Tsingtao Lager
July 3, 2008
Yet another personal first as a result of The Brew Club! Tsingtao is my very first beer from China! If you’ve read any of the other posts on this site, you’ll already know that Lagers generally do not get me overly excited. Even lagers that people are nuts about, usually don’t move me in a soulful, metaphysical type of way that some Ales do. Its a personal thing I guess, and I try to give each beer I sample a fair shake.
As a result, I didn’t have great expectations about this Tsingtao Lager beer from China, but I was soon to be pleasantly surprised! As a matter of fact, I believe that this Tsingtao stuff is the best Lager I’ve tried so far!
The Chinese beer looks like a typical lager in the glass – very pale yellow, typical white head that quickly diminishes into almost nothing, hardly any lacing and nothing special in the scent department either.
Where I was surprised was how good this beer tasted, which, of course, is what really matters! It was mildly hoppy, had a very light mouthfeel, and didn’t leave much of an aftertaste at all. This beer was crisp, but did not have any bite or burn, and in fact I found it to be very refreshing!
Overall, the Tsingtao lager from China in the green bottle is among the few lagers that I’ve tried on the Brew Club.com that I would actually go out and buy again. It was an overall enjoyable experience and would recommend that you give it a try if you are looking for something other than the “usual”. You won’t be surprised by the beer – it’s not a WOW kind of good, but I think you will be surprised at how good this beer is in a “wow?” subtle kind of way.
Rating: 
Posted in 3 Star Reviews, Lager, Not American Or European Beer
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August 21st, 2008 at 10:34 am
Something that is interesting, although not surprising, about Tsing Tao is that they use rice in the mix. Most beers use barley, but some north American brew use rice to bulk up the mash and cut costs.
One prime example is Canada’s Molson lager, which includes rice, and both Tsing Tao and Molson have a slightly rounded sweetness that, once you’ve spotted it, becomes quite distinctive. Once I won twenty bucks at Anchorage airport during a layover when I bet a fellow traveller that the Lowenbrau we were drinking had been brewed by Molson.
Another thing to bear in mind with Tsing Tao is that it’s great to accompany Chinese food!
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:38 am
Great comment Bob! So it was rice in the mix? I remember really liking this beer.
I wonder was rice used for cost-cutting and then found to actually add to the flavor, or was it an unintended result that just happened to work out?
September 18th, 2008 at 12:59 am
There was rice in the Bud I tried last week too. I got a six pack of Tsingtao and then I also bought a six pack of Bud so I wouldn’t walk unbalanced (until I got plastered at home).
For comparison purposes I’d have to say Tsingtao wins hands down in my opinion. Bud was a bit tasteless though quite drinkable. Tsingtao has a pleasing if mild flavour. I would make room for it in my fridge.