Booze News: Slow Boat's New Taproom Launch, Jing-A's Award-Winning Sour, Good Bait's Team Go Thai

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

Slow Boat Sails Into Dengshikou

The wait is finally over! On Friday, Jun 7, about six months after the initial announcement, Slow Boat will open its new, 50-seat Dengshikou taproom (check out our exclusive picture up top). Back in December, we reported on how patrons would be able to choose from 20 taps of Slow Boat seasonal beer and even more cocktail options at the new spot, as well as a lunch, brunch, and dinner menu.

At the time we also pointed out: "Despite opening in a distinctly spiffier spot than usual, Slow Boat promised that the new taproom will 'offer a neighborhood friendly, laid-back atmosphere.'" As we understand it, all that still stands and we can't wait to see what else they come up with. Watch this space for a full review of the new space after the opening.
 

Slow Boat Beer Garden Daily at Café Flo TKL

As if opening a new taproom wasn't enough, Slow Boat is also keeping busy with a beer garden at Taikoo Li's Cafe Flo. Pints of Helmsman’s Honey Ale are available at the chic French restaurant's outdoor space for RMB 40 each, and their 4-8pm daily happy hour gets you RMB 10 off those brews.
 

Award-Winning Sours at Jing-A

As we reported last month, Beijing breweries cleaned up at this year's Australian International Beer Awards, including Jing-A who took home eight prizes. Now you can taste their silver-medal winning Lychee Xanadu in the Xingfucun Brewpub. The fruity and sour beer (which has an ABV of 5.6 percent) is a cloudy, straw-colored ale soured with lactobacillus and infused with juicy Chinese lychees. The white peach and lychee flavor is balanced with a refreshing tartness, and a sparkling, semi-sweet finish.

Executive chef Simone Thompson has also revamped the a la carte brunch menu with some enticing stand-outs such as the Laoban's Eggs (RMB 55 for sourdough toast with smashed avocado, smoked cauliflower dip and an egg either fried, easy over or scrambled), Coconut Pancakes (RMB 65 for a stack of four served with Jing-A black velvet syrup, sour cream, caramelized bananas, and toasted walnuts), and a Sunday Roast for Two (RMB 120 for half a rotisserie chicken with all the usual trimmings). The menu will be available on all three days of the Dragon Boat weekend, Jun 7-9. 
 

Great Leap's New Oatmeal Stout

Great Leap has released a tempting new collaborative brew with Chicago's Begyle Brewing. Dubbed Emperor's Pajamas, this RMB 45 brew (now available at all three Great Leap locations) is a twist on Begyle's famed Flannel Pajamas oatmeal stout. Great Leap ups the original's ABV to 6.5 percent, while staying true its initial style with roasted malts, chocolate, coffee, all which is "balanced with oatmeal and a hint of hops and toasted caramel, providing a nice, not-extremely-strong body, and a smooth finish." Read more about the brew here.
 

Get In On Boxing Cat's Gose Before It's Gone

Meanwhile, Boxing Cat has launched their new Dark Plum Gose with ABV 4.6 percent. This drinkable summer brew has a tempting sour flavor thanks to helpings of plum, coriander seeds, and salt. As their seasonal June brew, it will only available in limited quantities, so we suggest stopping by Boxing Cat ASAP to enjoy these sour suds while you still can.
 

Luga's Big Beer Deals Continue

Veteran Tex-Mex brand Luga's just keeps them coming thanks to their massive beer discounts. First, it was beers for RMB 1-4 (yes, 1 kuai!) at their new Dongzhimen branch, plus buy one, get one free on weekends, now it's RMB 11-14 throughout the week and more of the same on weekends. The (dangerous) promotion runs throughout June.

Bonus Track

The same team that brought you the recently closed Good Bait is now opening a new bar venue, titled Bonus Track. In the evenings, the concept takes over the bar space operated by Bistro 108 restaurant during the daytime. The concept is quite different from Good Bait, with a focus on Thai style bar snacks and cocktails. On Jun 7-8 they'll host private parties, and from then on they'll be open to the public. We'll be dropping by soon to see how the shared space weighs up.

Hungry and thirsty? Get an eyeful of some of the world's craziest burgers ahead of our Beijing Burger Fest, Jun 22-23

Photos courtesy of the bars