Tsingtao Beer Review - Classy Chinese Lager

Tsingtao is China’s second largest brewery, with about 15% of domestic market share. It was birthed in 1903 by German Settlers using their knowledge of lager brewing in Qingdao, Shandong Province. The company has seen many forms of ownership, falling into the hands of the Japanese briefly as a result of the siege in Qingdao during World War One. The company was under Japanese hold until the end of World War Two when they retreated from China, once freed, it was run as a public company by the Tsui family. This was short lived though, and as the Chinese communist party and their policies grew in popularity, the company had all its shares seized and was converted into a state-owned enterprise. This reign of nationalisation lasted all the way until the 1990’s and in 1993 they merged with three other breweries and finally became what we know it as today. Initially, Anheuser-Busch had a 27% stake in the company but sold the majority of that stake in 2009 for a substantial fee.

This brilliant beer has a ABV percentage of 4.7, so it is a beer that can be enjoyed in a casual setting and can certainly do the the job on a Friday too. It’s light and sweet flavour profile helps add to this flexibility of situational enjoyment; it has notes of sweet, light, malt and corn. This relatively soft flavour profile means it’s a perfect accompaniment to hot, spicy food which would be typical of the region.

Tsingtao Brewery located in Qingdao.

Not dissimilar to many other major beers, it’s relative blandness most likely plays to its popularity. Similar cases can be found with other major light beers from around the world like Budweiser, Heineken and Carling. Like other major intercontinental brands, it’s widely available and can be found in bottle form in most supermarkets. Here in the UK, you can find the 640ml bottles in Asda. On the topic of the UK, it’s also widely available in Wetherspoons pubs. Amazing to think that a Chinese Beer can find its way all over Britain in the current world.

Although not the most popular beer in China, that title is claimed by a beer called Snow, it is certainly the most well known Chinese beer internationally as it is the most widely available export. Although brewed in China, Tsingtao is distributed across the UK & Ireland by C&C group. They are the same company who own and produce Tennents, Scotlands favourite beer. You can read my article on Tennents using the button at the bottom of the page or by clicking here.

If you are looking for an inoffensive beer that’s outside of the general norm, then China’s own Tsingtao is a perfect match for the introverted pilsner pathfinder.

I’ve yet to actually find this beer on draft anywhere in Scotland or elsewhere but nonetheless, it is a beer I thoroughly enjoy and view it as a open door to whatever experience is on the cards for that day. Perfectly suited to casual drinking, Friday night drinking and pairing with food, it is a beer that is very unlike China, free to be what it wants.

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