Prost! Kempinski Hotel Leads Beijing's Oktoberfest Celebrations

Luxury Hotel Has Celebrated Festival In Beijing Since 1993 Though China's home-grown beer industry may be looking to tap overseas markets, and may gradually be moving into the premium market, one constant that has remained since China's first brewery was established in the late 19th century is the dominance of German-style light lagers in China. Since the turn of the century, when German brewers began making Tsingtao beer in Qingdao, German know-how has been instrumental in the development of the Chinese beer industry -- from its initial perception among Chinese of being "horse piss" (马尿) to the country becoming the world's largest producer and consumer of beer. However, most Chinese beers remain a pale (literally, in many cases) shade of their German ancestors, often overly carbonated and relying heavily on adjuncts like rice to keep prices down and production volume up. From October 8-24, though, fans of German lager -- the real kind, not the adapted brews sold by Tsingtao, Zhujiang, Snow and others -- can raise their glasses at Beijing's Kempinski Hotel, which is holding its annual Oktoberfest celebration. Held since 1993, the Kempinski's Oktoberfest celebration, which takes place at its Paulaner Bräuhaus, will be serving authentic Bavarian beer (brewed onsite according to the Bavarian Purity Law, which stipulates that beer contain only water, yeast, hops and barley malts) and food, while putting on a show for customers complete with Bavarian showgirls and live music. After years of complaints that Chinese breweries often use poor quality ingredients and excessive preservatives, Oktoberfest at the Paulaner Bräuhaus might be a good way to put one's mind at ease and let the beer speak for itself. This year, Oktoberfest will be officially kicked off with the tapping of first barrel of beer by Stephan Interthal, Managing Director of the Kempinski Hotel Beijing and Stefan Frank, Brewmaster at the Paulaner Bräuhaus. Though it may be the first to hold Oktoberfest celebrations in Beijing, however, the Kempinski isn't the only one. Other venues holding Oktoberfest activities over the next month include the German brewhouse DK1308, which is brewing up some interesting wheat-based dark lagers this year. Paulaner Bräuhaus at the Kempinski Hotel, Beijing 50 Liangma Bridge Road Chaoyang District, Beijing 北京市朝阳区亮马桥路50号 Phone: 010-64653388 Hours: 11:00 AM - 1:00 AM DK1308 German Restaurant (DK1308德国啤酒餐吧) 1/F Building 5, China View, Gongti Donglu Chaoyang District Beijing 北京市朝阳区工体东路中国红街5号楼底商 Phone: 010-6503-5555 Website

Prost! Kempinski Hotel Leads Beijing's Oktoberfest Celebrations

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Published September 30, 2010

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Prost! Kempinski Hotel Leads Beijing's Oktoberfest Celebrations