We’ve been meaning to try Hideaway and Oi! Craft Beer & Vintage for some time now, so when Huang Xiaolei, cofounder of The South 12, told us her new establishment combines the best of both (which she and a good friend also happen to own), it felt like we were killing three birds with one stone.
Viewed from the street on a rainy Sunday night, the bar isn’t what you would call inviting; its patio is damp and disheveled, and there are no signs to indicate you’ve made it to the right spot.
It’s not until we enter and meet Huang that we begin to warm up to the place. Standing to greet us, she introduces South 12 as a bar that prides itself on stocking real craft beer, bottled and tap.
A hostel-style room extends to the right, while a three-door fridge packed with rare bottles like Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA (set at the ungodly price of RMB385 for a 12-ouncer) sits opposite the main entrance. Overhead, a flat-screen TV broadcasts football to patrons sitting at a rustic, wood-topped bar.
Of the 16 total taps, 14 are available when we visit, less than a month after South 12’s opening. Huang says varieties on tap will remain consistent, whereas imported craft bottles will fluctuate to keep the selection interesting for regulars.
“We do craft beer, not just imported beer,” Huang emphasizes. “Of course, sometimes it’s hard to say if a brand is truly craft or not, since it can be bought out. We don’t stock Goose Island, for example…”
She recommends we start with shengpi, or draft beer, and since we can’t decide between Jing A’s Flying Fist IPA (RMB45/330ml, RMB55/pint) and Koji Red Ale (out of stock at the time this article was written), she serves us a flight of four samples (RMB88).
All of Jing A’s varieties on tap are exceptional. For those with a bolder palate, the Mocha Porter by Rogue, brewed with Kiln Coffee Malt and chocolate (RMB45-55), is a fine choice. And if you dislike all beer (is that even possible?), wine is available too, along with basic pub food (RMB15-48).
Minutes pass quickly – perhaps the sign of a good time – and the lighting seems to grow warmer the longer we stay. Maybe it’s just the flight going to our heads. Or maybe, South 12 really is onto something. We’ll have to wait and see.
Price: RMB60
Who’s going: craft beer enthusiasts of all ages
Good for: rare imported bottles, tasty flights
Nearest metro: Wuyangcun (Exit A), 3 minutes
See listing for The South 12 Craft Beer Bar.
[Cover photo and final image via Huang Xiaolei, others by Jocelyn Richards]
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