gin various bases, which might be a first in the capital. The one we tried, featuring a premium Japanese Roku Gin by Santory and a wheat beer from the tap, had herbal, cherry blossom and green tea flavors, a hazy body and a fetching light orange color. If that sounds to fancy, then you can't go wrong with one of Zhou's gin and tonics instead.

There will be movie screenings on Sundays without an entry fee, though the purchase of two beers or a cocktail is required. We are glad to see some proprietors like Zhou fighting the good fight, and hutong dwellers pining for the once vibrant alleyway nightlife will surely be all the more glad to stop by.

Deal Beer
Daily 5pm-1am. 159 Jiaodaokou Beiertiao, Dongcheng District (135 0108 7611)
东城区交道口北二条159号

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Photos: Tracy Wang