T’was said, back in the day, that civilisation in Nanjing was a plate of salted duck, the evening newspaper and a glass of wine, beside the Qinhuai River.
Today, while we will forgo the duck, that could be your mobile phone for the evening news and a glass of craft beer, beside the Qinhuai River.
At Weaver Brewing. Or 16 glasses of craft beer to be precise. But we’ll get to them later…
Bailu Zhou Park in Nanjing, easily accessible at just a few minutes walk from Exit 3 of Wuding Men Station on Metro Line 3, is tranquility in itself. While that may be true on a weekday afternoon especially, it’s also hardly bustling well in to the evening.
Then there’s the setting, with the Qinhuai River as centrepiece. Tea houses and restaurants gradually reveal themselves amid the greenery that descends from the Nanjing City Wall. It’s a setting magnificent for both its beauty and its place in history.
Making it the perfect spot for an afternoon pint.
Alert readers of The Nanjinger will have noticed the craft beer revolution taking place in our City, and across much of China. From fully-fledged brew houses, with their minimalist but undoubtedly-expensive industrial decor, to pop-up stalls in malls and alleyways with no such budget, there is much to celebrate for the craft beer connoisseur.
However, all is not as it seems. While the issue of quantity has undoubtedly been solved, that of quality remains elusive. But craft beer is a subjective business at best. Hence, far be it for this publication to proclaim any winners and losers. But who are kidding? Some of them taste like the washing-up water they look like.
Just as well we came to Weaver, where one should be forewarned and not distracted by the setting. The alcohol content in their 16 brews (some also available in cans) varies immensely, from 2.8 percent for their Strawberry Cider (¥36; small/¥49; large) to 8.9 percent for the Triple Hazy IPA (¥39; small/¥52; large). Signage, partly in English, is a big help. There are happily also no snacks to divert one from the job at hand.
While Weaver touts itself as sensibly opening every day at 16:00, early birds may find it closed upon arrival. Attracting the attention of the hotel’s staff and nodding in the direction of the bar will be enough for them to start weaving their magic.
Weaver is located on Dongguantou Lu as part of the Yihe Yinyi Water Street Hotel 颐和隐逸水街酒店太傅楼内. Tel 17625946014.