As anyone who has ever been will attest, Beertopia is fricking beerific. Started in 2012 in Sheung Wan’s tiny Western Market premises, it remains Hong Kong’s first and only craft beer festival, this year expecting at least 13,000 attendees and more than 500 craft beers from Hong Kong and beyond at the Central Harbourfront event space on Nov. 18 & 19. But beside the lovingly brewed beers and a load of fun ways to enjoy them – think Flip Cup, Beer Pong, and Giant Beer Pong – there’s a whole lot else to get excited about at Beertopia 2016. Namely:
The View
For the second year running, Beertopia will take place at the Central Harbourfront, Hong Kong’s hottest outdoor events location. Sitting in the shadow of the IFC right next to Central Ferry Pier #10, it provides st-unning views of the “Dark Side” when the lights get low. There’s simply nothing better to gaze upon while cradling a quality brew (cat videos not included).
The Craft Beer Cocktails
Wut, indeed. For the first time ever in Beertopia’s solidly sudsy five year history, the drinks menu will be shaken and stirred with the addition of craft beer cocktails courtesy of arguably HK’s hippest mixologist masters, The Woods. Collaborating with local brewers Young Master Ales to blend craft beer with artisanal spirits, The Woods will be giving us a sneak preview of their soon-to-be-launched concept bar KWOON at the festival.
Three beertails have been specially created – Go-Go-Gose, (vodka-based with sour Cha Chaan Teng Gose, fresh guava flavours and subtle notes of rose); Rye So Serious, (bourbon-based with Rye on Wood and hints of orange peel and citrus); and Add Oil Coffee Stout (featuring a seasonal stout from Young Master Ales and other “mystery” ingredients – hopefully not actual oil). They’ll also have a canning machine onsite featuring exclusive Beertopia designed cans, because canned cocktails are a big thing now, apparently.
The Shisha Garden
Everyone knows smoking is bad for you, but shisha tastes so good and looks so baller we tend to chalk it up as an occasional indulgence, similar to a deep fried mooncake with chocolate sauce. You eat those too, right? We’re therefore delighted to hear that we can sit back and suck on a pipe sultan-style thanks to a brand new 2,000sq-ft outdoor Shisa Garden that will be gracing this year’s event, courtesy of Cloud 93. See you there, if you can spot us amid the plumes of fruity fog.
OMG, The Food, Dude!
Alongside returning favorites such as Brickhouse Mexican, US-style food truck goodies from Boomshack, and French faire courtesy of Monsieur CHATTÉ, this year’s Beertopia is to welcome so many new food stalls even teetotallers will be begging to attend. We’re particularly looking forward to Black Truffle and Cheese Fries from Chips Republic, 24-Hour Slow Cooked Smoked Beef Brisket from Bread & Beast, the German Mixed Sausage Platter from Beerliner, and the Chilled Sustainable Salmon Quinoa Bowl from NOSH – just in case we feel the need to conserve a few calories. Apparently beer isn’t super slimming.
The Local Musical Talent
As if all the above wasn’t entertaining enough, Beertopia will once again be laying on a whole host of musical mayhem thanks to the local talent of our fair city. There’ll be numerous sets from the spinners of HK DJ school Sol Passion Music, as well as toe-tappin’ folk-rock faves from Ma and The Young Bucks, acoustic funk and flamenco from the inspirationally-named Acoufunkture, covers of the moment from Jimmy2Times, and epic rock classics from The Wanch residents, Don’t Panic.
Oh, and don’t forget about the… BEER!
Get your tickets here.
Coconuts Hong Kong is media partners with Beertopia 2016.
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