Every month, Take 5 sees a PRD resident answer five questions on whatever our editors feel like asking.
This month, we caught up with Shenzhen expat Joe Finkenbinder, one of the PRD’s most celebrated brewers. Originally hailing from Kansas, Finkenbinder is the friendly proprietor at Nanshan’s Bionic Brew.
We would imagine, after several location changes, that you probably have a good sense of humor about the issues that come with being a brewer in China. Can you tell us your most memorable move?
All of the moves have been difficult because of the costs of moving equipment and retail. The first one was the most memorable because I was able to talk the landlord into letting us ‘store’ the equipment there for a few extra months if I agreed not to use it or sell beer there. We did stop selling beer there but we didn’t stop brewing. I blacked out all the windows and we would work a midnight shift by brewing all night and finish up about 6am before anyone in the neighborhood really saw us there. We survived a few months this way.
If you had to (hypothetically) pick one brand of domestic Chinese beer to drink for the rest of your life, which would it be?
I’d choose Bionic Brew to drink each day. It’s domestically produced and tastes awesome. But if you mean commercial lager beer I’d go with Tsingtao. It’s watery enough to survive on a long time and not as sweet as Budweiser.
If you had to pair one of your beers with a fast food item (aka the poor man’s beer and edible pairing), which beer and food item would you pick and why?
I’d put our IPA with some lamb chuan’r or roujiamo. Perfect together while sitting on a tiny plastic stool and watching people go by.
If you had to share a bed with Trump or Hillary Clinton for a year (nothing sexual involved), who would you pick and why?
I’d pick Hillary Clinton. I’m sure she’s got an enormous bed with sheets so soft they feel like they’re made of cashmere babies.
Favorite type/style of beer and why?
I like the American pale ale style which we brew and call Bionic Ale. Very simple, drinkable and flavorful for such a basic beer. The secret is in the hops and getting the right ones really make that beer stand out. Our Bionic Ale is such a great beer that’s made with the most basic ingredients. It proves things don’t have to be complicated to be exceptional.
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