In fact, the craft beer industry in Beijing and China is quite robust, mature, and producing high-quality craft beer on par with anything I have consumed in the US. Despite that, the beer culture remains vastly different from what you can find in the States. This stems, in large part, from differences in tastes, practices, and purchasing trends.

As with most craft breweries, their beers lean heavily on the ale side of the market. They’re easier to make, and most folks patronize these establishments because they want ales instead of lagers. Even though I enjoy an excellent lager and will not hesitate to elevate a brewery simply based on its lagers, I’ve been pleased with the beer I’ve consumed at Great Leap.

The brewery she pointed to was just the brewpub for one of the local beer makers–Arrow Factory Brewing. Like with Slow Boat, I had previously heard about them through the craft beer bar in our building. The owner had pointed them out on a map and told me it was an excellent place to grab a few pints.

It sits along a quiet tree-lined side street among residential highrises on the south side of the Liangma River, just a few hundred meters west of Xindong Road. If there weren’t a big sign out front, you’d miss it. However, the facade does stand out among the drab grays and dull pinks of some of the surrounding buildings. So maybe even without the sign, it would at least draw your attention.

It is as inevitable as Spurs being Spursy. If you were a betting person, you’d add it to your parlay, knowing you wouldn’t regret it. I, David Shams, beer drinker, writer, lover of brewpubs, have finally put it all together to start reviewing beers I’ve had in Beijing.