The Place
Suzhou’s craft beer scene continues to develop with this latest opening from Zhangmen Brewery. This is the first brewery of the Taiwan transplant on the Chinese mainland (there’s a taproom in Shenzhen), and most of the nearly 40 beers on offer here are brewed onsite.
The huge outlet is a stylish addition to the Ligongdi bar street area, which has begun to look a little tired of late. The elegant interiors make this place more of a restaurant than a straight up bar, designed to cater to the local preference for consuming both food and alcohol at the same time.
The Drinks & Food
With 37 beers on tap, from fruit and wheat beers, to IPAs and stouts, you’re sure to find one that suits your tastes. All of the beers have tasting notes in English and can be bought in flights of smaller glasses so you can sample a few. If you don’t like beer, you can also get wine by the bottle and plans are afoot to begin distilling gin and whiskey.
We went for the Kiss Honey Ale (RMB32/small, RMB48/large), which uses local Suzhou honey to create a mildly sweet flavor and a pleasant syrupy aftertaste – best enjoyed on a warm summer evenings at Zhangmen’s small rooftop terrace. In contrast, the Vanilla Duke Vanilla Porter (RMB32 or RMB48) has the deep smokiness you might expect from a good solid porter, along with a subtle hint of vanilla and toffee and an unexpectedly light, almost lager-like mouthfeel. Meanwhile, the Welcome Doggy Year (RMB32 or RMB48) has a refreshing, zesty aroma and is also light on the palate – finished with a strong burst of kumquat flavor.
Having heard rumors of its greatness, we sampled the American Wagyu Burger (RMB78), which didn’t disappoint, thanks to the succulent and flavorsome meat patty. The flavor of the blue cheese sauce, however, could’ve been stronger. The massive Fried Combo Platter (RMB148), featuring fried fish, chicken nuggets, onion rings and fries, was great for sharing and the perfect accompaniment to the beer selection.
The Vibe
Money has obviously gone into the development of this place – there’s lots of expensive brewing equipment and high-quality furnishings, while little touches like mouthwash in the bathrooms add to the experience. Servers are approachable and happy to talk to you about their excellent drinks. All in all, it’s a good addition to Suzhou’s F&B scene.
See a listing for Zhangmen Brewery and read more Suzhou bar reviews
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