Gan Bei! Beer Guide

Gan Bei!

The Unremarkable Guide to Unremarkable Beer in China

©2014 Scott Ferguson

Welcome!

You didn’t ask for it, but you’ve got it—an unremarkable guide to unremarkable beers in China! Mass-produced Chinese beer isn’t bad, it just isn’t . . . remarkable. Never fear, I will help you explore the hoppy goodness of China. Inside you will discover: These drinkable legends are . . . watery. These gifts to mankind are . . . flavorless. These gut builders have . . . low alcohol content. These thirst quenchers are . . . cheap. Read on, you just might find something memorable. Or not.


Beer Rating Scale 0 = throw it away ∆!WARNING!∆ 1 = Bad 2 = Not Bad/Drinkable 3 = Ok/Good/Tasty 4 = Great! Send some home.

Qing Dao (Tsing Tao) q  ≥ 4.3%, Qing Dao Shanshui

Brewery

q  330 ml can, 4 RMB at convenience store

q  600 ml bottle, 3 to 3.5 RMB at hutong store

q  330 ml bottle, 10 to 30 RMB at bar or nightclub


Qing Dao (Tsing Tao) Rating: 3

The Godfather of Chinese Beers. Washes down peanuts very well. Light, easy to drink. Available all over the country. Qing Dao brewery was founded by Germans at end of 19th century in the city of Qing Dao situated on the east coast. Chinese Growler. In the city of Qing Dao, draught beer, including the dark variety, is available and small shops are well known for selling plastic bags full of beer. To drink, simply insert straws into the sides of the bag. Correct spelling is Qing Dao, but exported versions use old spelling of Tsing Tao. Most commonly seen in 600 ml bottles


Qing Dao (Tsing Tao) Rating: 3

Yanjing Beer

q  ≥ 3.6%, Beijing Yanjing Brewing

Co.


q  600 ml bottle, 3 to 3.5 RMB at hutong store


Yanjing Beer Rating: 2

Qing Dao’s Cheap Cousin. Shop keepers in Beijing’s hutongs like to substitute Yanjing for Qing Dao when selling to unsuspecting foreigners. No worries, Yanjing has the light watery flavor you must crave to appreciate Chinese beers. If you have missed a little bit of tinny flavor, then drink it out of a can--reminds me of Coors Light beer in USA. In Beijing, this beer competes with Qing Dao for the most widely consumed beer. Most commonly seen in 600 ml returnable bottles.


Yanjing Beer Rating: 2

Qing Dao’s Cheap Cousin: Yanjing Beer

Snow Beer q  ≥ 3.3%, China Resources Snow

Breweries(CRB)

q  330 ml can, 3.5 RMB at convenience store

q  Website: www.snowbeer.com.cn


Snow Beer Rating: 3

Study-buddy. Good for studying because it is so light. Ever-so-slightly more hops than the other usual Chinese beers. Variations on the logo make these collectors’ items. Note: Oishi pea snacks are awesome, delicious, and almost healthy.


Snow Beer Rating: 3

Stout Beer q  ≥ 4.5%, Landai Bluebelt Group q  330 ml can, 3.5 RMB at convenience

store


Stout Beer Rating: 3

Fancy Pants. Perhaps inspired by the coat of arms on the can, this is darker and better than most canned beer in China. Compared to the competition, stronger flavor and less watery—is that possible?

Also, great for studying; maybe this is why my spoken Chinese improves as I drink beer.

Lemon Juice Beer q  Unknown alcohol content

(because I forgot to note it).

q  Beijing Yanjing Brewery

q  330 ml can, 3 RMB at Supermarket


Lemon Juice Beer Rating: 2

The Naughty Girl. Goes down easy with a sweet, slightly pleasing manner. Actually pretty good flavor, but not so much a beer as a lemonade mixed with beer. Low alcohol.


Draft Beer Rating: 3

Quality Engineers love this beer—the top of the can advertises compliance with ISO 9001 regulations. Very smooth, more flavor than the watery norm with a light caramel color. “Since 1986”, not sure if that is good, bad, or significant. Goes well with salty Rice Crispy snack, not to be confused with Rice Krispies treats which are sweet. Pucca looks on in the background. Draft Beer

q  ≥ 3.6%, Qingdao Lanbaoshi Beer

q  500 ml can, 6 RMB at hutong store


Beijing Beer Rating: 3

Cheapskate. Cheapest canned beer at 1.8 kuai = approximately 28 cents in US currency. As watery and lacking of hops as the rest, but no tinny flavor and a low price boost this beer into a definite 3! Low alcohol content inspires writing of Hanzi flashcards. I would have loved this beer in high school. Beijing Beer

q  ≥ 3.3%, Beijing Beer Asahi Co. Ltd.

q  330 ml can, 1.8 RMB at supermarket (white can, blue and gold print)

Harbin Beer q  ≥ 3.6%

q  330 ml can, 3.5 RMB at

convenience store

q  330 ml bottle, 10 RMB at El Nido bar in Beijing

q  600 ml bottle, 5 RMB in Guangzhou


Harbin Beer Rating: 3

The Athlete’s Beer. Official beer of the NBA. Watery, but decent with no aftertaste. In business since 1900 in the far northeast of China, Harbin Brewery competes with Qing Dao for king of Chinese beer and is available outside of China, too. Pick some up to drink courtside.

Beijing Yanjing Beer q  ≥ 4.0%, Beijing Yanjing Brewing Co.



Beijing Yanjing Draft Beer Rating: 3

Slightly Sour Friend. Light, very slight sourness, also washes down peanuts very well. Attractive can in red, white, and blue imparts a subliminal appeal to citizens of France, Russia, USA, Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Norway, Panama, and Thailand.

Yanjing Fresh Beer q  ≥ 4.0%, Beijing Yanjing Brewery

q  500 ml can, 6.5 RMB at convenience store


Yanjing Fresh Beer Rating: 3

Fresh Friend. Watery, easy to drink, consistent flavor.

Naale Stout Beer

q  ≥ 4.5% q  Website: www.naalegroup.com

q  500 ml can, 5 RMB at

convenience store


Naale Stout Beer Rating: 3

Overachiever. Very good, tasty, no aftertaste or tinny flavor. I like it! This beer is almost a 4 . . . but not quite.

Pearl River Beer q  ≥ 4.3%

q  Website: www.zhujiangbeer.com q  600 ml bottle, 4 RMB at restaurants in Guangzhou


Pearl River Lager Rating: 3

Charming Lady. Quite pleasant, refreshing, pairs well with steamy conversation at a small table on a sidewalk in Guangzhou.

Gan Bei! Beer Guide

Documents

Transcript of Gan Bei! Beer Guide