Little Creatures Opens First Beijing Location

By Jonty Dixon

Just steps from both Great Leap and Jing-A, Australian brewery Little Creatures has opened its first Beijing location. For us, this makes a lovely craft beer trifecta. For them, this makes a challenge – can Little Creatures ensnare Beijing’s discerning beer drinkers?

The brand has already done so in Hong Kong and Shanghai, thanks to a winning formula. Little Creatures serves beer by, well, Little Creatures. From their full-on IPA to their mellow Rogers’ Amber Ale, you really can’t go wrong with your choice (beers are RMB50 for a pint, RMB35 for a half).

While all the beers are pleasant, the pale ale is a standout, with a floral nose and well-balanced hops that make for smooth, all-day drinkability. We also sample one of the few non-Little Creatures brews available, the White Rabbit Dark Ale (RMB50), also hailing from Australia – big, malty flavors combine with a complex fruitiness and a slight hoppy finish. However, this can be a heavy one, so following it with their fresh, bright IPA is only the sensible thing to do. All beers are imported from Australia, where they are brewed.

Little Creatures’ Beijing location is situated within The Crib, Sanlitun’s incubator-cum-food hall. And so the look is minimal, yet pleasant – bare concrete, a mural featuring the Little Creatures mascot (a cherub) and the slogan (“It’s good to be a little different”). Beer varieties are painted on the wall as well.

It’s all a damn delight, but the food, on the other hand, leaves something to be desired. The curried arancini balls (RMB48) lack kick, and the pork and fennel sausage rolls (RMB38) are excellent, but that’s the problem: On the plate we’re given four meager mouthfuls. As we come to the realization that we’ve just paid RMB10 per mouthful, we see the place a bit differently. We read a little more into the cherub looking down upon us from above the words “It’s good to be a little.” Thankfully, the Pale Ale lifts our spirits considerably.

After all, that’s what Little Creatures is about: The beer. It’s excellent. And if you want more than a snack to go with your pint, then you’re in The Crib anyway, whose meal offerings include everything from vegan quinoa bowls to donkey burgers.

Little Creatures’ location, beers and atmosphere make it a welcome pit stop along the (short) route between Jing-A and Great Leap. Just don’t waste your beer money on the cherub-sized sides.      

The Crib, 1/F, Chunxiu Lu, 1 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang 朝阳区工体北路1号院1楼

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