Tasting

What does Tsingtao beer taste like? Freshly poured, it shows notes of bread crust and a touch of honey, with a hint of hay in the background and a delicate bitterness that fades quickly. The Tsingtao Brewery's standard beer has about 4.7 percent alcohol; it's light, dry, and leaves almost no aftertaste.

For comparison, try Tsingtao 1903, which the brewery markets as a nod to its early days. Tasting both side by side reveals subtle differences in body and malt sweetness rather than stark contrasts. This fits a style aimed at cleanliness rather than bold character. You can sample it along Qingdao's Beer Street on Dengzhou Lu.

In Qingdao, beer is drunk from simple glasses, often thick-walled mugs, or taken away in a bag. Beer in a bag is an everyday sight in Qingdao. The bag is a clear plastic pouch filled straight from the tap, tied at the top, and fitted with a straw. People carry it along the beach or sit down with it at a plastic table.

The ideal temperature is four to eight degrees Celsius, colder than most European beers. The beer warms up quickly in the glass, which is why the glasses are small and refilled promptly. When pouring, the glass is tilted slightly, letting the foam form only at the very end.

For newcomers, a word of caution: the beer may be mild, but it still contains alcohol. In the heat and in large quantities, it takes effect quickly, and a bag often holds more than a glass does. That's why people drink slowly at the Zhanqiao Pier as well as on the beach at Huangdao.