New British 'Old Man Pub' The Dirty Duck Softly Soft Opens on Beiluogu Xiang

Margaux Schreurs | May 10, 2016 5:30 pm | 6 comments | 5157 reads

An old man's pub: for the Brits out there, or those who have spent an extended amount of time in the United Kingdom, Beijing really doesn't have any. Or we should say didn't have any, because now we have The Dirty Duck, which takes up a huge four-story space with lots of potential for expansion in the future. For now, as the business gets its footing, only the ground floor and rooftop are open, which should be more than enough for the hotter months ahead.

As the brewpup is in soft, soft opening, there are only three types of beers currently available: an Apricot Wheat Beer (RMB 40 for a pint, RMB 50 for a large), a Dry Irish Stout (RMB 35 for a pint, RMB 45 for a large), and an English Pale Ale (or EPA, RMB 40 for a pint, RM 50 for a large). Beware with the EPA – this one knocked us off our feet last weekend, in the same fabulous way that many of Beijing's handcrafted cocktails tend to do.

The Apricot Wheat Beer was a favorite, although it was still quite mild in flavor. The Dry Irish Stout was a pleasant surprise for me personally, as I am not generally a fan of stouts. It had a dry but slightly sweet and chocolatey flavor, that made it dangerously drinkable. 

We'll be back to see how the space is progressing once there are more beers on tap, and we can't wait for the pub grub to soon make an appearance either, as we know what owner Jai Harman from Beijing Bangers is capable of in the kitchen.

Thankfully, Beijing's craft food and beer scene is ever-changing, and with pool tables, a dart board, a cigar bar, exquisite whiskies, and TVs for sports dotted throughout the venue in the future, The Dirty Duck should prove a fine option for Brits looking for a home away from home. 

The Dirty Duck
Mon-Fri 5.30pm-2am, Sat-Sun 11.30am-2am. 19 Beiluogu Xiang, Dongcheng District (no phone yet)
东城区北锣鼓巷19号

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Email: margauxschreurs@truerun.com
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Photos: Margaux Schreurs

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Steven Schwankert's picture Steven Schwankert Submitted by Guest on Thu, 05/12/2016 - 14:03

I don't object to the format, it's just not the usual place for this type of venue in Beijing. The John Bull Pub, which later became the first outlet of Tim's Texas BBQ, was just north of the Jianguomenwai Diplomatic Compound, and is now largely occupied by Caravan. Beiluogu Xiang seems out of the way for an "old man pub" concept.

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