The Place
Mod Craft Beer Taproom’s Incity location is the brand’s second foray into Suzhou’s craft beer scene. Riding on the success of the original shop at Xietang Laojie, the décor and offerings are similar at both joints.
The Drinks & Food
Diving right into its core offerings, Mod has a rotating selection of 15 beers and ciders on tap from breweries in China and the US, but for non-beer drinkers, a list of expensive bottled spirits is also available.
The fruity, slightly sweet Zinnbach apple cider and the robust, hoppy Dream Brewers Old Driver IPA (both RMB50/60 for medium/large) were tasty and fresh. With their premium prices (by Suzhou standard), however, these were not drinks to knock back, but to sip and savor. While there are currently no Suzhou-brews in on the menu, we were offered samples of Mod’s own wheat beer, which were made to mark the official opening of the outlet. All signs point to the strong possibility of being able to enjoy some locally brewed goods on tap soon.
In terms of food, expect large portionspub-style food. The house ground mini burgers (RMB98), which were basically a selection of three sliders (beef, bacon and avocado and chicken) served in brioche buns that lived up to expectations. A pleasantly fruity, spicy sauce gave the mini sandwiches an interesting dimension.
The pub fries (RMB48/68 for small/large) were crispy and nicely seasoned and accompanied by a delicious, herby mayonnaise dip. The only misstep were the kimchi-roasted nachos (RMB58/78 for small/large), as the advertised pungent fermented cabbage flavors were replaced by a touch of sweetness.
The Vibe
With an industrial-style décor, dim lighting and a chill playlist, this new branch of Mod offers a relaxing ambiance. On a cold weeknight not too long after the official opening, the space was pretty quiet. Once the weather gets warmer, however, we expect to see the sliding doors open up and Mod will transform itself into a great place for some semi-alfresco drinking.
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