What’s Up in Beer: 12 Beers of Christmas, I "Heart" BJ, and More

Brrr, it is Frozen Week (冷冻周 lěngdòng zhōu) indeed. Once you've dashed to Uniqlo, grabbed as many pairs of longjohns as possible, lined up, paid, and put them on, you're now fully armed to brave the cold and deflect the neverending onslaught of Christmas songs and festive cheer in the form of decorations that were never taken down. Now that's out of the way, let’s talk about beer.

Sadly a beer advent calendar is not a thing. Not to worry, Great Leap will hold their annual 12 Beers of Christmas event at all three locations from Dec 14-25 for its third year running. RMB 10 from every selected beer will be donated to Project Candy (douban.com/note/314421752), which was established by the Beijing Candy Children Care Center to provide professional art courses and charity products and services to rural and left-behind children. Every RMB 1 donation will cover a one-hour art course for one child, so drink up and help the kids to have a better education. See more info on this project by adding WeChat: Project_Candy.

The Jing-A guys are always up for a festive party, Christmas or not, with their annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party falling on Dec 16 this year at Xingfucun Brewpub. By simply donning your favorite holiday sweater, you'll receive the privilege of an all-night happy hour on all beers and cocktails on tap. If your wardrobe is lacking holiday spirit, a pop-up holiday sweater shop from Tiger Vintage Store between 4-8pm may give you the key you need to access those cheap drinks. Alternatively, if your wardrobe is overflowing with holiday threads, donate them on-site to Roundabout.

The Jing-A-Ling Celebration Ale will also launch at the party. This year's version of the dark-spiced Belgian dubbel has been dialed down from ABV 8 to 6 percent, allowing you to enjoy the party longer, and straighter than ever before. If that’s not enough, grab a mulled wine for RMB 50 a glass.

Finally, Jing-A Brewpub Xingfucun is launching a set of new group menus aside from its regular offerings, catering to those who turn up with a group of eight people or more – just don't forget to reserve in advance.

Over at Slow Boat, they've launched some new weekly specials, such as buy-one-get-one-free on veg burgers and salads on Mondays, seasonal beer for RMB 25 on Tuesdays, RMB 25 on brewer’s choice brews on Thursdays, and RMB 25 for regular beers on Sundays. Check the poster above for more details.

Whilst you're over there, you might want to do some Christmas shopping in the form of Slow Boat's new “I ♥ BJ” cans, which are sure to look good in anyone 49 30388 49 14986 0 0 4010 0 0:00:07 0:00:03 0:00:04 4010's hand as a hair of the dog option during present opening on the big day. These cans are available to be filled on-site from a choice of 16 taps. Additionally, if your friends and family are in town this holiday, treat them to a RMB 150 brewery tour on the third Saturday of every month at 2pm, which includes a Q&A session, one hour of free-flow beer, and more. Go here to register and see the full details: yoopay.cn/collect/payment_list/75257098.

Drinking Buddies’ December beer package has arrived! This month, they've chosen brews that best suit the festive season, including:

• White Pony’s Rene Christmas Belgian Ale: With cinnamon, cardamom, clove, ginger, star anise, orange peel and juniper spices.
  

• La Pirata’s Suria: A gluten-free, sparky beer filled with hops and brewed with pilsner malts for refreshing, easy-drinking pleasure.
  

• Uiltje’s Sunshine? Yes Please!: A low ABV but hugely flavorsome beer.
  

• Edge Brewing’s Barrica 22: Creates a sensation for the senses through its merlot barrel infusion that seeps through in aroma, body, and flavor.
  

• Naparbier’s Black Christmas: One to enjoy after feasting for anyone who celebrates a festival this month – sit back, relax, and sip.
  

• La Pirata’s Viakrucis: One to get you hopping into 2018 with enormous candy-like aromas and a generous bitterness.
  

Book your own collection via DB's WeChat shop (啤友汇DrinkingBuddies), call 137 1808 0725, or email [e-mail].

Ever dream of moving past whether knowing a beer was simply good or bad? This Sunday (Dec 17, 2-7pm), the legendary brewmaster Michael Jordan will be at Boxing Cat's Pop-Up in 1949, to give a one-hour lecture on how to judge beer and open your senses up to take in all the finer details, as well as some beer tasting for good measure. Homebrewers that bring their own beers to share will get a free pint, otherwise, it's RMB 100 for three pints.

Over in Jiaodaokou, Fang Bar continues to carry El Nido's craft beer spirit and this Sunday (Dec 17, 4pm), the crew will launch their own IPA as well as three rare beers from Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes (brasseriebfm.ch), founded in 1997 in Saignelégier, Switzerland. Those offerings include Franches-Montagnes' imperial stout, La Saison 225 (barrel aged for 4-5 months) with 6 percent ABV; and L’Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien, which is a strong sour ale with 11 percent ABV, aged in an old wine oak barrel for a year.

Finally, Hatchery launch their much-anticipated new Arcade venue this Friday (Dec 15, 7pm) at 5Lmeet Guomao (formerly Traders Hotel). The RMB 100 entry fee will get you two drinks and snacks. Drinks include Jing-A (Flying Fist and Vanilla Stout) and five special cocktails, as well as food from Canteen and Common Burger, alongside games (ping pong, foosball arcade games), and DJs. If you arrive before 8pm, you'll receive an extra complimentary glass of sparkling wine.

Stay warm and keep the drink on!

Photos courtesy of venues

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