What's Up in Beer: Beery Halloween Parties and Releases
What's Up in Beer is our weekly rubdown of all things ale and suds. Lather yourself in the latest beery news, gossip, and openings all the while forgetting what exactly it was that you were meant to be doing. Don't worry, beer can fix that too.
Jing-A's 8x8 Brewing Project Continues Today
The biggest beer happening this week is Jing-A's second ever 8x8 Brewing Project, an exercise in the best qualities that beer has to offer: collaboration, friendship, and most importantly, the creation of delicious new beers for us to drink. This year's event takes place in Vintage16, close to Guomao, and sees eight Chinese brewers hook up with eight international crews to show off their collaborative spoils. There'll also be a crapload of other beers from each of the breweries on offer, making for 136 beers over the four-session, two-day event. For more details about the project, scan/extract this QR code:
Slow Boat Halloween Happenings
As with every other venue and their mother, Slow Boat is getting ready for Halloween blowout seemingly all over Beijing. That's because they've delivered their brews far and wide, including Side Street (four bottles of Zombie Pirate for RMB 100 till Nov 4), VSports (ditto), and Pebbles Courtyard (buy one, get one free Slow Boat micheladas and cheladas from Oct 27-Nov 4). If that's not enough, they'll also be holding their own Halloween party on Oct 31, also with RMB 25 bottles of Zombie Pirate Pale Ale.
Great Leap's New Beers and Halloween Costume Contest
Great Leap has had a big week, releasing not one but three new beers (all available now). The first, Diplomatic Mango Tropical Stout (5.4 percent ABV), gets its name from a special moment in Chinese history whereby mangoes became all the rage among the Maoist proletariat due to humorous circumstances. This beer, however, means serious business and is the result of mango and roasted chocolate for a rich, creamy, and smooth sipper. Their second brew, the Sand Pebbles American Pale Ale, is a tropical-tinged easy drinker. Finally, the third is the Devout Admiral IPL (5.3 percent ABV), a "bright and effervescent" beer with "strong piney hop characteristics on the nose."
The crew will also be holding their annual Halloween costume contest on Oct 31 in conjunction with the Beijing LGBT Center (RMB 10 of every pint of Imperial Pumpkin Ale will go to the center). Dress up and get ready to be judged, all in the name of charity. Due to the closure of their #12 venue earlier this year, the party moves to #45 but will no doubt be any less raucous. Individual winners stand to win a whopping RMB 1,288 GLB gift card whereas groups can score RMB 1,688. There's no need to register – simply show up between 7-9pm and enter. Judges will then score your terrifying outfit based on merit, effort, creativity, and appearance. Winners will be announced promptly at 10pm, so if you are planning to enter the contest, please do not be late. We recommend going in drag given that if at least 10 people do, the best drag costume will be awarded an RMB 888 gift card. Do it up (and read more here)!
Little Creatures
Also in the name of charity, Australian brewers Little Creatures are holding a fundraiser for Education in Sight in collaboration with Beijing-based photographer Aaron Berkovich. Head over to drink beers and browse two back-to-back photo exhibitions between now and Nov 8. Little Creatures will also throw a Halloween party on Oct 31, 6pm till late, alongside Bloodline to raise awareness about giving blood in China.
For all your drinking needs, look no further than Beijing's most comprehensive nightlife round-up or full Halloween listings here:
Images: craftbeer.com, courtesy of the organizers
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