Forget the Great Wall for a moment. Before you conquer ancient stone, you must first conquer the modern tap. Beijing, a city known for its imperial history and political gravity, has quietly fermented a revolution in its hutongs and high-rises. A craft beer scene has exploded, offering a liquid narrative of the city that is as complex and compelling as its past. For the traveler, this isn't just about finding a good pint; it's about discovering a new dimension of Beijing—one where tradition and innovation clink glasses.
This guide is your curated map to the best craft beer experiences in Beijing, designed for the discerning traveler who wants to pair a day of sightseeing with an unforgettable evening. We'll navigate from hidden hutong gems to sleek Sanlitun taprooms, ensuring your journey through Beijing is as flavorful as it is fascinating.
The soul of old Beijing lives in its labyrinthine hutongs. Wandering these narrow alleys is a travel essential, and now, the reward for your exploration is world-class craft beer. The bars here are more than just drinking establishments; they are immersive cultural experiences, often tucked away behind unassuming doors.
No guide to Beijing's craft beer is complete without starting at the legendary Great Leap Brewing. Housed in a converted Qing Dynasty courtyard, Great Leap is the pioneer. Stepping through its door is like stepping through a portal. You leave the dusty hutong behind and enter a serene, leafy space where history is palpable. The beer menu is a masterclass in Sino-fusion. You haven't truly experienced Beijing craft until you've tried their Honey Ma Gold, a blonde ale made with Sichuan peppercorns and Chinese wildflower honey. The initial sweet, floral notes give way to a subtle, tingling mala spice—a sensation uniquely Chinese. For the adventurous, the Cinnamon Scorpion Stout is a bold, complex dark beer. It’s the perfect place to start your evening after a day exploring the nearby Drum and Bell Towers or Houhai Lake. Grab a seat in the courtyard, order a flight, and feel the centuries melt away with each sip.
If Great Leap is the wise elder, Jing-A (short for Jing-Ai, meaning "Beijing Love") is the creative, energetic heart of the scene. Their original location in the Xingfucun hutong is a pilgrimage site for beer lovers. The vibe is urban, gritty, and utterly cool, with exposed brick, neon signs, and a buzzing, communal energy. Jing-A is famous for its bold, often playful, flavor combinations that pay homage to Beijing's street food culture. Their Airpocalypse Double IPA is a legendary brew, a hoppy monster born from the city's infamous smog days—a cheeky and delicious act of defiance. But the real showstopper is the Worker's Pale Ale, a sessionable and perfectly balanced beer that has become a city-wide staple. After spending an afternoon getting lost in the trendy shops and galleries of the 798 Art District, heading to Jing-A feels like coming home to the city's creative core. Don't miss their seasonal releases, which often feature local ingredients like lychee, yuzu, or oolong tea.
After the ancient charm of the hutongs, shift gears to Sanlitun, Beijing's pulsing epicenter of internationalism, luxury fashion, and nightlife. Here, the craft beer bars reflect the neighborhood's global outlook—sleek, sophisticated, and offering a mind-boggling selection of local and imported brews.
A cornerstone of the community, Slow Boat Brewpub in Sanlitun is a temple for hop-heads and burger aficionados. Founded by two Americans, Slow Boat has perfected the art of the classic American brewpub but with a distinct Beijing twist. The space is large, industrial, and always packed with a mix of expats and locals, creating a vibrant, noisy atmosphere that is infectious. Their Simcoe IPA is a benchmark for the style in Asia—crisp, citrusy, and beautifully bitter. However, their menu is incredibly diverse, featuring everything from light, refreshing Kölsch to rich, decadent stouts. The real travel hack? Their food menu is arguably the best paired with craft beer in the city. The Sanlitun Burger, a behemoth of juicy perfection, is the ideal companion to a bold, hoppy pint. It’s the perfect spot to refuel and rehydrate after a grueling day of shopping in Taikoo Li or the Sanlitun mall complex.
While its original location has a hutong feel, Arrow Factory's spirit aligns with the quality-obsessed ethos of the Sanlitun scene. Known for their technical precision and innovative small-batch releases, Arrow Factory is for the beer geek who wants to explore the outer limits of brewing. Their tap list is ever-changing, featuring a rotating cast of hazy IPAs, barrel-aged sours, and experimental lagers. The focus here is squarely on the beer. The ambiance is minimalist and modern, encouraging you to focus on the complex flavors in your glass. For a traveler, a visit to Arrow Factory is like a curated tasting of the cutting edge of Chinese craft. It’s a place to discover what’s next, to try a beer you won't find anywhere else in the world. Pair a visit here with a trip to the nearby Workers' Stadium ("Gongti") for a full day of modern Beijing culture, from sports to sophisticated suds.
Beijing's beer scene is vast. For the traveler with a little more time and a spirit of adventure, venturing beyond the well-trodden paths yields incredible rewards.
Tucked away in the hutong just north of the Lama Temple, El Nido is less a bar and more a phenomenon. It started as a tiny, no-frills bottle shop and has evolved into a sprawling, multi-room hutong complex that feels like a fantastic, impromptu party in a friend's courtyard. The owner, a Beijing native with an impeccable taste in beer, has curated a selection that is heavy on fantastic Chinese microbreweries you won't easily find elsewhere, alongside a stellar list of imported Belgian and European classics. The vibe is unpretentious, chaotic, and utterly magical. You'll sit on makeshift stools, surrounded by a buzzing crowd of artists, musicians, and hutong residents. Coming here after visiting the serene and awe-inspiring Lama Temple provides a perfect cultural juxtaposition. It’s a raw, authentic, and unforgettable slice of contemporary Beijing life.
One of the greatest joys for a traveler in Beijing is the food. And craft beer is the perfect companion. Ditch the Tsingtao and upgrade your dining experience. When you sit down for a fiery Sichuan hot pot, the numbing spice of the broth is brilliantly cut by a crisp, clean pilsner from a local brewery like NBeer. The rich, savory flavors of Beijing's famous Peking duck find a sublime partner in a malty amber ale or a toasty brown ale, which complement the duck's fat and hoisin sauce without overpowering it. Even a simple street-side meal of chuan'r (lamb skewers) is elevated to new heights with a citrusy pale ale. Think of craft beer as your culinary guide, a way to deepen your engagement with the local cuisine.
Most craft beer bars have bilingual menus, but it's always helpful to have a translation app ready for more obscure ingredients. WeChat is essential; most bars have an official account where they post tap lists and events. Payment is almost universally via WeChat Pay or Alipay, though international credit cards are sometimes accepted in larger places like Slow Boat or Jing-A's Taproom.
The taps are flowing, the flavors are waiting, and a new side of Beijing is ready to be discovered, one perfectly poured craft beer at a time. Your adventure through the ancient capital just got a lot more refreshing.
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Author: Beijing Travel
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