CHINA

Beijing Brews, BBQs & Baijiu

Experience the vibrant nightlife of Beijing and uncover hidden treasures in the “new” Beijing. Your journey begins with a guided walking tour through the charm of Beijing’s hutong neighborhood. Visit a renowned craft brewery tucked away in a picturesque alleyway to sample a flight of meticulously crafted brews. Walk through the streets to a trendy BBQ joint where succulent meat skewers are grilled over flames, accompanied by house-brewed beer. Conclude your evening at Beijing’s cutting-edge cocktail bar, where you’ll embark on a baijiu tasting journey, China’s signature spirit, before savoring a custom cocktail tailored to your preferences.

Apart from the above tour, we are thrilled to share a note-worthy selection of breweries in Beijing:

Great Leap

Great Leap Brewing, founded by Ohio native Carl Setzer in 2010, is a key player in Beijing’s craft beer scene. The city’s first microbrewery, it now has four locations and is known for using local ingredients like hops from Gansu, honey, and Sichuan peppercorns. The original Great Leap #6 in a hutong offers an authentic vibe, while newer spots feature modern bars with extensive taps and pub fare. Try their iconic Honey Ma Gold to start.

Slow Boat

Slow Boat operates two brewpubs in Beijing: a multistory taproom in the vibrant Sanlitun area, known for its upscale shopping and nightlife, and a cozier spot in a hutong alleyway, complete with outdoor seating. Their flagship beer, Monkey’s Fist IPA, is a crowd-pleasing, classic American-style hop-forward brew. At the Dengshikou location, you’ll also find a rotating selection of experimental beers and sours. Both venues serve a variety of pub food to complement their brews.

Jing-A

Jing-A started with two North American expats brewing at home in Beijing and has grown into one of the city’s top breweries. They operate two pubs: the Xingfucun location serves Texas barbecue, while the Longfusi bar in a Dongsi hutong offers 22 taps and sourdough pizzas. Popular beers include Worker’s Pale Ale, Koji Red Ale, Black Velvet Vanilla Stout and the Airpocalypse Double IPA

Arrow Factory

Founded by a British expat, Arrow Factory started in a small hutong but quickly moved to a larger venue in Chaoyang’s embassy district. The new spot features a rooftop terrace with views of the Liangma River. Their standout beers include Liang Ma IPA, Two Birds Lager, and ManMan Lai session IPA. They also brew lambics, barley wines, and stouts, with a menu of classic pub dishes like pies, fish and chips and pizza.

Peiping Machine

Peiping Machine quickly gained a loyal following with its easy-drinking beers like the 100 Flowers Hidden Deep IPA, wheat beer, Pilsner, and chocolate stout, along with seasonal brews and ciders. Their industrial-chic, two-story taproom in Fangjia Hutong is perfect for group gatherings.

And since today is all about beer, the following festival is also worth mentioning here:

Qingdao International Beer Festival

The first Qingdao International Beer Festival was held in 1991 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the town’s establishment. TSINGTAO Beer took the lead in hosting the first Qingdao International Beer Festival, featuring artistic parades, “Beer Carnival” games, beer tasting, drinking contests, music, food, interactive performances, various brewery beer tents, trade exhibitions, gala performances, carnival amusement park games and rides – and even a bikini model contests.

Every year, the festival starts at the second weekend of August and lasts for 16 days.