‘Beer of the Month’ is a regular series where our editors sample a unique craft beer. This month, our Guangzhou editorial team sampled Hema Supermarket’s Premium IPA!
While craft beer boasts an insane number of varieties, from chocolate stouts to macaroni and cheese pale ale (trust us, it’s a thing), sometimes we long for a classic brew with just the right amount of hops and fruity tones to keep us drinking to our heart’s content (or we can’t see, same thing right?).
We were surprised to find that exact beer stacked on the shelves of Hema supermarket, a rapidly expanding chain of grocery stores in the Middle Kingdom. The company has their own craft brew brand and we’ve got to admit: we’re digging it. Coming in at 4.5% ABV, Hema’s Premium IPA (RMB13.8) is a sessionable craft brew with fruity tones and a slightly bitter aftertaste (much less bitter than your standard Indian Pale Ale). But it still possesses enough hops to send your taste buds into a frenzy.
Image by Ryan Gandolfo/That’s
Even better, we see it pairing well with any meaty delight you prepare at home. As we mentioned with Boxing Cat’s Contender Pale Ale many moons ago, it’s a great brew for drinkers of all tastes and one that the non-craft beer crazies can certainly enjoy as well.
While some may have reservations about trying grocery store branded suds, the company has built a reputation for innovation in food shopping with speedy home deliveries, automated check-out and real-time recipe ideas for products in the store.
Now they can add craft beer to that list.
Hema Premium India Pale Ale is available at Hema Supermarkets for RMB13.8 per bottle.
Click here to read more ‘Beer of the Month’ columns.
[Cover image by Ryan Gandolfo/That’s]
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