Booze News: Ouazzani Usein Guest Shift at Nina, Old Maps & Mulled Wine, Happy Hour + More

Thirsty? Wet your whistle with Booze News, our wrap-up of the week's best deals, parties, concoctions, industry gossip, and more.

Nov 13: Ouazzani Usein Guest Shift at Nina

This Saturday, Beiluoguxiang aperitivo joint Nina is hosting a special guest behind the stick: Ouazzani Usein of the Ritz Carlton (pictured in lead image). Head north where you’ll find the master under the red neon glow of Nina’s bar ‘til late, slinging complex drinks for all. Plus, you’ll be able to enjoy each cocktail for a mere RMB 70, much cheaper than you’ll find them at the Ritz, but just as good and considered.

Nov 14: Old Maps & Mulled Wine at Beijing Postcards

Pore over some maps of old Beijing with a cup of warm mulled wine at this special event on Sunday from 3pm to 4.30pm at Beijing Postcards. Lars Ulrik Thom and company will pull 10 original city maps from their collection, some of which they recently acquired, and give brief talks focusing on a small detail from each. In this way, the evening’s presentation will be framed. Nothing like some good drinks and a bit of history to keep the noggin revving this winter. Registration is RMB 150 per person and can be done via Beijing Postcard’s official WeChat (ID: beijingpostcards). And if you haven't yet read our recent interview with Lars Ulrik Thom, check it out here.

Happy Hour & Free Flow at Beersmith

Nightly specials are to be had at CBD mainstay, Beersmith. First, there’s happy hour, with BOGO deals on all craft beer, house wine, and spirits 3pm to 8pm Monday-Friday and 11am to 8pm Saturday and Sunday. Also on Saturdays and Sundays, however, they're bumping things up a notch as RMB 158 will get you free flow on beer, wine, and sparkling wine from 4pm to 8pm.

Hulu Happy Hour

More happy hour treats can be found at Hulu. At all their locations – Hulu Taikooli, Hulu Next to WAB, and Hulu Indigo – enjoy BOGO deals on all house drinks including cocktails, beer, and wine from 3pm to 8pm daily.

Wine Social at Union

In the Sanlitun vicinity, Union at The Opposite House keeps it wine-focused for their daily deals, with 50 percent off all selected bottles of wine from 5pm to 8pm each day.

Yet more new beer, and a new hard seltzer, at Slow Boat

And if there’s one thing that doesn’t slow down in Beijing, it’s Slow Boat. This time, they’re not only dropping a new beer but a new hard seltzer as well. The brewery’s hard seltzer series returns with the Jasmine Mango Melon (pictured above). This sees jasmine combined with mango and melon purees for a sparkling clean thirst quencher with less than 1g of sugar per pint.

As for the beer in question, it’s the Tangerine Dream Vanilla Cream Ale (pictured above). This sweet and creamy citrus delight features a tangerine puree combined with vanilla bean, whiskey-soaked cocoa nibs, milk sugar, and oatmeal for a smooth sipper that’s great at lunchtime or at nighttime. Both new concoctions can be found on tap at Slow Boat’s Maizidian and Dengshikou locations.

READ: Need some food to go with all those tipples? Check out this week's dining deals

Images: yoopay.cn, courtesy of the venues