Prodigy Brewing Quietly Shutters Their Xingfucun Gastropub

Last weekend, beer fans were bummed to find out that Prodigy Brewing had quietly shuttered their Xingfucun gastropub, citing "financial constraints and travel limitations of our founders."

In a statement to the Beijinger, Prodigy's team explains:

Dear Prodigy friends and patrons,
We have some bad news. Due to the financial constraints and travel limitations of our founders, we are going to have to close our doors. Not being able to come to China and brew our craft beers and enjoying being a part of our taproom has truly been a devastating blow. The timing of Covid could not have been worse for our opening. We want to thank all of our friends and patrons, our employees who worked so hard to make Prodigy such a fun environment and all those that helped inspire us to start this endeavor. While we are disappointed, all the friends we have made eases the blow. Keep drinking craft beer and growing this industry which will always be a passion for us. May we meet again.
Cheers.
Jason, Rob, Matt and all the Prodigy team.

As one of the first establishments to open in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Prodigy Brewing capitalized on their large space with a wide range of rotating taps and a number of ambitious burgers, not least of which was their signature Prodigy Supreme Burger – the brainchild of bar manager Mario Liu – which featured two pieces of bacon on a white cheddar-filled patty, dark vinegar-stewed onion, and a piece of fried yellow cheddar. In fact, that burger was so stunning, it earned Prodigy a spot in the Sweet 16 during last year’s Burger Cup, only to be knocked out by the eventual second-place winner, Q Mex.

Prodigy had made a name for itself prior to opening their flagship location. A number of their pints such as the Beijing Haze and Happy Hydra IPA could be found at Side Street and a few hotpot and shaokao joints dotted around town. However, once they had the opportunity to operate their own taps, they wasted no time in showcasing microbreweries from all over China. From Yun Brewing in Kunming to Chengdu’s Wild West Brewery, patrons could always count on finding something new when they visited. Likewise, in addition to supporting the wider brewer community, they often opened their doors to other community events, having hosted a couple of debate viewing parties during last year’s US presidential election season. When they weren’t busy giving a home to political junkies and cross-country beer makers, however, they would grace Beijing with other sweet deals, such as their semi-frequent Have a Nice Weekend With Prodigy event, which offered 10 percent off all of their draft beers, all weekend long.

Unfortunately, the fate of the brewery’s distribution chain is still unknown, as is the reason for closing in the first place. Nevertheless, should Prodigy Brewing return, we’ll be first in line to toast with a Beijing Haze.

This article was updated on 21/03/26 to include a statement from Prodigy Brewing's founders.

READ: Pucker Up: SourTower Brings a Unique Flavor Profile To Beijing's Craft Beer Scene

Images: courtesy of Prodigy Brewing, Joey Knotts