Booze News: Slow Boat's Beer Garden Returns, British Gin Garden, Transatlantic IPA at Side Street

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.

Get Ginned Up at the  Horticultural Expo's Gin Garden

Let's start by saying that outdoor drinking need not be restricted to beer. For proof, head to this weekend's British Gin Garden event, which will be held on Apr 30 at the International Horticultural Expo in Shijingshan on the west end of town. Details are still pending as to what exactly the event will entail,, though the same coordinators held another gin garden in Shanghai on Apr 25, which featured big brands like London Distillery, Hayman's Gin, The East India Company, and Cotswolds Dry Gin, as well as masterclasses and appearances by well known Pearl City barkeeps. For more, check out Drink Magazine's coverage of the Shanghai event (we'll update you soon once details about the Beijing event are available).
 

Time for Outdoor Brewskies with Slow Boat's Timezone 8 Beergarden

Slow Boat once again teams up with Timezone 8 Sushi Bar in 798 Art District, bringing back their annual beer garden just in time for the warmer weather. The outdoor fun will kick off this Friday, Apr 26 and runs until May 26, during which attendees can buy Monkey’s Fist IPA pints for RMB 45 and pints of Stone Boat Pilsner for RMB 40.

Aside from drinks and events, the Slow Boat team is also selling new T-shirts emblazoned with "Lao Beijing." They are available for purchase at Slow Boat's Sanlitun south brewpub or via their WeChat store for RMB 80 each.

They come in gray with navy trim, maroon, and navy (sizes XS-XXL) for men and for absolutely no good reason, apparently only navy blue for women (sizes S-L). While the tees won't necessarily accentuate your biceps like those of Beijing bodybuilder and Slow Boat model Ankit Nayal (pictured above on the right) it can't hurt to at least dress like him, right? 
 

Crafter's Hoppy Suds on Two-For-One at Side Street

Burgeoning Beijing brewers Crafters will be selling pints of their irresistible Transatlantic IPA at an RMB 45 two-for-one discount every Wednesday at Jiaodaokou bar and restaurant Side Street. The 6.8 percent ale is delightfully hoppy and bitter with an inviting fruity aroma, making for a highly drinkable remedy for party people coping with the dreaded mid-week blues.  
 

Jing-A's Labor Day Discounts

Jing-A commemorates blue collar boozers with discounts on its Worker's Pale Ale to coincide with China's upcoming Labor Day. From now until Apr 29 their Weidian store will sell six-packs of the bottled beer for RMB 87 (down from 108), 12 packs for RMB 176 (normally 219) and cases of 24 for RMB 311 (compared to the regular RMB 388 price). Their Xingfucun brewpub, meanwhile, will be pouring Worker's Pale Ale at happy hour prices all day on May 1 in celebration of Labor Day. For more information, click here.
 

Booze and Beef at Little Creatures

After the dust settles from the weekend, and you slog through your first day back at work, you can beef up your early week boozing with this sirloin steak promotion at Little Creatures. RMB 138 will get you steak and a brew every Monday from 7-10pm. Finally something to look forward to come Monday.

Looking for a party? This weekend in music, you've got the Descendents at Mao Livehouse, The Warbly Jets at Yue Space, and reggae at School Bar.

Photos courtesy of the bars, Drink Magazine