Great Leap Brewing

This well-hidden brewery in the hutongs of Beijing offers rotating taps for the intrepid beer enthusiast. Offering an assortment of brews credited with launching the brewery movement in the capital, and soon to expand production and distribution capacity, they have become a sanctuary for expat beer lovers.

Local regulars grab growlers of pale ale or stout to go, and smiles abound. There are usually around 6 taps of tasty libations to be sampled here.

I elected to start with the IPA called Little General. Yum. Served cask temperature with a nice balance of hoppy tang and a full body, this certainly is a welcome brew for an IPA fan in China. At 6.9%, it beats all the local beer handily for potency. It goes without saying. This is the place for beer in Beijing.

Hours are now 3pm-midnight (depending on the level of business) Tuesday through Sunday. Well worth your effort if you are a beer fan in China's capital.