Prodigy Brewing Quietly Shutters Their Xingfucun Gastropub

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Last weekend, beer fans were bummed to find out that Prodigy Brewing had quietly shuttered their Xingfucun gastropub. While a representative couldn’t immediately be reached for comment, the news was confirmed in a WeChat group, with the bar’s general manager, Steven Shi tersely stating “We may have a plan to open a new bar here. We will post more information.”

Some might say the Prodigy Supreme Burger was simply ahead of its time

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As one of the first establishments to open in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Prodigy Brewing capitalized on their large space with a wide range of rotating taps and a number of ambitious burgers, not least of which was their signature Prodigy Supreme Burger – the brainchild of bar manager Mario Liu – which featured two pieces of bacon on a white cheddar-filled patty, dark vinegar-stewed onion, and a piece of fried yellow cheddar. In fact, that burger was so stunning, it earned Prodigy a spot in the Sweet 16 during last year’s Burger Cup, only to be knocked out by the eventual second-place winner, Q Mex.

Those floor-to-ceiling windows were perfect for sunny summer afternoons

Prodigy had made a name for itself prior to opening their flagship location. A number of their pints such as the Beijing Haze and Happy Hydra IPA could be found at Side Street and a few hotpot and shaokao joints dotted around town. However, once they had the opportunity to operate their own taps, they wasted no time in showcasing microbreweries from all over China. From Yun Brewing in Kunming to Chengdu’s Wild West Brewery, patrons could always count on finding something new when they visited. Likewise, in addition to supporting the wider brewer community, they often opened their doors to other community events, having hosted a couple of debate viewing parties during last year’s US presidential election season. When they weren’t busy giving a home to political junkies and cross-country beer makers, however, they would grace Beijing with other sweet deals, such as their semi-frequent Have a Nice Weekend With Prodigy event, which offered 10 percent off all of their draft beers, all weekend long.

Aside from a stellar lineup of guest brewers, Prodigy always had their dependable in-house recipes

Unfortunately, the fate of the brewery’s distribution chain is still unknown, as is the reason for closing in the first place. Nevertheless, should Prodigy Brewing return, we’ll be first in line to toast with a Beijing Haze.

Images: courtesy of Prodigy Brewing, Joey Knotts

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