Grape Wine Journey

When will I order a glass of beer in a restaurant?  Well, when it is hot and humid, or if I am not so sure about the wine list.  This happened over the weekend, in a Sichuan restaurant tugged away in the old town of Chengdu.

We picked Tsing Tao from the list, expecting the beer to come in a glass bottle.  We were pleasantly surprised when the waitress came with a large can wrapped in paper.  The label said “Tsing Tao Original Beer”; it was unfiltered with deep yellow colour.  The aroma was very unique.  The first sip … we loved it!  It had a sweet after taste, strong floral aroma, very enjoyable with the hot and spicy cuisine.

We chatted with the Manager, wanting to know more about the draft beer.  He told us the beer needs to be stored at 5C and must be consumed within a week after production.  It cost RMB 88 at the restaurant.  With all the special conditions required for storage, we knew it would be difficult to bring a bottle back.  So we ended taking the empty can home as a souvenir.

Next trip … probably Tsing Tao !