BETTER late than never, here is my review of Tsingtao Beer. This one is from a convenience store in Shoreditch’s Kingsland Road in London. No, I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to get around to it either. It marks a full-circle for me. When I was gap-year travelling in China during ’06, this stuff weaned me off vodka screwdrivers. In fact, it kick-started my curiosity in beer that led to this very blog. And I haven’t tried Tsingtao Beer since leaving the Middle-Kingdom. So what will I make of it now?
It looks a lot like other lagers on the shop shelves. Keep your wits about you, or you’ll accidentally pick up a bottle of something run-of-the-mill from the Continent.
Looks a little closer and you’ll spot the name “Tsingtao” embossed on the shoulder. You’ll also see those attractive yet baffling (for Westerners) Chinese characters. Translators, do please leave your translations of these and anything from the labels in the comments at the end of this post. Another thing you might notice is just how transparent it is. Either the glass or the drink within is very clear indeed.
Down on the front-label, and we’re treated to a traditional, yet crowded roundel.
Starting on the outer border and working inwards (you have to start somewhere), the first detail you notice is “Since 1903”. Compared to European beers, that’s nothing. But Asian beers, that’s impressive.
Then there are some very welcome details. This is the genuine article; not a licensed rip-off. It was brewed and bottled by Tsingtao Brewery in Qingdao in China. Very nice Chinese sea-side town, is Qingdao. Go there if you get the chance. But you might be wandering why Tsingtao is spelled differently to Qingdao. Well it’s simple really. The city changed they way its name is spelled in the English alphabet. You say them both in much the same way.
The little logo featuring a pagoda is a good touch. Qingdao has more than it’s fair share if I remember rightly. Just guessing, but I think the red border represents the flame emblem of the city. Can anyone confirm?
Then, for some reason, they cram the ‘story’ onto the front-label in tiny text. Regardless of that, squinting reveals that the classless Communist society has produced a classy beer. It tells of how since 1903, Tsingtao has been “internationally recognised as the finest beer in China” and how their fine ingredients have produced an “award winning beer”.
Under that, in writing so small you need an electron microscope to read it, are details about those awards. First of which it won shortly after birth in 1906, when it won the gold medal at the Munich Beer Expo. Then a gap until 1961-1987 when it was “winner of major American beer competitions”. Sure, it’s not the full picture, but it’s better than vague statements such as “award winning” that you find on some bottles.
Around on the back label, and the awards picture unfurls still further.
Right at the top are two medals not even mentions on the front-label. It seems to have won one of the prestigious Monde Selection awards in 1994. That’s one of the few names I recognise. Can anyone confirm what it won exactly? Whatever it is, I’m impressed.
Besides that, the back label is the usual bare-bones export version label. The ingredients are water, malt, rice and hops. And that’s interesting because of the rice. All the smooth lagers that I enjoy contain rice. It would explain why Tsingtao Beer in China persuaded me to give beer a second look.
4.7% alcoholic volume is middle-of-the-road and a bit shy of the continental standard 5%. In this small 330ml bottle, it weighs in at a light-weight 1.6 UK units of alcohol.
Down in the small-print are a final few nuggets of information. It was imported to the UK by Halewood International. And the UK Tsingtao Beer website is at www.tsingtao-beer.co.uk. To save you time, the most interesting page is at http://www.tsingtao-beer.co.uk/history.
What will I make of Tsingtao Beer after all this time, and after sampling hundreds of others beers from around the world? Will it remind me of backpacking and partying or of being lost and ill? And, the reason why you’re reading this, what will it taste like and should you buy it? Let’s find out.
Be careful while pouring, but only for about five seconds. After that, the frothy head completely vanishes. What you’re left with is a very fizzy, pale amber, Pilsner lagery looking drink.
Does Tsingtao Beer smell lagery too? Yes it does. It has that light malted barley blend familiar to anyone who’s drank a Pilsner style lager beer before. That said, this is different. You can smell something else. And I think that something else is the rice.
What does Tsingtao Beer taste like? On the first sip, my ever-so-slightly chilled bottle tastes like the sum of its parts. It tastes like a lager smoothed, softened and rounded by rice. Being a lager, there is no flavour to bother the taste buds. What you need to look at is the taste and aftertaste because that’s where Tsingtao Beer impresses.
What you taste is the usual lager blend of malt and hops, plus a hint of rice. Probably because of that rice, there’s no bitter aftertaste “bite” to scare you away. What you get instead is one of the smoothest and easiest to drink lagers around.
What do I like about Tsingtao Beer? I love how smooth and easy to drink it is. No wander I got through so many big bottles of the stuff while I was out there. I like how you can taste the rice more so with this than most other rice-based lagers. That gives it points for distinctiveness. I like that there’s nothing about the taste to offend even the most timid drinkers. And I think it’s produced to a good quality. Particularly for an East Asian beer.
What don’t I like about Tsingtao Beer? The drinkability comes at a price. That price is watery-ness. Sure, that means you can drink it like water, and, in a country where you can’t drink tap water, this is a good alternative. But, if you want something to get your teeth into, look elsewhere. The taste will stop feeling refreshing after a few bottles. And it’s on the gassy side.
How can I sum up Tsingtao Beer? It’s a very drinkable, rice tasting and smooth, if watery lager. Probably excellent with hot food or if you just want to cool down on a hot day. If you’re in China this is your enjoyable default choice. The closest tasting rival I can think of is Cobra Extra Smooth Premium Lager Beer, though you can probably name more. In a sentence, Tsingtao Beer is an Asian lager, but quite a good one.
Have you tried Tsingtao Beer? Can you translate anything from the bottle and labels? Got any extra facts, trivia and corrections? Do please leave your opinions, translations, comments, recommendations and places to buy, here.
Tags: alcohol, beer, bottle, china, label, lager, Qing Dao, Qingdao, review, rice, Tsing Tao, Tsingtao
5 September, 2009 at 1:56 am |
Were you paid to write this review? I have just tried Tsingtao and found myself thinking that I would rather be drinking sump oil. As soon as I opened it the smell was terrible. Upon tasing this poor excuse for a beer I found that it tasted like a good beer that had been left in the sun for about a week and then chilled. If it tasted that bad ice cold, I could only imagine what it would taste like once it was off the chill. The taste of chemicals was very offputting and thought that if this is China’s best beer then the others must be not fit for consumption.
31 March, 2013 at 1:38 pm |
Stick to your Alcopops then pal. The smell reminds me of the great home brewed beers we make in the village. Read the ingredients list, no chemicals, unlike a lot of western lagers. I’m not being paid to write this either, I just like good beers, and this is one.
18 October, 2009 at 5:15 pm |
Lots of westerners tend to slam Chinese beers as being sour and watery. I find this to be the case when I drink the bottled stuff here in the US. However, we were in Qingdao just last week and ate on Beer Street right across from the brewery. All of these seafood restaurants are fabulous by the way (Qingdao is on the Yellow Sea and where the last Olympic sailing took place). These restaurants have the advantage of having huge stainless steel vats of fresh beer delivered to them from the factory – the biggest surprise was the fresh unfiltered version of the beer – slightly lemony, very effervescent, and perfect with the spicy fish dishes. Those pitchers of beer were one of the highlights of a great trip!
22 November, 2009 at 9:42 pm |
Hi, I accidentally found this interesting article. I am a Chinese and I saw from the picture that Chinese characters appear in three places on the bottle： one on the front-label, and two on the back label. They are just the Chinese characters corresponding to “Tsingtao Beer “.
26 February, 2010 at 11:17 pm |
I found this beer on special offer in Aldi’s.My usual swill is Tennents lager.I really like it.640ml bottle is a good size.7 or 8 of them is a good amount.Compared to my usual beer this stuff is great.I also like the Blackwytch stout.mmm.Have you reviewed that.
5 June, 2010 at 1:36 am |
the characters says 青岛啤酒
青岛 = QingDao -> literally means Green Island
啤酒 = Pi Jiu -> Beer, literally means Beer Wine
20 November, 2010 at 2:51 pm |
Had a couple last night at a Chinese restaurant which is why I looked it up and found your review. I agree with your findings. Excellent light beer. Crisp, easy to drink. Complements the meal nicely.
9 April, 2011 at 9:01 pm |
I agree with your review.
It’s a nice clean, crisp beer, especially good with food.
I like it, as there is no bitterness to the after taste.
11 July, 2011 at 2:56 pm |
When I tried this stuff in the states, I was greatly unimpressed.
When I tried it in China… I loved it.
21 July, 2011 at 9:33 pm |
drinking it right now,fucking awesome! I really enjoyed the review. Well written.
3 November, 2011 at 9:51 am |
Love Tsingtao. Discovered it Hong Kong and it was perfect with freshly cooked seafood sitting by the water. Doesn’t destroy the delicate food flavours.
Although I have noticed there are various ‘versions’ – the export variety, made in China, and the locally-licensed version. The latter is very disappointing, but most places here seem to stock the import version, thankfully.
11 November, 2011 at 8:45 pm |
Great beer, i was a bit scared to try it but as it was on sale at asda 640ml i thought i will have a go………what a great idea it was!!!
very easy to drink, great for any occasion
30 March, 2012 at 9:32 pm |
Tell Paul B to stick to his PBR and stop complaining.
11 April, 2012 at 7:21 pm |
Having it now at a Chinese restaurant very new smooth beer really enjoyed must buy a tray of it home I get home
17 May, 2012 at 2:54 am |
Obviously you never been to Germany and never tasted what the real beers are..this TsingTo beer taste shiit. Obviously this article is paid and some comments here are paid too.
2 July, 2012 at 4:30 am |
Tsingtao was founded by Germans, ironically enough.
The yellow and red border around the logo is, I believe, meant to be a grain of some sort. Barley, perhaps? It’s slightly similar to the wheat and rice border around the national emblem of China: http://i.imgur.com/9xVbs.png
13 July, 2012 at 4:18 am |
I grow up in the city of Tsingtao. I don’t know if it is still the case now, but 30 years ago the water used was from spring in the Lao mountain near Qingdao. After living abroad for over 20 years and tasted countless types of beers, I still like this one. It is best to go with shellfish, such as clams.
6 September, 2012 at 2:58 am |
I have had this beer a few times and keep returning to it because I have been trying to place that ‘skunky’ aftertaste that some people report. The best I can describe the taste that turns some drinkers off is a slightly rotten tomato taste. Does this description match anyone else’s taste buds?
9 October, 2012 at 1:25 pm |
I have tried Mexican,European and American beer and this one it’s quite good. Thanks for the review!
1 February, 2013 at 12:16 am |
it’s no good,tastes very bitter.and is over priced in the uk,
2 March, 2013 at 1:02 am |
I must admit that this is a great beer. A little pricey in Washington at 17.99 a 12 pack, but to meet its smooth refreshing taste is well worth it. It is now the only beer I enjoy!
3 April, 2013 at 11:07 pm |
TSINGTAO BEER is very good beer ! I love that beer ! The writing on the bottle means many beautiful Chinese girls .