It feels like the Olympics just started, but unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. As we say goodbye to the 2012 London games on Sunday, we also finish up our four-part series, Drinking Like a Champ. We’ve been highlighting the drinking preferences of the top medal contending countries over the past 2 weeks, and our last installment will focus on the one country expected to give the US a run for the gold.
Today’s country is: CHINA
Legal drinking age
18 years old
Alcoholic beverages made in China
• Tsingtao (beer), brewed in Qingdao
• Harbin (beer), brewed in Harbin City
• Zhu Jiang (beer), brewed in Guangzhou
• Moutai Bai Jiu (wine/liquor), produced in Maotai
• Wuliangye (wine/liquor), produced in Yibin, Sichuan
• Shuanggou Daqu Liquor (wine), produced in the Sihong County of Jiangsu Province
Brewery Tours
• Founded in 1903, Tsingtao Brewery has a ton of rich history. You can take a tour of the facilities and grab a beer straight from the production line.
• Brewery Tour Shanghai is the ultimate tour. They only host one public tour a month and it includes touring different brewing facilities with brew masters, beer tastings, pub food, transportation to and from each venue and games/prizes. Pretty sure this sounds like the best day ever.
Fun Facts:
• Tsingtao Brewery sponsored the Olympic World Games in Beijing in 2008
• Harbin Brewery recently inked a new partnership with the NBA and their brand ambassador is Shaquille O’Neal
• The Chinese originated the compound fermentation method by yeast over 3000 years ago.
• Although it contains alcohol, Moutai is said to repel hangovers
• In China, it’s totally all right to get drunk, even at business dinners. If you leave sober, your hosts may be concerned that they failed to show you proper hospitality.