A Microbrewery in the Heart of Beijing Guomao’s CBD - Beersmith Gastropub (Hotel Jen Beijing)
When I visited Beijing last month in the summer, I stayed at the newly-built Hotel Jen Beijing which is a 5-star property located in the heart of Beijing's Guomao Central Business District (CBD). If you are thinking about getting from Singapore to Beijing, I highly recommend the SQ802 flight (check out my experience in Business Class HERE!) which will get you there by 2:40PM. One of the things that truly impressed me during my stay was the existence of a microbrewery within the hotel - these beers are then served in the Beersmith Gastropub ((鲜啤吧) which is connected to the main lobby of the Hotel Jen Beijing.
Beersmith Gastropub
Hotel Jen Beijing
The Beersmith Gastropub (鲜啤吧) offers up to 16 specialty as well as seasonal beers and ales daily (I'm not at all a beer drinker) but there was a pretty memorable pineapple-flavoured beer that was summer-inspired when I visited. The restaurant itself offers different seating configurations - diners may choose to sit at the bar area and watch as their beer gets poured masterfully into a glass or in the longer tables (which are suitable for bigger groups).
Beersmith Gastropub
Hotel Jen Beijing
Diners looking to try as many beers as possible may opt for one of the tasting paddles that the gastropub serves up - you can opt for a full pint (even though different beers are served in different glasses that have different capacities) if you find a flavour that you like.
Beersmith Gastropub
Hotel Jen Beijing
While beers are definitely the most recommended drinks here in Beersmith Gastropub (鲜啤吧), diners may also pick from a selection of wines (by the bottle or by the glass) as well as cocktails. I tried a handful of cocktails during dinner but did not find them to be as good as the beers so perhaps it is better to stick with what most people are here for! The brewmaster, Tom Ashton, is previously from New Zealand and he has a number of creations up his sleeves - we hear there is even a mooncake-flavoured one that will be made available soon!
If you are craving for something healthy (especially after a hard workout at Trainyard), Beersmith Gastropub (鲜啤吧) actually serves up delicious bowls that are filled with fresh vegetables, deliciously-flavoured proteins and superfood - that grilled salmon fillet is a dream and I am definitely going back for more the next time i am in Beijing!
Beersmith Gastropub
Hotel Jen Beijing
Personally, the pub grubs are the dishes that shine the most brightly for me - The Rocket Burger with Bacon and Portobello (RMB 98) which was served with a generous side of golden fries is extremely delicious!
Other notable dishes include the Chicken Popcorn (RMB 38) and the "Porter" Beef Marinated Black Pork Ribs, Mashed Potatoes and Corn on Cob (RMB 128).
Beersmith Gastropub
Hotel Jen Beijing
While I can't say for certain whether the Beersmith Gastropub (鲜啤吧) is the CBD's best place to grab a pint, it is definitely amongst some of the most impressive pubs that I have been to. Located on street level and in the same building as the Hotel Jen Beijing, the restaurant is bustling with diners even on a weekday evening (something that is not common amongst 5-star hotels). The modern gastropub opens from 11:00AM to 2:00AM daily and it features a wide selection of beers and food (both healthy and not so healthy) - drop by this spot the next time you are in need of a drink in Beijing's Guomao CBD!
Find out more about Beersmith Gastropub (鲜啤吧): https://www.hoteljen.com/beijing/centraldistrict/taste/bars/beersmith-gastropub/
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