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Posts: 13

Governor

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Q: Why is Chinese beer so bad?

Almost no beer over 3% alcohol.

All taste like water.

Snow, Harbin, Qingdao, Yanjing...all the same.

Why don't they make stronger, tastier beer? They all drink beer, so why not become better at making beer?

 

Is not better to drink foreign beer once a week than Chinese beer everyday?

11 years 44 weeks ago in  Food  - China

 
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Posts: 16

Governor

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I almost never buy Chinese beer, not unless I'm out with friends and don't really have much of a choice.

 

I'd prefer putting extra cash on a Belgian beer once or twice a week. Also, it saves me numerous bathroom trips (and potential weight gain - those Chinese beers may taste like water but they'll make you fat)!

MissA:

Belgian beer! Now you've made me thirsty...

11 years 44 weeks ago
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NotGuilty:

Vive la Belgique, de la bière pour tous, s'il vous plaît :)))))
The fact is that American beer sucks as well.
(The recent beer revolution in the US made the situation a tiny bit better)
The best Chinese food is in China.
The best beer is in Europe.
1) Belgium
2) Germany
3) Czech R. & UK  ex-aequo. 

11 years 43 weeks ago
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11 years 44 weeks ago
 
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probably because it costs. Quality costs, and Chinese are eager to make quick money, not giving a shit about what the result. Cha bu duo, then is ok.

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11 years 44 weeks ago
 
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Emperor

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I think they make it weak since they like to drink it in such volume. When everyone around a crowded table feel the need to gan bei everyone else around the table (and remember, you must drink the whole cup after you gan bei someone), the amount of beer expected to be consumed in a night out can be extraordinary. They compensate for this by having very weak beer.

 

 

 

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11 years 44 weeks ago
 
Posts: 960

Shifu

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Maybe because of the fact that I like a cold beer for the refreshment and social aspect rather than to drink for the goal of getting wasted I happen to enjoy the local beer (if cold). It is untrue though what the OP said about no beer over 3%. While it is not usually over 4% it is generally in the high 3's compared to Aussie beer which is in the high 4's. Considering the price difference the local stuff suits me fine.  

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11 years 44 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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Probably  because you haven't been drinking it for too long or your just not used to it. If your use to a particular beer then you developed a taste for it. If drinking chinese beer is something new to you, you probably haven't developed a taste for it so you think it is horrible now but maybe later you will think it is actually pretty good!

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11 years 44 weeks ago
 
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You can find Heiniken almost everyone in China.  It may be brewed locally under license but it tastes fine and is 4.7%.  The good Tsing Tao (in the big bottle) is 4.3% and will do in a pinch....even the extra dry Snow beer is 4.3%...you just have to search for it.

I only drink the beer flavored water when I have no choice. 

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11 years 44 weeks ago
 
Posts: 458

Shifu

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Xinjiang Black is really rather good. Don't know how available it is outside of the province though.

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11 years 44 weeks ago
 
Posts: 887

Shifu

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The brown Tsingtao aint bad..

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11 years 44 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1718

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Because its not their traditional alcohol.  Its foreign.  Chinese wine is piss as well.  But with the same logic,  would you expect American Bai jiu to be any good?  

MissA:

I don't expect Chinese baijiu to be any good....

11 years 44 weeks ago
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xunliang:

haha, good point!   But you know what I mean.   I'm sure if there was American Baijiu, the Chinese would the ripping it to shreds on their  eamericacities.com

11 years 44 weeks ago
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MissA:

Yep, they most certainly would

11 years 44 weeks ago
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11 years 44 weeks ago
 
Posts: 9192

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I thought it was just another bad copy. or after they make it, they always add too much water.

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11 years 44 weeks ago
 
Posts: 250

Governor

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Though I don't like Chinese beers much, I have to drink it with my colleagues. Probably it has to do with the way of drinking that chinese people don't care much about the taste. While drinking beer, they always have heavily spiced food and when you consume beers in between those foods, taste really doesn't matter. 

If I asked which beer do i prefer during the dinner, i go for maotai. But after every heavy consumption of Chinese beer, I die for better beer to enjoy myself. Then I run to Carrefour and get German Hefewisen. I prepare plain food at home and enjoy the real taste of chill beer.

Though it has less alcohol I found the strange effect of Chinese beer. May be because of rapid consumption of Chinese beers during gan bei. The effect of foreing beers (i prefer hefewisen or pills as long as I can get them) are rather smooth but Chinese beers gives stroke and confusion whether I am under the effect of alcohol or not.

I am dying to drink in my way i.e. vodka with soda water (carbonated water), slice of lemon added on it and few ice cubes. Drink as you like after the first toast rather than gan bei. Hard to find a place for that (No where I could find carbonated water in my city).

 

Interestingly, chinese think i am a strong man and heavy drinker because they consider vodka stronger than baiju.

 

 

 

 

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11 years 44 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1142

Shifu

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Mostly beer was a foreign product here, Harbin was founded by a Russian Jew, and Tsingdao was German. With little domestic beer tradition, it isn't surprising it's bad. American main stream beer is also really awful...we have good micro-brew and craft beers, but miller is certainly as bad as anything else.

rasklnik:

3 down votes? For facts?

11 years 44 weeks ago
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11 years 44 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1091

Shifu

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they have no Germans 

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11 years 44 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1391

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My first glass of alcohol was a Qingdao, so I've always felt that I've started at the bottom of the ladder.

Yanjing in cans is the most acceptable beer here in my opinion, Harbin being the second.

But Qingdao... They're one drop of water away from being mineral water...

As mentioned above, it has to be because beer isn't a traditional alcohol in China, much like wine, vodka and whiskey (ever tried JieKe Bojue?).

 

And, no offense to the ones present here, but American beer isn't any better.

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11 years 44 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1153

Shifu

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its the water

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11 years 44 weeks ago
 
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