What’s Up in Beer: Drink for Charity, Ugly Sweater Party, and New Heaven Supermarket
Happy Friday, beer lovers! Hope you didn’t fall down with dizziness on the steep stairs or throw up after drinking only a handful of tasters at the lousy (Homebrew) Beer Festival during last weekend (like me). This week in order to right my wrongs, I'll be listing a batch of new microbrews, an event for expat Dikran Gullekian, co-brews in memory of our beloved Sam Cornthwaite, and an ugly sweater party. A wise man once said that beer could save the world, and before you hurry to argue otherwise, in Beijing, we are witnessing brewers and bars trying to make it a better place. Let’s see what they're up to this week.
First things first, Beer Mania is hosting a fundraiser Dig Deep for The Don for Dikran Gullekian on December 18, starting at 8pm. As you may have already read, the animal welfare advocate and F&B scenester Gullekian underwent emergency surgery following the discovery of a severe abdominal aneurysm. Without proper insurance, he is relying on you, the good people, to donate over at this crowdfund page and help cover the insane healthcare fees of more than RMB 300,000.
Sponsored by Steenbrugge Belgian Brewery, you can buy a Steenbrugge for RMB 40, of which all of the proceeds will go towards helping Dikran. Beer Mania will also donate profits from the evening to Gullekia. Live entertainment comes from BPM at 8pm, followed by a flamenco performance, and then a musical jam session where any budding musician can have a go.
Also, in memory of GoodWorks Coffee's Sam Cornthwaite, two Beijing craft beer magnates, Slow Boat and Great Leap, have cooperated on a new latte-style milk stout using GoodWorks’ signature Emperor’s Roast blend. This 6 percent ABV, sweet beer with roasted overtones gets its taste from Slovenian General hops and a helping of lactose to create a creamy, coffee flavor. Look out for it next week at all Great Leap and Slow Boat locations. RMB 15 from each pint will be donated to GoodWorks.
Sticking with Great Leap, the brewery will hold a special 12 Beers of Christmas event at all three locations until December 25. During the event, RMB 10 from every pint of the select beer will be donated to the Beijing New Life Centre. If you gotta drink, it better drink with for a good cause, and the money will go towards helping provide an education, healthcare, and a home to a Chinese kid in need.
Slow Boat is set to release their new Sea Hag Mumme (RMB 30, follow me, "moom-eh") on Sunday. This German-style beer has 4.5 percent ABV, and is brewed using Simcoe hops, oatmeal, fava beans, cardamom, and juniper berries, which gives it a spicy and rich flavor with a heavy body and a sweet finish.
Jing-A also releases their Toasted Chestnut Brown Ale, which has 6.7 percent ABV, a dark amber color, and combines warm caramel notes with distinctly toasty flavors reminiscent of Beijing’s roadside roasted chestnuts.
If you missed Jing-A's Ugly Sweater party this Thursday, head to Arrow Factory's (Liangma River location) their Ugly Sweater Party on December 23, 6-10pm. Everyone who sports an ugly sweater will be welcomed with a shot, then they will give prizes for the ugliest of ugly at 7, 8, 9, and 10pm.
Did we mention that Heaven Supermarket will hold a Christmas Craft Beer Festival on December 23 and 24? Presale tickets are RMB 50 or grab one at the door for RMB 80. The price includes a cup of beer and some snacks at their new location, in the basement of Workers' Stadium Tango KTV, and runs 7pm to late.
More stories by this author here.
Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @flyingfigure
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Photos courtesy of the venues
