Booze News: Where to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day, and a Bonus Non-Irish Option
Feeling thirsty? Wet your whistle with Booze News, our weekly wrap-up of the week's best bar deals, parties, drink concoctions, industry gossip, and more.
Mar 17 is quickly approaching, and with it comes stouts, green beer, and plenty of merry St. Patrick's Day debauchery (just be sure not to wear any green hats, trust us). To get your Irish eyes smiling, we've listed some of our most eagerly awaited St. Paddy's day parties below, along with all the delicious deets about newly released brews and an eagerly awaited guest bartender to boot.
St. Patrick's Day Parties
Paddy O'Shea's
Paddy's is an obvious St. Patrick's Day pick, and for good reason. If you stop by Beijing's top Irish bar it's sure to be both lively and jam-packed, usually spilling out into the street. The Paddy's team is billing this year's party as the biggest Beijing is likely to see, kicking off Saturday and staying open all night and throughout the day on Sunday, St. Patrick's Day proper. If you have the stamina and love all things Emerald Isle, then you'll be even more thrilled to hear that Guinness will be on discount from 2-6pm. Saturday through Sunday
Modernista
Fans of foot-stomping, heartstring-tugging Celtic music should make their way to Baochao Hutong to see Blackwater, "Beijing's most popular Irish band." Aside from celebrating St. Patrick's Day, they're also marking a decade together as a band – a major feat for a Beijing band. Saturday, 8pm
Xian
There'll also be a live band to play Irish music at EAST Hotel's bar, Xian, and plenty of green beer on tap. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 5pm-late
Red Dog
If you prefer mixed drinks to green beer, then Red Dog has you covered, mixing up a number of St. Patrick's Day-inspired cocktails. DJ Funkie will provide the setlist, and we can only hope that he remixes some classic Celtic folk songs. Saturday, 7pm
The Local
Courtyard 4 stalwart The Local will host a St. Patrick's Eve party. They tell us they'll be "doing drink deals along with passing out party goodies like necklaces, temporary tattoos, and shot glass necklaces to 15 lucky people." And of course there'll be green beer! Saturday evening
Jing-A
The Xingfucun craft brewery will be selling its Black Velvet Vanilla Stouts for buy one, get one free all day long on Sunday. Starting on Friday, Jing-A will also launch their new dark beer called Black Cat Lager (4.8 percent ABV). They describe it as crisp and easy-drinking with coffee and chocolate notes. Sunday, 11am onward
Great Leap Brewing
All three Great Leap locations (#45, #6, and Lido) will sell stouts in sets of four for RMB 100. Options include their Liu the Brave, Masala, and Mocha stouts, as well as their new Renounced Monk Imperial Stout (7.8 percent ABV), and is made with black cardamom nuts, cocoa nibs, and local honey for aromas of spice and roasted malts, along with a deep opaque color and smooth texture. Sunday, opening to closing
Boozy St. Patrick's Day Brunches
Mosto
Mosto invites Beijingers to its newly opened terrace to drink half-price green Mosto cocktails made with fresh lime juice, jasmine tea-infused rum, Chambord, and green tea syrup. Sunday, 11am-10pm
Q Mex Bar and Grill
Both the Sanlitun and Shuangjing branches of Q Mex will mark St. Patrick's Day with Irish-inspired nachos for just RMB 65, and shamrock margaritas for RMB 50. They also encourage patrons to "wear green and come ready to party all day." Sunday, 11am onward
And finally...
Tato Giovannoni at Atmosphere
Finally, for something non-Paddy's related, top mixologist Tato Giovannoni wraps up a five-day stint at Beijing's Atmosphere bar this weekend with a special menu of eight specialty cocktails. Giovannoni has not only readied the cocktail menus for well-regarded American restaurants Malbec House and Gaucho Bar and Grill, he also founded Florería Atlántico in Buenos Aires, which was later named one of The World’s 50 Best Bars. Friday-Saturday, 6pm-late
READ: 5 Things to Taste, Smell, Touch, Hear And See, Mar 15-17
Photos: news-press.com, courtesy of the bars and restaurants
