Hong Kong’s biggest craft beer festival happens to be its only craft beer festival, which was sort of the point when Beertopia was founded by Jonathan So in 2012. Originally from Toronto but also a long-time resident of New York, So was surprised upon arrival in our city about what he perceived as a lack of enthusiasm amongst bar owners and consumers for variety and diversity in beer selection. The modus operandi for the event was to change that; to celebrate the tastes and finely-honed production techniques that are unique to craft beers without the requirement for attendees to be microbrew snobs to enjoy themselves. Last year’s event drew 1700 Hongkongers out to try over 90 brands of bottled brew and partake in games, music and educational programs, but this time around will be bigger, better and (presumably) drunker. Our guide to Beertopia should be enough to help you convince your friends to partake in a bit of classy day-drinking.
Founder of Beertopia Jonathan So was missing the beer festivals of his Canadian hometown when he realized he could just organize one of his own, right here in Hong Kong. The Torontonian tells Victoria Wong how he became a pioneer of the city’s craft beer movement.
New pizza joint coming to town. The Brooklyn-born Motorino (14 Shelley St., Central) is setting up shop in Hong Kong after chef Mathieu Palombino decided to expand his popular homegrown business with an overseas branch. The Neapolitan-style pizzas from Motorino were critically acclaimed, apparently, with foodies being bowled over by the airy crusts and creative toppings. The wood-burning Ferrara oven used to bake the pies is another of their hallmarks. Looking forward!
Dear Mr. Know-It-All,
As a person with gluten intolerance, I am tired of sitting out while my friends go to the bars and drink beer. I’ve heard of gluten-free brews, but the one’s I’ve tried are bland and I’m looking for a place that sells a bit of variety. Please help!
– Almost Tipsy
We take a look at some of the best locally made products by chefs, brewers, bakers, ice cream makers, coffee connoisseurs and wine producers, who create and sell them all over Hong kong.
Hongkongers love cheesy themed parties and drinking too much beer. We also love seasonal, highly-prized, artery-clogging shellfish. So what to do when Oktoberfest and hairy crab season roll into town at the same time? Why, we envision all these special offers competing in the ultimate battle of indulgence, of course.
Every October, bratwurst and beer goes head-to-head with Shanghainese crustaceans in an attempt to win the hearts and minds of beer-guzzling, claw-cracking Hongkongers. Adele Wong decided to pit them against each other in HK Magazine’s inaugural Crabtoberfest showdown.
Talk of the Town
A popular Irish brand of beer, Guinness has been traditionally enjoyed with staples of Irish pub food, such as beef pie and fish and chips. This summer, Lily & Bloom has created modern gourmet pairings of light dishes with the popular beer to provide a new combination of flavors.
Taste of Guinness Menu includes oysters Kilpatrick and beetroot carpaccio for starters, roasted pigeon and dry aged irish rib-eye for mains, and peppermint sorbet and Guinness tiramisu for desserts.
Guinness Hong Kong is launching Taste of Guinness Menu on July 1st as part of its Guinness Sessions, a series of summer season events.
Reisch is a director at Anheuser-Busch InBev (Belgium beer company whose brands Stella Artois, Leffe and Hoegaarden were used for Reisch’s Hong Kong tasting) and comes from a long line of expert brewmasters. He gives us three essential tips to a satisfying beer-pairing experience. (Read on, and you’ll discover how you can win a set of FREE beer glasses!)
If you think that beer only goes with bar snacks and fried things, fifth-generation brewmaster George F. Reisch will have your thoughts corrected right now. The man, whose job is to tour around the world each year teaching unenlightened folks how to appreciate beer with a bit of good food, was recently in Hong Kong to do just this.
Do not miss First Pour--a craft beer sampling event brought to you by Hop Leaf--this Saturday (April 14) from 4 to 7 pm! With $120, you’ll get a full spread of food, your first beer for free (the rest will be specially priced) and the first 50 get free pint glasses.
