Out of Step Opens in Sanlitun, Count Us Fans
Over on the quiet Dongsanlitun Lu, right next to our favorite Hainanese chicken rice Ji Kun Café and near the New Zealand Embassy, Canadian craft beerpub Out of Step opened its doors just as we welcomed the new year. We're happy to say that the beer gods heard our prayers, and that our first craft beer experience of 2017 was a wholly positive one.
Growlers imported from America (RMB 65), and a professional-grade turntable is behind the bar
The warm light of the red neon signage for the bar pulled us in off the street before the bar seduced us with its simple but cozy layout; on the concrete bar there sits a wooden tabletop surrounded by several bar stools. Black and white tiles at the foot of the bar spell out “Out of Step” and “Cheers.”
There's also an additional private room for smaller groups, bringing the total seats to around 40. It is clear that their Japanese designer has put a lot of thought into providing a comfortable drinking experience, the aura somewhat reminiscent of C2H6O near the Forbidden City, as well as Tiny in Xinyuanli.
Beers from Strange Fellows Brewing will be on tap soon, we like the artisanal designs
Wiki, who opened the bar with co-owner Nick, describes how in the space, “all of the sofas and chairs are movable, and the whole place can be shifted into a gallery. We would like to make it a unique place to link people from around the world and create a bridge to exchange ideas. The logo and corners of the bar aren't quite at a right angle, and there is a 4.2 degrees difference, because 420 is a special number in Canada.” That of course would be thanks to a certain medicinal plant and its relation to the date April 20. Wiki continues, “since hops and cannabis are related, we wanted to play into this and make our place stand out.”
Destiny IPA from Fuggles & Warock
So far Out of Step has 10 beers on tap, all from four local breweries in Vancouver: Hearthstone Brewery, Black Kettle Brewing, Fuggles & Warlock Craft Works, and Postmark Brewing. Six out of the 10 beers fall on the heavier side, while on the fruitier side there's one pale ale, two IPAs, and a milk stout, with prices ranging between RMB 55-65.
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Photos courtesy of Out of Step, Tracy Wang