LISTINGS - The Rough Guide to Beijing - page 221

BEIJING'S MICROBREWERIES
Microbrewed beer is the latest Beijing drinking fad, though such is the aplomb with which
hop addicts have embraced the nectar, it looks like this one may be here to stay. At all of
the venues here, it's ￥ 25-50 for a pint (well, half-litre) of the good stuff.
TheBigSmoke 京 , A jīng A 57 Xingfucun Zhonglu 010 64165195, capitalbrew.com ;
Dongsishitiao subway (line 2); map . This is the home base of the Capital Brewing Com-
pany, also known as “Jing Ah”. As well as a selection of seasonal brews, they've four
beers on tap year-round: a pale ale, an IPA and the more interesting Smoke on the Beach
(a brown ale) and Mandarin Summer Wheat. Mon-Thurs & Sun 11.30am-midnight, Fri &
Sat 11.30am-late.
Great Leap 悠航鲜啤 , yōuhàng xiānpÌ 6 Doujiao Hutong slowboatbrewery.com ;
Zhangzizhonglu subway (line 5); map . Hard to find the first time around, and perhaps even
harder to leave if you end up having too many of their great ales, best imbibed in the bust-
ling outdoor courtyard. You've got to love their Socialist Realist logo, too. Tues-Thurs
5-10.30pm, Fri 5-11pm, Sat 2-11pm, Sun 2-10pm.
MaltyDog 51 Beiluogu Xiang 010 84083763; Andingmen subway (line 2); map . Sitting
pretty on Beiluogu Xiang - the calmer, trendier northern equivalent to Nanluogu Xiang -
this small place was still finding its feet at the time of writing, but its ales hold much prom-
ise. Try six of them at once from their taster set. Tues-Fri 6pm-2am, Sat & Sun 2pm-2am.
Slow Boat Taproom 悠航鲜啤 , yōuháng xiănpí 56-2 Dongsi Batiao slowboatbrew-
ery.com ; Zhangzizhonglu subway (line 5); map . This brewery's Monkey's Fist, an IPA, be-
came an instant hit with Beijing's hop cognoscenti; Slow Boat do, indeed, seem to special-
ize in IPA, but there are always plenty of other options available. They sell cheap pitchers
on Thurs, and two-for-one on Tues. Tues & Wed 5pm-midnight, Thurs 5pm-1am, Fri &
Sat 5pm-late, Sun 2-10pm.
THE FORBIDDEN CITY AND TIAN'ANMEN SQUARE
What?Bar 什么酒吧 , shénme jiǔbā 72 Beichang Jie 133 41122757; Tian'anmen West
subway (line 1); map . Though primarily a live music bar , this tiny venue is a great place for a
drink on any evening - especially their tasty Beer Lao (part pun, since the bar's nickname, lao
wo , sounds like the Chinese word for Laos). They've table football, and outdoor chairs on the
super-quiet-at-night street running alongside the Forbidden City; after you're done here, you
could even grab a beer and go for a drink by the canal. Hours vary; usually open 6pm-late.
Yin 饮酒把 , yĭnjiŭbă The Emperor Hotel, 33 Qihelou Jie 010 65265566, theemper-
or.com.cn ; Tian'anmen East (line 1) or Dongsi subway (lines 5 & 6); map . Sat pretty atop
The Emperor , this bar has one major draw card - its wonderful views of the Forbidden City,