Talking Pints: Underground Rebel Bingo Club, Overground Homebrew Club and Weekend Nightlife News
And you thought planning New Year was a headache. What are you going to do for the first full weekend of 2012? Not to worry: We're here with your weekly roundup of what's going on in Beijing's bars and clubs over the next few days.
On Friday (Jan 6), Haze hosts Morse (RMB 50, 9pm-5am), with electronic tunes from Mickey Zhang and Dio all through the night. Lantern has South Korean techno star Unjin playing till the early hours (free entry).
The big event on Saturday is the first Underground Rebel Bingo Club event in Beijing, at Yugong Yishan. We've already covered the event here, but there'll be chances to win prizes, games of bingo, DJs and more (RMB 70, entry before 10.30pm). More information is available at www.rebelbj.com.
Also on Saturday (Jan 7), there's Dim Sum Disco at Haze (free entry, 10pm), with two-for-one drinks before midnight. Designers Nono muaks (no spelling mistake there - those crazy creative people love to mess with upper/lower case) present an "Electric Masquerade Ball" to showcase their funky lens-free glasses at Lantern (free, 10pm). There's reggae up at 2 Kolegas (RMB 500, free before 9pm), and at Modernista, a "Roaring '20s Dance Party" with dancers doing the Charleston (free, 9pm).
Yes, we know we've written about homebrew, Great Leap and Slow Boat a lot this week, but the fact is that interest in beer and brew-your-own is spiking in Beijing right now. We've even tried it ourselves - have you read about the Beijinger's attempt to brew our own beer? Our brew was generally derided by our colleagues and friends as a "failure," but can you do any better? If you think you can, head along to Great Leap Brewery on Tuesday (Jan 10) at 7pm. Great Leap is still closed for business, but on Tuesday they're hosting a meeting organized by homebrewing enthusiast Jacob Wickham. The aim? To found a Beijing Homebrewing Club.
If you're interested, you need to RSVP to njohnston@greatleapbrewing.com by January 10. Read the following statement from Jacob Wickham for more details:
"This brewclub will be open to people of all experience levels and walk of life, and give them a meeting place to connect with other homebrewers and the craft brewing community. Typical meetings will feature a presentation on a brewing topic, a “style of the month” and tasting, and a good atmosphere to network and discuss recipes. I plan on writing a monthly “Brewsletter” to circulate to our listserv and membership. I also want to address the basic and bare essentials like: How does one get started with homebrewing? Where can you get homebrewing equipment or raw materials in China? And how do you overcome typical problems in China like bad water and less-than-ideal sanitation standards? The homebrewing community has answers to these questions, and you will soon be on your way to making great beer in your home! If you are a beginner, then you can sign up for homebrewing classes at Great Leap Brewing!
"China seems to be on the verge of a craft beer explosion, and interest in homebrewing is finally beginning to appear. Please join me, and others, in raising beer awareness in China, one pint at a time. If you are interested in attending this founders meeting, then RSVP before January 10th. As for me, I’m just your average American homebrewer, missing his local homebrewing club (Syracuse, New York). I moved to China 2 years ago and found myself in beer hell. Although the microbrewery movement has finally arrived in Beijing, much to the welcome of beer lovers everywhere, the infrastructure to support homebrewing is almost non-existent here (see http://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2011/12/25/Party-Like-A-Home-Brewer), and I quickly depleted all the supplies that I was able to bring in my checked luggage. Sound familiar?? Don’t despair fellow homebrewers, as change is on the way!"
Right, let's wrap things up there. I'm off for a pint. Goodnight.
PHOTOS: Lauren McCarthy
