CapturedMoments's journal

By CapturedMoments

Beer!

Let's see...

Carlsberg
Heineken
Budweiser
Bacardi Breezer
1664
Corona
TsingTao
Tiger
Paulaner
Bitburger
Stella Artois
Hoegaarden
Tooheys
Duvel
Leffe
Newcastle Brown Ale
Guinness
and half a dozen more I don't recognize.

Beer is now the most popular drink in China having overtaken Baijiu (a very potent Chinese spirit) as the tipple of choice in the Middle Kingdom. Imported beers, wines and spirits (some also made under licence here) are de rigeur among the fu er dai (2nd generation rich - basically the 20-something year old kids of those Chinese who made money during the past decade or so), the fashionistas, the yuppies, business people, wannabes and, of course, most expats.

Prices aren't particularly cheap but it does depend on the type of bar. At the lower end a bottle of Bud ranges from £1.50 to about £4. European brands are more expensive. A bottle of Guinness, for example would set you back £3 up to £6 or more. Most people though buy by the half dozen as it usually works out a little cheaper.

Wines and spirits can be really quite expensive as the import duty on them is very high (and in some bars and nightclubs there's always the chance that what's on the label isn't actually what's in the bottle!). French red wine and Scottish whisky are very popular choices for those who want to show off their wealth and try to appear more sophisticated.

The rather impressive range on display here is in An Ji Bai bar in Nanchang, a favourite of the above mentioned Fu Er Dai.

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