{"id":12739,"date":"2016-11-21T13:06:52","date_gmt":"2016-11-21T17:06:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/?p=12739"},"modified":"2016-11-21T13:06:52","modified_gmt":"2016-11-21T17:06:52","slug":"chinese-beer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/chinese-beer\/","title":{"rendered":"Chinese Beer"},"content":{"rendered":"

When it comes to booze, there’s no doubt that it’s all about the baijiu<\/strong><\/em> (\u767d\u9152 – b\u00e1i ji\u01d4) in China. This traditional Chinese liquor – which bears an uncanny resemblance to rocket fuel<\/a> – is the drink of choice at functions like business dinners and weddings. You can’t always slam glasses of something that’s 45-50% alcohol, though. Or if you’re like me, you just can’t stand the taste of the stuff. Cue Chinese beer<\/strong> (\u4e2d\u56fd\u5564\u9152 – zh\u014dng gu\u00f3 p\u00ed ji\u01d4). It’s readily available, cheap, and easy to drink. Let’s take a look at beer culture in China and learn some of the most famous brands in the country.<\/p>\n

History<\/h2>\n

Everyone knows that China has a long history, but did you know that beer has been around in the Middle Kingdom for thousands of years? That’s right –\u00a0archaeologists recently unearthed beer-making materials in the Central Plain area of China<\/a> that are estimated to be 5,000 years old. According to the findings, it appears as if these ancient people applied many of the same techniques for brewing that we do today. For some reason, beer\u00a0slipped into obscurity in China for a few millennia. It made a big return around the end of the 19th century, when Russians established a brewery in Harbin and Germans opened one in Tsingtao. The rest is history, as beer has remained a staple in the Chinese diet ever since.<\/p>\n

Background on Chinese Beer<\/h2>\n
\"China

China<\/p><\/div>\n

When it comes to Chinese beer, there isn’t a whole lot of variety. Most beers in China fall into the pale lager category, with a little bit less alcohol than their counterparts in the US – usually around 3-3.5%. For the most part, Chinese beers are light, watery, and easy to drink; just think of the beers that frat boys pound at parties. Beers in China usually come in tall bottles of 640 milliliters (around 22 ounces), so they’re not exactly encouraging you to drink responsibly.<\/p>\n

Popular Brands<\/h2>\n

Tsingtao\u00a0(\u9752\u5c9b \u2013 q\u012bng d\u01ceo)<\/h3>\n
\"Tsingtao<\/a>

Tsingtao – beer of choice for the White House?<\/p><\/div>\n

Founded by thirsty Germans who were homesick, this is far and away China’s most famous beer. It gets its name from the city where it’s made in Shandong province. If you’re wondering why the name doesn’t quite match the correct Chinese pronunciation, that’s because it uses the old Wade-Giles format (Tsingtao) rather than the modern-day pinyin (Qingdao).<\/p>\n

\"Bag<\/a>

Bag o’ beer.<\/p><\/div>\n

While you can find Tsingtao all over the country and all across the world, you’ll have to head to Qingdao to enjoy a draft in a plastic bag. The city also hosts an International Beer Festival every August, which is a beer-soaked good time. Check it out in this short video:<\/p>\n