Briefly about Chinese beer
啤酒 or pi jiao is a Chinese analogue of beer with a 9-year history.
In ancient China, the drink was a mash, which was prepared on the basis of honey, hawthorn, rice and grapes. It was not customary to overtake it, but it was used most often during religious ceremonies.
By the XNUMXth century, foreign-made foamy drinks familiar to us appeared in the Celestial Empire. Soon, local brewers began to produce.
Distinctive features of Chinese beer:
Low alcohol content (no more than 3-4%).
Sweetish herbal character from rice malt.
Slight foaminess.
The aroma may be reminiscent of lemonade.
Since 2015, a tradition has emerged in China to hold beer festivals every year, which are visited by tourists from all countries. They are arranged in Beijing, Shanghai, Qingdao and other cities.
How to drink Chinese beer?
Before drinking, it is recommended to cool the beer and serve it in a small volume (at home, 150 ml is accepted). It will pair well with spicy dishes.
25% of all beer in the world is drunk by the Chinese
Surprisingly, the beer is more popular than the local Maotai vodka.
Tsingtao
The brewery appeared in 1903 in Qingdao thanks to the joint efforts of British and German businessmen. She was among the first to start beer production in China and was the first to introduce European technologies. Today, more than 100 years later, its products are recognized as one of the best in the country. She was given 15% of the domestic beer market. The brand was included in the list of the 500 best in the world.
The drink has a transparent straw color, fresh and slightly bitter taste. Classic beers, draft beers and stouts are produced.
Snow
Relatively young, produced since 1993, but in a few years it has become one of the best-selling brands. It was invented in Shenyang. It occupies 5% of the global and 21% of the local market. A year after the appearance, the beer won the status of a national brand. Now it is produced at 80 factories.
It got its name due to the lush snow foam cap and floral aroma. Sweet malt and rice hints are felt on the palate. Beer is characterized by frostiness and tingling of the tongue when consumed.
Yanjing
Appeared in 1980 in Beijing, after which it is named: Yanjing is the old name of the capital. The main competitor of Tsingtao. The purest water for cooking is taken from springs in the mountains of Yanshan. Wheat beer of the enterprise is popular in Europe, America, Belgium, USA and other countries.
Taste properties are quite specific. The composition includes rice and sorghum, a herbaceous cereal plant. Sometimes bitter melon, algae and other ingredients that are unusual for a European are added during cooking. Hop bitterness is almost non-existent.
Harbin
The appearance of one of the oldest breweries in the country dates back to 1900. It is located in Harbin city. At present, the products are sold all over the country, except for Tibet. It is also exported to more than 30 countries, such as the UK, USA, Russia, Japan, etc. The brewery owns the most exported light beer among Chinese brands. In its native country, the company ranks 4th in terms of sales.
Drink experiences vary. For some, it is the most tasteless in the world, while others like its delicate aroma and floral notes in the aftertaste. It contains a special kind of rice. The most popular variety is Wheat King.
Lucky Buddha
The brewery was founded in 1985 in the city of Hangzhou, on the shores of the lake of the same name, and initially was not a large regional enterprise. Today it is among the ten most powerful Chinese beer producers. Lake water is used in production. She is famous throughout China as crystal clear, she was even recognized as a national treasure. For the most part, the company is focused on issuing the “Cheerday” brand. In addition, she owns a license to issue brands of foreign companies.
The beer is distinguished by its design: a laughing Buddha is engraved on the bottle. It symbolizes happiness, enlightenment and long life. In the refreshing and rich taste of the lager, citrus and hop notes are felt.
Relevance: 30.11.2020
Tags: Beer, Cider, Ale, Beer brands