Great Leap Brewing
Beijing, China · Est. 2010
Tally's Take
Why this matters
A true pioneer of the Chinese craft movement. Great Leap's Honey Ma Gold — brewed with Sichuan peppercorns that leave a tingling 'ma' numbness — proved Chinese craft could be defined by Chinese ingredients, not just copied from the West.
The founding thesisCarl Setzer and Liu Fang opened a tiny brewery inside a 100-year-old Beijing hutong courtyard, determined to build modern Chinese craft beer from local ingredients.
The Museum
Timeline
- 2010The hutong brewery
Great Leap opens in a century-old Beijing courtyard (Original #6).
- 2010sLocal-ingredient identity
Builds a reputation on Sichuan peppercorn, local honey, and Chinese tea beers.
The People
Behind the beer
Built one of Beijing's first craft breweries from a hutong courtyard.
The Beer Library
Beers
Honey Ma Gold
Year-RoundHerbed/Spiced Golden Ale
Local honey and Sichuan peppercorn — a signature 'ma' tingle.
Drank this? Add it to your passport →Pale Ale #6
Year-RoundAmerican Pale Ale
Named for the Original #6 hutong location.
Drank this? Add it to your passport →Travel Guide
Plan a visit
- Hutong courtyard taproom
- Multiple Beijing locations
On the record
Awards
- 2014
Asia Beer Cup
Only awards we could attribute to a named body and year appear here. An empty section means unresearched, not unawarded.
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