Chinese beer: an overview of popular brands. Brewing companies in China

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

So, Chinese beer. Even the phrase itself sounds strange. It seems that such a rapidly developing Asian country simply cannot produce a low-alcohol drink for Europeans. But this opinion is misleading.

Chinese beer really exists, moreover, this drink is very popular in its homeland. It jumped even the famous national vodka "Matoj" in the popularity ratings. And if you remember that the population of China is about 1.4 billion inhabitants, then it is not at all surprising that it is in this country that they drink the most foamy drink.

But China's brewing companies don't just profit from high consumption. The quality of the drink is really high. Since the specialists of the companies were not too lazy and very carefully studied the work of the world's leading breweries, corrected it for their market and received an original and unbroken product.

A littlestories

Of course, if you start to delve into history, then some facts will emerge, for example, that beer for the Middle Kingdom is not such a new drink. Based on archaeological excavations, it turns out that foamy alcohol was brewed here long before our era. It turns out that Chinese beer is a fairly ancient drink that was drunk as early as the seventh millennium BC.

But this information does not match the official version. After all, everyone has long been accustomed to consider Mesopotamia the birthplace of beer. The first foamy drink appeared among the Sumerians. But do not delve into such ancient events. The main thing that we managed to find out is that Chinese beer is a rather ancient drink (however, like many other things). Of course, the foamy alcohol that was produced before our era has practically nothing to do with lager, ale, porter or stout. These are the drinks that came to China relatively recently.

Market expansion

Despite the fact that Chinese brewers already have the largest global market at their disposal, they are increasingly looking to other countries. The export of foamy drink from the Celestial Empire is increasing every year. It is unlikely that anyone will be surprised if, in a few years, Chinese beer ceases to be considered exotic, and bottles with this drink will be on the shelves of all grocery supermarkets.

Of course, it is worth exploring the most popular brands of Chinese foam right now, but more on that later.

Drink Features

That beer thatrepresents the current generation, appeared in China only in the 19th century. Its production was carried out exclusively by foreigners, immigrants from Russia, Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany. Gradually, over time, the breweries began to become the property of local businessmen.

That's when the drink began to acquire distinctive national features:

1. Chinese beer has a low alcohol content. None of the manufacturers make hard liquor. Most often, the strongest beer has 4 degrees. But in the bulk of foamy drinks, the fortress does not exceed 2-3 degrees. All experts from Europe unanimously decided that they drink such a drink as lemonade. To get drunk from him, you need to try very hard. It is worth noting that the Asian peoples are genetically based on rapid intoxication and a predisposition to alcoholism. So for them, "low degree" is not only acceptable, but even recommended.
2. Chinese alcohol has a specific sweet taste. This is easy to explain, because along with the classic ingredients, rice m alt is added to Chinese beer. And some beers include sorghum, bitter melon and seaweed.
3. Chinese beer doesn't foam well. Cap settling occurs after a maximum of 15 seconds. Again, rice m alt and other additional ingredients are to blame.
4. It is not always possible to find reliable information on the label. For some reason, the Chinese allow themselves to interpret the main parameters in their own way. So, let's say the density of beer can be much lower than stated onlabel.

Can it be compared

Chinese beer is very popular in their homeland. Consumption is more than 52 billion liters per year. And this, for a moment, is 25% of the world volume. But, as mentioned above, this does not prevent the best companies from conquering the international market. This beer sells best in Asian countries.

Of course, for the taste of our or European consumer, accustomed to lager or stout, Chinese beer will be at least specific. But these drinks, in fact, cannot be compared. In any case, according to the classic characteristics. But if you accept a foamy drink from the Middle Kingdom as a separate type of alcohol and do not demand a bright aroma rich in m alt from it, then it is likely that this alcohol will be to your liking.

Popular brands

Chinese beer Tsingtao has been a leader for a long time. Now his level in the ranking has dropped a little. It began to be produced back in 1903 in the city of Qingdao. There are a lot of positions in the assortment of the company, as the manufacturer tries to cover the largest circle of consumers. The line starts with a soft drink and ends with a stout. "Qingdao" in China differs from other types of characteristic sourness and a slight aroma of roasted m alt.

Chinese beer "Harbin" (Harbin) more often than other brands is exported. Its production was opened back in 1900, but until the mid-50s, the brewery passed from hand to hand - from Poles to Czechs, from Czechs to Japanese andvice versa. The company will not find a place in the ratings even now. Experts consider some varieties to be completely tasteless. But those positions that have a higher strength will leave a trace of a floral aftertaste and soft aroma for a long time.

How to drink Chinese beer

Foamy Chinese drink goes well with local cuisine. Spicy dishes are especially suitable. But our traditional beer snacks in the form of croutons, chicken wings, croutons, chips, squid rings and various sausages are better to hide away altogether.

The Chinese also cool their drink well before serving - so that it is almost ice cold. But, unlike us, they serve beer in small glasses (150 ml).