Qingdao, Yanjing, Harbin, Snow (shudder)…even Budweiser and Carlsberg:
We’re sorry. We've grown tired of sipping on your watery, mass-produced yet decently priced lagers. We’ve joined the revolution (as CNN have started to call it); our tipple is now a pint of cask-conditioned mint chocolate honey malt.
The ubiquitous ‘revolution’ of craft beer has been steadily growing in Beijing – that Great Leap’s newest outlet on Xizhong Lu has been packed every night is testament to that – and this weekend will be a good chance to see it in all its glory:
Great Leap and Seedicego productions are bringing together the best of BJ beer at their now annual Craft Beer Festival, Friday 21st 5-10pm, Saturday 22nd, 12-10pm, Galaxy Soho.
Independently brewed beer is about more than just a decent tasting alternative to a run of the mill lager. The world over it represents small business competing with big, support for quality local produce, and a vibrant – if somewhat sozzled – community.
Community has no doubt been a great factor in the success of venture like Great Leap and Slow Boat, so it was with disappointment more bitter than the bitterest of heinous ciders, that we had to report on the near-exclusion of Beijing’s LGBT Center from the event by hosts Galaxy Soho. Read our full story on that here and don't forget to show your support for the LGBT community by turning up in rainbow colors to the event.
Nevertheless feet were stamped, voices were heard, word spread and Soho have issued an apology, fully reinstating Beijing’s LGBT Center to the festival. They reached out to us in an exclusive comment:
"We are concerned to hear about this shocking news because any kind of discrimination is strictly prohibited under our corporate culture...SOHO China will equally treat each staff and guest of ours regardless of gender, sex orientation, skin-color, religion etc."
...as Great Leap owner Karl Setzer was relieved to hear. He told Beijing Cream:
“We are also proud to announce that the Beijing LGBT Center will have an official tent at our beer fest. The queer community needs good beer, not like the rest of us, but because they are ‘us’.”
The event will be kicking off Friday afternoon where the taps will be flowing with the best of Beijng’s hoppy offerings from Jing A, Slow Boat Brewery, Great Leap Brewing and Arrow Factory Alley Brewing, as well as further afield like Boxing Cat Brewery (Shanghai) and Bad Monkey (Dali).
Stomachs will be lined with some gastronomic treats from The Taco Bar, Two Guys and a Pie and Tavalin Bagels amongst others, and what not bring it all back up again by having a bounce on a “HUGE” (organisers' capitals, not ours) bouncy castle. Music is provided by Tavey Lean and The Solid Gold Dream Machine.
Cheers for the beers and queers!
0 User Comments