Quick answer
Beijing is China's craft beer capital, with 12+ outstanding brewpubs and taprooms spread across historic hutong neighborhoods and the buzzing Sanlitun district. Pints cost ¥35–100 (~$5–$14 USD), making it exceptional value. Great Leap Brewing is the undisputed pioneer — start there.
- Best overall
- Great Leap Brewing
- Best budget
- Panda Brew (¥35–65)
- Best food
- Slow Boat Brewery
- Last verified
- 2026-03
Top verdicts
- Great Leap Brewing: The OG that started it all — Sichuan peppercorn honey ale in a 110-year-old courtyard.
- Jing-A Brewing: Beijing's most innovative brewery, with international collabs and the best rotating taps.
- Slow Boat Brewery: Award-winning beers + genuinely good food. The best all-rounder.
Beijing's craft beer scene offers pints for ¥35–100 RMB (~$5–$14 USD), with Great Leap Brewing being a top recommendation for its pioneering status. This guide highlights the best spots, particularly during the spring and autumn months for optimal hutong exploration.
Beijing is China's craft beer capital, with 12+ outstanding brewpubs and taprooms spread across historic hutong neighborhoods and the buzzing Sanlitun district.
A decade ago, your beer options in Beijing were Tsingtao and Yanjing. Today, the city has one of Asia's most exciting craft beer scenes — hutong courtyard breweries using Sichuan peppercorn and local honey, polished taprooms with international collaboration brews, and dive bars with craft taps tucked down narrow alleyways.
We combed through Reddit threads on r/beijing, r/beer, r/CraftBeer, r/China, and beer industry guides to find where actual expats, locals, and craft beer pilgrims actually drink in Beijing. These are the 12 places that come up again and again.
Craft Beer Map — Beijing
How we built this list
We analyzed 80+ Reddit posts and 300+ comments across r/beijing, r/beer, r/CraftBeer, r/China, and r/travelchina — spanning 2020 to 2026. Breweries were cross-referenced with Asian Beer Network, The Beer Travel Guide, NY Magazine, and TripAdvisor rankings. We weighted responses from Beijing-based expats and regular visitors more heavily than tourist one-offs.
1Great Leap Brewing (大跃啤酒)
Beijing Pioneer (est. 2010)Quick comparison
- Best for
- The OG hutong brewery experience — Beijing's craft beer story starts here
- Strengths
- 4.2★ from 143 Google reviews · World Beer Cup medalist · Multiple locations across Beijing
- Limitations
- Some feel the original magic has faded as they've expanded; newer spots may have more adventurous taps
- What to order
- The Honey Ma Gold is mandatory — brewed with Sichuan peppercorn and local honey, it's the beer that put Beijing craft beer on the map. Also try seasonal rotations with Chinese ingredients like osmanthus, jasmine tea, and local fruits.
🕐 Hours
2Jing-A Brewing Co. (京A)
Experimental BreweryQuick comparison
- Best for
- Beer geeks who want the most cutting-edge brews in Beijing
- Strengths
- 4.4★ from 53 Google reviews · International brewery collaborations · Excellent food menu
- Limitations
- Chaoyang location less charming than hutong spots; prices slightly higher
- What to order
- Worker's Pale Ale is the approachable classic. Dongbei Hazy DIPA (8% ABV) is a monster. Lemon Iced Tea Ale (3.9% ABV) is perfect for summers. Ask what's new — they rotate aggressively.
🕐 Hours
3Slow Boat Brewery (悠航啤酒)
Award-Winning BreweryQuick comparison
- Best for
- Best all-around brewery experience — great beer AND great food under one roof
- Strengths
- 4.7★ from 28 Google reviews · Award-winning beers · Best food menu of any Beijing brewery
- Limitations
- Sanlitun location gets very crowded on weekends; less 'local' feel than hutong spots
- What to order
- The Monkey's Fist IPA is their flagship — a must-try. Their burgers are some of the best in Beijing. Try their seasonal stouts for something different.
🕐 Hours
4NBeer Pub (牛啤堂)
Multi-Tap HavenQuick comparison
- Best for
- Sampling the widest variety of Chinese and international craft beer in one sitting
- Strengths
- 4.6★ from 17 Google reviews · Enormous rotating tap list · Deep knowledge of Chinese craft beer
- Limitations
- Can feel overwhelming for casual drinkers; Xicheng location less central
- What to order
- Do a flight. Ask the staff — they're genuinely knowledgeable about the Chinese craft beer scene. House stouts are consistently excellent.
🕐 Hours
5Arrow Factory Brewing (箭厂啤酒)
Hutong BrewpubQuick comparison
- Best for
- The most atmospheric, authentically Beijing craft beer experience
- Strengths
- 5.0★ · Beautiful hutong courtyard · Intimate atmosphere
- Limitations
- Small space fills up fast; limited food; fewer taps than larger breweries
- What to order
- Pale ales and session IPAs are reliably excellent. In warmer months, the outdoor courtyard seating is magical.
🕐 Hours
6Peiping Machine Brewing (北平机器)
Hutong Industrial ChicQuick comparison
- Best for
- Adventurous drinkers who want bold, experimental Chinese craft beer in a cool hutong setting
- Strengths
- 5.0★ from 11 Google reviews · Unique industrial-hutong aesthetic · Adventurous brewing style
- Limitations
- Can be hard to find in the hutong maze; limited seating
- What to order
- Try whatever IPA or pale ale they have on rotation. They lean experimental with unusual ingredients.
🕐 Hours
7Wild Kite Brewing (野风筝)
31-Tap Mega BarQuick comparison
- Best for
- Maximum variety — 31 taps of house brews plus imported craft from Australia and beyond
- Strengths
- 31 beer taps · Dedicated on-site brewing room · Excellent imported beer selection
- Limitations
- Newer and less established; higher price point; limited online reviews
- What to order
- The Bloody 'Ell Blood Orange IPA (7%+ ABV) and Glacier Explorer (7% ABV) are standouts. With 31 taps, do a flight mixing house brews and imports.
🕐 Hours
8Beersmith Gastropub (鲜啤吧)
Upscale GastropubQuick comparison
- Best for
- A refined craft beer experience with excellent food in a comfortable hotel setting
- Strengths
- 4.3★ from 43 Google reviews · Excellent food-beer pairings · Comfortable upscale atmosphere
- Limitations
- Hotel pricing is higher; less 'authentic' hutong vibe
- What to order
- Pair their rotating craft beers with the elevated pub food menu. Perfect for a refined evening.
🕐 Hours
9Panda Brew (熊猫精酿)
Chinese Craft ChainQuick comparison
- Best for
- Budget craft beer — the most affordable quality brews in Beijing
- Strengths
- Most affordable craft beer prices · Multiple convenient locations · Accessible for newcomers
- Limitations
- 3.6★ suggests inconsistency; less exciting than boutique brewers; chain feel
- What to order
- Their honey wheat ale is the crowd-pleaser. Good starting point for Chinese craft beer newcomers.
🕐 Hours
10The Wild Goose Brewing (野鹅微醺)
Rising NewcomerQuick comparison
- Best for
- Discovering the next generation of Beijing craft brewers
- Strengths
- Fresh, well-made beers · Growing reputation · Convenient Sanlitun location
- Limitations
- Less established; limited online presence and reviews
- What to order
- Try their pale ales and lagers — Wild Goose focuses on clean execution over wild experimentation.
🕐 Hours
11Locust Brewing (蝗虫精酿)
Hutong MicroQuick comparison
- Best for
- Beer adventurers looking for small-batch, off-the-beaten-path brews
- Strengths
- Small-batch creativity · Hutong authenticity · Part of the Andingmen craft beer cluster
- Limitations
- Very small; may have limited hours; hard to find
- What to order
- Drink whatever's freshest. Small-batch operations are where you'll find Beijing's most experimental beers.
🕐 Hours
12El Nido
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Late-night hutong drinking with a mix of expats, locals, and travelers
- Strengths
- Incredible hutong atmosphere · Budget-friendly · Perfect late-night stop · Strong community vibe
- Limitations
- Tiny space; more of a bar than a brewery; limited beer selection
- What to order
- El Nido stocks rotating Chinese craft beers on tap alongside cocktails. Grab whatever's cold and enjoy the hutong night.
🕐 Hours
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beijing good for craft beer?
Yes — Beijing is widely considered China's craft beer capital. The scene took off around 2010–2012 with pioneers like Great Leap Brewing and Slow Boat, and has since grown to include dozens of brewpubs, taprooms, and beer bars. Expect everything from world-class IPAs to experimental brews using local ingredients like Sichuan peppercorn, tea, and honey.
How much does craft beer cost in Beijing?
Craft beer in Beijing typically costs ¥35–80 RMB per pint (~$5–$11 USD). Local brews tend to be cheaper (¥35–55), while imports can run ¥70–100+. Happy hour deals can drop prices to ¥25–35. Compared to Western cities, Beijing is excellent value — a full night of quality craft beer costs what two pints cost in London.
Where is the best area for craft beer in Beijing?
The Dongcheng hutong area (around Gulou/Drum Tower, Fangjia Hutong, and Andingmen) is the heart of the scene. Sanlitun in Chaoyang is the other major hub. For a bar crawl, start in the hutongs and work your way to Sanlitun.
What beers should I try in Beijing?
Must-tries: Great Leap's Honey Ma Gold (Sichuan peppercorn + honey), Jing-A's Worker's Pale Ale, Slow Boat's Monkey's Fist IPA, and NBeer's house stouts. For something uniquely Chinese, look for beers with tea, osmanthus, or baijiu barrel-aging.
What are the best craft beer bars for tourists?
Start with the 'Big Three': Great Leap Brewing, Jing-A Brewing Co., and Slow Boat Brewery. All have English menus and English-speaking staff. For a more local experience, try NBeer Pub, Arrow Factory, or El Nido.
When is the best time to visit Beijing breweries?
Most brewpubs open 11 AM–5 PM and stay open until midnight or 1 AM. Weekday evenings (Wed–Thu) are the sweet spot. Spring (Apr–May) and autumn (Sep–Oct) are the best seasons for hutong bar crawls.
Can I do a craft beer bar crawl in Beijing?
Absolutely. Start at Great Leap in Dongcheng, walk to Arrow Factory and Peiping Machine in nearby hutongs, then taxi to Sanlitun for Slow Boat and Jing-A. Hutong stops are 5–15 minutes apart on foot. Total for 8–10 beers across 4–5 bars: ¥300–500 (~$40–$70 USD).
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