What’s Up in Beer: Stock Up for CNY, the 4th BICBF, Arrow Sampler Packs

Fellow beer-lovers, I know it’s freezing cold, but just hang on in there, it’s less than ten days until the next solar term – “start of spring”, or lichun (立春), which means warmth is not far away. "Winter is the time for comfort, for good beer and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home a brewpub," as Edith Sitwell might say if she were writing her poems in 21st century beer-sloshed Beijing rather than early 1900s England. Let’s see what Beijing brings us this week.

The good news first: Great Leap Brewing will bring back the Beijing Invitational Craft Beer Festival from Mar 23-25 at TRB Copper. RMB 200 will give you access to one session where you'll get a 150ML glass to fill up with free-flow the beers on site, canapés by TRB, and the chance to talk to the brew-masters of each brewery. RMB 488 will get you a five-course brunch with limited-edition beers on Mar 25, RMB 550 will you get a three-session pass, and RMB 988, for the true beer fanatics, gives you entrance to all sessions and the brunch. Stay tuned for more info.

Great Leap also sells unique growlers for people to take away and party on at home. They have collaborated with Shift to create growlers in the shape of a beveled square, inspired by the Great Wall. “The design mirrors the GLB core identity and features the monogram pressed into the glass. It also performs brilliantly on the go in that they fit together snugly in a backpack for the ride home,” Jamie Winder, Senior Design Director at Shift, explained.

For those of you who decide to stay in during Spring Festival, Jing-A is offering a special deal on bottles, show the coupon above at either the Jing-A Taproom or Brewpub to get RMB 20 back when buying a four-pack, or RMB 50 back when purchasing a whole case. Choices are RMB 80 for four bottles; or RMB 358 for 24 bottles of Worker's Pale Ale; RMB 100 for four bottles; or RMB 408 for 24 bottles of Flying Fist IPA. You can also purchase these on taobao.

As we mentioned last week, Arrow Factory is also a good choice for a night in. You can pick up a four-bottle sampler pack including their Clone Easy Ale, Blond on Blonde Belgian Ale, Guanxi Pale Ale, and Seeing Double IPA for RMB 90, and you can also grab one (RMB 20-30), or six bottles (RMB 100-150) to take away.

Finally, over at Slow Boat, they've restocked their flagship Monkey’s Fist IPA, featuring strong aromas of hops, passionfruit, and mango, as well as the Endeavour 42 Vienna Lager, perfect for soothing away your troubles with its malty sweetness.

On that note, stay warm, stock up, and prepare for the rapidly approaching spring!

More stories by this author here.

Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @flyingfigure
Instagram: @flyingfigure

Photos courtesy of venues