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China
 scrapes in
 decent
 good
 excellent
 sublime
Beijing Yanjing, Extra Yanjing Beer (China) 
This beer is the "official state beer of China" according to the label. It pours a medium gold colour with a thin and quickly disippating white head. The nose has sweetcorn and malt aromas, with an odd, slightly acetone note that is a bit off-putting. On the palate it is really innocuous stuff, with a sweetish, lightish, malty flavour and no rough edges. Hopping is minimal and there's a tiny bit of attenuation. Not a great beer. 5.5% ABV, 35.5cl, ?1.15, Peckhams.  |  |
Shanghai, Dragon Lager (China)
This is a pert, light, pilsner-style lager with fruity notes on the nose, and a quite a fresh character. 4.7% ABV, 35cl, 24 X ?22.75, Surf4beer. |  |
Tsingtao, Beer (China)
This is an interesting beer brewed from rice and barley at the Tsingtao Brewery, founded in 1903 (pronounced "Ching-dow"). It has a bright yellowish colour and thin white head. The nose is quite aromatic, with plenty of hops and a distinctive starchy note. On the palate it is very smooth and has a creamy body, with good, light, bright hop character and a citrussy, clean finish with decent acidity and bitterness. I've seen this written off as "bland", but I thought it had a decent bit of character. Scrapes three stars. 5.0% ABV, 33cl, 24 X ?26.50, Surf4beer, quite widely available. |  |
Zhu Jiang, Zhu Jiang Beer (China)
Zhu Jiang, meaning "Pearl River" and pronounced "Joo Jung", is brewed in China from rice and barley, using local spring water, imported Czech hops and German yeast. It has a yellowy-gold colour and a modest white head, and the nose has a touch of sweetcorn and there's a definite impression of boiled rice too. There's a touch of citrus perhaps, but this is a rather dull beer aromatically. On the palate there is sweetness and a medium body, making this easy enough to drink, but certainly lacking bitterness and any really distinctive character, with a slightly metallic finish. 5.3% ABV, 33cl, ?1.09, Beersofeurope, . |  |
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