Booze News: Slow Boat to Open in MZD, Cheers Free-Flow Craft Beer Party, Guest Bartender at China Bar
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 announces third venue
Happy days, Maizidianers, Slow Boat has just announced that they're planning to open their second new venue in less than a year, over by the west side of Chaoyang Park. Details are scant but the opening is billed for January 2020. Watch this space as details emerge, and in the meantime, read what we thought of their Dengshikou taproom here.
Pop-up wine shop and Peddlers Gin Dinner at Bottega Xinyuanli
If wine's more your thing, Bottega Xinyuanli will be home to a three-day pop-up wine store, Nov 21-23, 5.30-9.30pm. Throughout the event, they'll have 40 wines selling at wholesale prices, sommeliers on site to guide you through what's on offer, and tasting flights so that you can try before you buy. The team has also organized a long table dinner on Nov 23, pairing Peddlers Gin Co. cocktails with four courses from the Bottega kitchen, including wood-fired pizza, antipasti, casarecce pasta, and panna cotta. Dinner starts at 7pm and places are RMB 488 per head, with limited availability.
Cheers free-flow craft beer party
This Saturday, Nov 23, head to Cheers' Wangjing store (1206, 9 Wangjing Street, Chaoyang District) from 7pm until last man standing for a free-flow craft beer party. In unison with Great Leap Brewing, Cheers has brought together 30 Chinese craft beers for you to sip to your heart's content, all for RMB 150.
China Bar welcomes its next guest bartender: Paul Hsu
On Nov 26-27, 8-11pm, China Bar at Park Hyatt Beijing welcomes its next guest bartender: Taiwanese mixologist Paul Hsu. Now beverage director of Fannou Group, the parent company of Beijing's Fannou House in Sanlitun, Hsu will be mixing up some (admittedly certainly not cheap) cocktails that include Three Threads with Chivas Regal blended scotch, porter, amaro, raspberry liqueur, fresh lemon juice, and aromatic bitters and Lamb’s Wool Milk Punch with Martell Noblige cognac, mezcal, bianco vermouth, green apple, porter, clarified milk, and fresh lemon juice. Each will set you back RMB 178.
New happy hour at Gung Ho Sanlitun
Hot on the heals of Gung Ho's announcement that they've officially closed their Shuangjing outlet, it appears the team is renewing focus on getting patrons through their last remaining door in Sanlitun. Case in point: their new two-for-one Thursday happy hours, 5-8pm, including all alcoholic drinks and mocktails. No complaints here.
INN's monthly Beer Night
New to town or just want to mingle with some new people? International Newcomer's Network hold their latest monthly Beer Night this Thursday at Home Plate Sanlitun. From 7pm onwards, simply show up, join a casual evening with fellow expats, and throw down for whatever you end up eating and drinking.
Jing-A releases their first ever cider
This week, Jing-A reaches a new milestone, releasing their first ever cider. The Dry Hop Smash (6.8 percent ABV, pictured above) is a mash-up of the crisp apple cider profile with the stylings of a Brut IPA. The result is a bone-dry sipper with a blast of citrusy, piney Waimea hops and a beer-like bitterness. They also have a new Red Lantern IPA (also 6.8 percent ABV), a collab brew with Massachusett's Lamplighter Brewing Co. Billed as "a Chinese twist on a New England IPA," it features a mellow fruit flavor that underpins the bold hop aromas of lime and tropical fruit. Both will be on tap at both Jing-A locations starting Nov 22.
Want something to eat instead?
Why not work your way through Michelin Guide Beijing's top 15 best value restaurants?
Images courtesy of the venues, Peddlers Gin Co.
