Tsingtao

Due to the amount of time Paul has spent in China over the past 12 months and especially in January 2006 it is only fitting that this month’s “Beer of the Month” be a salute to China’s Tsingtao (pronounced ‘Ching-Dow’).

Tsingtao is brewed in Qingdao (pr. Ching-Dow) with water from the mountain streams of the Laoshan area.  Water quality can be a real problem for Chinese brewers and the water from Laoshan is some of the purest available in the country.  Tsingtao brewery was originally set up by the Germans and is now the highest selling brewer of the 600 breweries throughout China.

Tsingtao Beer is in the Pilsner style with a strong malty flavour and well-hopped character.  The original recipe for the beer was derived from a German brewery and the beer is not unlike some of the European Pilsners.  It is certainly a very gaseous beer and something one needs to take into consideration when the call of “Cum-pai” or cheers is thrown your way from all directions around the business dinner table.

It is a beer best drunk in the same manner as the Chinese drink their red wine ….. chilled!  Surprisingly, it goes well with Chinese food.

Cum-pai
Paul.