What’s Up in Beer: New Brews at GLB, Jing-A, and Beersmith; De Refter and Peiping Return
It isn't just hot out there, Beijingers – we're enduring the highest temperatures since the summer of 1968. Thankfully, there's plenty of icy craft beer options out there to give us some sweet, sudsy relief.
After the ceremonious debut of their Leaping the Dog Barley Champagne Mimosa last week, Great Leap Brewing now launches the fifth beer in their Homegrown Series: the Bald is Beautiful Lager. The Homegrown Series, if you don't know, is made up of beer recipes designed by brewers who cut their teeth at GLB and this new iteration is preceded by four entries: Fly You Fools Lager, Adulating Buddha Wheat, Contae Lú Saison, and Pale Ale #45. This newest addition to the series, Bald is Beautiful, is a 5.2 percent ABV Vienna lager with a smooth and copper color, floral and biscuity notes, and a crisp and clean finish. It's available at both locations, and costs RMB 35 for 340ml.
Over at Jing-A, they'll launch the debut Nelson Sauvin brew in their new single-hop IPA series "One Hop Policy". Featuring Nelson Sauvin hops grown in New Zealand and named after the Sauvignon Blanc grape normally used to make white wine, the idea is that rather than use a typical blend of various hops, the Jing-A team will isolate specific hops so as to help drinkers experience and appreciate each hops’ unique character. Eventually, we may all be able to say (without a hint of snobbishness): “Oh, my favorite hops variety is Amarillo; it’s so citrusy and flowery,” or “I’ve never been a fan of Galaxy hops, they're just too pungent for me.” The Nelson Sauvin will be on draft starting this Friday (Jun 8) at their Xingfucun Brewpub.
Beersmith at Hotel Jen releases a new brew called Cuke Nukem. Inspired by smashed cucumber salad (拍黄瓜 paihuanggua) and a healthy dose of nostalgic video game shoot 'em up action, this American-style wheat beer has been infused with fresh cucumber juice, making for a bready, malty, and refreshing 5.5 percent ABV sipper.
In Sanlitun's Courtyard 4, opposite Q Mex, De Refter has reopened following a quiet closure last year and may now boast the best new terrace in the area. This modern Belgian brasserie not only provides drafts and bottles (mostly from Belgium, cider and Jing-A wheat beer) but also delicious sides, including a new range of irresistible bao. Made using freshly steamed mantou as the bun, these burgers with a Chinese twist comes courtesy of the talented young chef Clement Rol, former head chef at Slow Boat. This weekend, De Refter will open early, at 11am, so as to attract the brunch crowds. Alternatively, head over between 6-9pm for their beer and a bao deal for RMB 58 on Mondays.
A stone's throw away, Peiping Machine's Gongti location just finished renovations and now includes live jazz on Thursdays and Saturdays at 9pm (free entry). On tap, they also have Hazy Dream New England IPA brewed by MingRi Brewing; Champion’s Coffee Saison by No. 18; and Juicy Rain Hazy IPA by Bubble Lab. If you're looking to wake up before you hit the sauce, they also have Pushers non-alcoholic nitro cold brew coffee and Momo peach and oolong sparkling tea on tap. Head over for their daily happy hour, which will get you 20 percent off on all beers before 8pm at their Gongti location and 20 percent off on all beers before 7pm at their Fangjia Hutong location.
Great Outdoors Club has stocked their fridges with a new mammoth selection of imported beers, including:
- Drink & Missing NE IPA
- Liquor of the Yellow River NE IPA and Made in Heaven NE IPA from Hop Fan
- Peanut Butter Milk Stout, Peanut Butter Mexican Chocolate Stout, PB & J Blonde Ale, Mosaic Double IPA, Hop Highway IPA from Belching Beaver
- Sticky Mango Milkshake NE IPA and Mashugana Raspberry Milkshake NE IPA from Toolbox
- Finest Sip of Sunshine Imperial IPA and Finest Super Session IPA #8 from Lawson’s
- Free Rise Mosaic Dry Hopped Saison, Fort Point Nelson Dry Hopped Pale Ale, Tiny Chicken NE IPA, and Lineage Wheat Saison from Trillium
- And several canned beers from Black Market.
Finally, SteamRhino has new lunch deals at both their Shangdi and Wangfujing locations, including 50 percent off on food from Jun 6-20, and 40 percent off on food from Jun 21-30. Also, for the upcoming World Cup, RMB 238 will get you unlimited beers, up to RMB 100 worth of food, and a voucher to be used at another time worth RMB 138.
More stories by this author here.
Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @flyingfigure
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Photos courtesy of venues, Tracy Wang
