iB, Wangjing’s Newest and Decidedly Chinese-Style Brewpub

It’s been a while since we've had news of a brewpub opening, otherwise, it's mainly been closures for our dear Beijing. So, when we heard of iB brewpub launching in Wangjing, we sobbed, we threw up our hands to the sky, and we ran (well, not literally) to the northeast of the city in a fit of ecstasy. Even the one-hour, traffic-packed ride out couldn't quell our excitement.

Joining its solitary nearby brewpub neighbor Kamehameha, IB, short for iBrew (not the cider brand iBrew, nor the international education program), christened their two-floor venue on Feb 1 and from the exterior design alone, you can tell it’s not just any other brewpub. A line of small stone lions guard the yard alongside a floor-to-ceiling painting of another red lion on the façade; large colorful lion dance costumes are displayed at the entrance of the bar as well as numerous paintings of lions and lines from Chinese Taoism throughout the venue. iB is full of auspicious Chinese elements without being overwhelming.

The bar sits close to the entrance, dominating the space with its sheer stainless and marble table, a huge bell hanging above it, and nine brews (RMB 35-45 for 400ml, RMB 40-55 for 500ml) on tap, including Mayueyue Belgian Wheat, Door-God German Wheat, Elephant King Pilsner, Door-God Ale, The Lion Man IPA, Dream Traditional Stout, Peach Honey, and Pink Cherry, all brewed by iB founder Ma Xiaojian. The best way to get to grips with what Ma is about is by trying each of his brews via a flight of six small glasses (RMB 108), six pints (RMB 188), 10 small glasses (RMB 180), or 10 pints (RMB 300) – a decent price for a very long session. For groups looking to settle in, there's also 7 liters of wheat beer for RMB 468.

We enjoyed the Elephant King Pilsner, which has a gold color, a floral hoppy aroma, and a light golden body. The Passion-fruit Turbidity IPA (RMB 80 for a pint) was a New England-style IPA with a strong passion-fruit nose and a lingering bitterness. If you're not in the mood for beer, try the sweet and creamy piña colada, which comes in served in a coconut shell for a decidedly Southeast Asian flavor.

For the hungry, there's also cold dishes, salads, soups, pasta, and main dishes. The pork knuckle with sauerkraut also boasts two sausages (RMB 168) and was simply delicious. A bite of the steaming and crisp crackling is enough to see you close your eyes with satisfaction and tell yourself, “this alone was worth the travel.”

READ: New Mall-Based Wangjing Venue Kirin Place Underwhelms

In all, lions, bells, carps, paintings, beers, and food gathers at iB for a combination that will make Wangjing's beer lovers feel a little bit luckier. Now all we need are a few more bars so that the rest of us who make the trek can do a proper pub crawl.

iB
Daily 2-11pm. 5-102-107 Hesheng Qilishe, Wangjing (183 1099 0386)
精酿啤酒餐吧:望京阜安西路合生麒麟汇5-102-107

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Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
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Photos: Tracy Wang, dianping