Drink Beer, Celebrate Australia Day

It’s Australia Day! Ok, the rest of you don’t care, but for Beijing-based Aussies it’s a chance to … drink beer! Here’s a quick list of what’s happening this evening in Australian-owned bars around town - and establishments owned by Australian sympathizers.

Beijing Boyce noted the following specials on his blog a few days ago – but you can get the info here without his painful attempts to use Australian slang (it’s “ute” Jim, not “yute”).

Owner Joseph is away right now, but 12SQM will be selling all Aussie beers for RMB 20 (including Coopers, VB, and Boag’s), and meat pies are on the menu. Australian music on the soundtrack.

Ned’s have a happy hour all day, VBs at for RMB 20, Foster’s for RMB 15 (come on, who in Australia actually drinks Foster’s?), and sausages for RMB10. Triple J music countdown on the soundtrack.

Mao Mao Chong’s owner Steven is also on holiday, but his bar will have Australian beers Boag’s, Redback and Cascade, as well as the Queensland special Bundy and Coke, all going for RMB 25 a pop. Selected cocktails will go for the same price.

For those unwilling to leave their Sanlitun enclave, the Stumble Inn say they’ll be playing Aussie tunes all night, while Karl of Paddy’s says he’ll have “a promotion on Australian beers” – as soon as he remembers which ones he has in stock.

Down south The Brick say they will have discounts on Australian beers until midnight.