Beijing Notes: Bloomberg Experiences Exotic Customs (Photos)

Number of days: 1 day
With whom: and friends
Tour kinds: Food, Photography, Self-driving, Humanities, Free Travel
Updated: 2021.12.29

My deeper understanding of German beer culture came during a trip to Munich, Germany, on June 14, 2017, where I visited the famous "HB German Beer House." I learned that in 1516, Archduke William IV of Bavaria issued the German Beer Purity Law, stipulating that German beer could only be made with three ingredients: barley malt, hops, and water. For nearly 500 years, German beer has become synonymous with so-called "pure beer."

HB Beer House in Munich (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

The bustling atmosphere of that beer house, with over 400 years of history, left a deep impression on me. Drinking beer is inherently joyful and lively, and the atmosphere at a beer house, thanks to its fame and the influx of tourists, reaches a fever pitch. Everyone strains to witness the unprecedented spectacle of the beer capital's most famous beer house, each ready with oversized mugs ready to quaff. Add to that the live Bavarian folk music, and you'll be tempted to order every beer. If you pay close attention, you'll see large plates of meat and glasses of beer on every table. Items like roast chicken, pork knuckle, and Munich's famous white sausage are popular with guests from around the world.

Bloomberg Beer House (Photography: Feng Ganyong)

Coincidentally, on the evening of December 22, 2021, the reporter was invited by a friend to a small gathering at a restaurant called "Bloomberg German Beer Restaurant and Bar" located in the CBD of Beijing. Unexpectedly, the authentic German beer brewing and authentic German cuisine, as well as Western dishes that are compatible with other countries' cuisines and Latin American-style music played by the resident Cuban band were very lively. The scene made the reporter naturally recall the HB Beer House in Munich, Germany. From a certain point of view, the reporter thought that although the two places are in Munich, Germany and Beijing, China, they have the same purpose.

German Beer Brewing Equipment (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Entering the Blomberg Brewery, the first floor is dedicated to wine tasting. A large German beer brewing equipment stands out against the left wall. Its intricate structure, with its massive metal barrels gleaming under the light, is particularly striking. Across from the equipment, rows of tasting tables line the wine racks, displaying a variety of wine brands.

First Floor Wine Tasting Area (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Mr. Zhang Bin, who oversaw the layout of the Brauhaus, explained to reporters that the equipment is imported from Germany. Beer is brewed in the restaurant using large tanks of various shapes and functions. The entire brewing equipment is housed within the restaurant, and the brewing cycle takes approximately 27 days. The first floor houses the wine tasting area, while the second floor is where authentic German beer can be enjoyed. In addition to beer, the restaurant also offers traditional German and international cuisine, hence the name "Brauhaus."

A corner of the staircase mural (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Climbing the stairs from the first floor to the second, the corridor is flanked by murals depicting wine culture. These simple, bright paintings capture the theme of Bloomberg Brewery. Photos of guests also adorn the walls. After taking their seats in the second-floor beer house, Zhang Bin slowly explained the Bloomberg Brewery's history.

A corner of the wine shop wall (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Blomberg originated in Bamberg, Bavaria, Germany. Our logo uses the black, red, and yellow colors of the German flag as its base. An abstract medieval knight's mask is embedded in the shield, and the surrounding wheat ears symbolize prosperity. This reflects the existing stores and characteristics of Blomberg.

Home-brewed Beer at Blomberg Beer Restaurant & Bar

In our beer house, professional brewers craft classic beers like wheat beer, yellow beer, dark beer, pilsner, and IPAs. Germans' love for beer is reflected in every aspect; even a small beer glass, for example, embodies a rich beer culture.

Beer glasses in a beer house

The wheat glass, handleless and thin, features a threaded body. It's specifically designed for beer primarily made from wheat malt. The barley glass, commonly known as the pineapple glass, has a handle and is specifically designed for beer primarily made from barley malt. The threads on both the wheat and barley glasses prevent hand warmth from being transferred too quickly to the beer, which would cause the beer to heat up and affect the taste. The charm of craft beer, commonly known as fresh beer, lies in its active yeast. Active yeast typically thrives in a temperature range of 1-3 degrees Celsius. Higher temperatures reduce yeast activity, eventually turning it into dead yeast, affecting the taste. As they spoke, a vibrant and appetizing salad of vegetables and seafood, along with a variety of sausages, arrived. The food at Blomberg Bistro is truly unique. Its signature dishes have long garnered countless adoration, including the Crispy Roast Pork Knuckle, Bavarian Sausage Platter, Roast Spring Chicken, Tuna Salad, and the 'Swap Bread,' all highly acclaimed by diners.

Bavarian Sausage Platter

German sausages are usually named after places. Sausages from Thuringia, Frankfurt, Berlin, Nuremberg and other flavors are all featured in our dishes. This is another feature of Bloomberg. It is not only a restaurant and bar, but also a bridgehead for spreading German culture and enhancing China-Germany friendship.

German Crispy Roast Pork Knuckle

It's worth noting that Blomberg's culinary tradition is rooted in traditional German cuisine. Among these, the following three dishes are particularly noteworthy. The popularity of German cuisine perfectly embodies the essence of "big chunks of meat and big gulps of wine." Dishes like German Crispy Roast Pork Knuckle are Blomberg's most frequently ordered items. The 1.5kg pork knuckle is marinated, steamed in a steamer for four hours, and then baked in a high-temperature oven for 30 minutes. The freshly baked pork knuckle is golden and crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside.

Beer House Bakery (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

The restaurant also features an on-site bakery, where all breads are made on-site and baked daily. The lye bread is a favorite for both its appearance and taste. Beer House's bread adheres to traditional German breadmaking techniques. Unlike other bread brands, sugar is virtually non-existent in the production process, with salt, alkali, and abundant grains used instead. This is a key reason why German bread is recognized worldwide as the healthiest. The reporter found the slightly salty bread to be excellent. Zhang Bin explained that the Chinese restaurant market is enormous, with customer tastes changing almost every three years. Therefore, focusing solely on German cuisine wouldn't be feasible. This is why we launched the "International Cuisine" concept. Items include Spanish olive oil-cooked shrimp, British fish and chips, Italian pasta, Mexican tacos and fajitas, Chilean air-dried beef salad, American barbecued pork ribs, and the Asian-inspired Malaysian fried rice.

Food platter in the beer house

As a "restaurant bar", our signature skill lies in the accumulation of recipes in the kitchen so as to cope with market changes. The word "restaurant bar" in Chinese naturally means restaurant-bar. There is wine only when there is a meal. From this, people will find that our dishes are very suitable for drinking, which is also a major feature of our dishes.

Targets inside the beer house (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Besides dining and drinking, entertainment is also essential at Bloomberg Beer House. Inside the second-floor beer tasting area, reporters spotted a stage and three professional hard target lanes. The stage is home to a resident Cuban band. The darts area offers diners a chance to experience darts and also serves as a venue for darts tournaments. Players train here on a regular basis, and darts tournaments are held regularly.

The Beer House's Resident Cuban Band

REAL BEAT, which performs several nights a week, hails from Cuba, a beautiful Latin American island nation. The band consists of a beautiful vocalist, Rosalia, and three talented musicians. Band leader and drummer Luis A. Granados, a talented percussionist, commands the stage while occasionally bringing out his signature trumpet improvisations to dazzle the audience.

Performance in Progress (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

This reporter happened to catch the performance that evening. The dynamic melodies and lyrical, beautiful voices frequently drew cheers from the audience. Some diners even danced joyfully in front of the stage, following the rhythm of the music. The audience and the stage mingled, creating a warm and joyful atmosphere throughout the beer hall, with laughter and cheers echoing for a long time.

Photo with the band (Photo by Zhou Ji)

Rosalia is the band's lead singer, a truly stunning vocalist who also excels at playing the flute. The band also features Elizabeth, a beautiful guitarist, and Edel, an experienced bassist. These four youthful and energetic musicians form a charming and versatile band. Their musical styles include jazz, pop, Latin, rock, bossa nova, and more. They can perform a variety of live music for different age groups, catering to their diverse needs. Happy Guests (Photo by Feng Ganyong) At the Bloomberg Brasserie and Bar, reporters observed that the guests that evening were mostly young people, including some foreigners. A group of guests at a neighboring table, celebrating a birthday, were staff from the Thai Embassy in China. Their enthusiastic and joyful atmosphere filled the entire brasserie with joy. They enthusiastically offered slices of cake to other guests, allowing everyone to share in their happiness.

A corner of the beer house at night (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Particularly interesting, a companion who attended the gathering with this reporter that evening sent a WeChat message about the beer house, and immediately a friend who works for a foreign company commented that the Bloomberg Beer House was truly charming and tasteful, and that their company even held its annual meeting there. It seems that an evening spent enjoying fine wine, delicious food, and music at the Bloomberg Beer House in Beijing, while experiencing the exotic atmosphere, was truly unforgettable. (Photo and text by Feng Ganyong)