When most travelers think of China’s beer culture, their minds jump to Tsingtao, Snow, or the neon-lit craft beer bars of Shanghai. Shanghai has long been the undisputed king of China’s craft beer revolution, with hundreds of microbreweries, taprooms, and beer festivals drawing expats and locals alike. But if you’re looking for something different—something less polished, more authentic, and surprisingly innovative—it’s time to take the high-speed train north to Tianjin.
Tianjin, a sprawling port city just 30 minutes from Beijing by bullet train, has quietly cultivated a craft beer scene that feels like a breath of fresh air compared to Shanghai’s sometimes-overhyped and overpriced offerings. Here, the beer is brewed with local character, the bars are filled with genuine conversation, and the vibe is unpretentious. This is not a scene built for Instagram influencers; it’s built for people who actually love beer.
Shanghai’s craft beer scene is undeniably impressive. You can find a hazy IPA from a famous American brewer, a sour ale aged in wine barrels, or a stout infused with coffee from a trendy roastery. But with that sophistication comes a certain fatigue. Prices are high, crowds are dense, and the scene can feel like a curated experience rather than a genuine local movement.
Tianjin, on the other hand, is an underdog. It’s a city that doesn’t try to compete with Shanghai’s glitz. Instead, it has developed its own identity—one rooted in the city’s history as a treaty port, its proximity to Beijing, and its unique blend of Chinese and Western influences. The craft beer here feels less like a business and more like a passion project. Brewers are experimenting with local ingredients like Tianjin’s famous jianbing (savory crepes), hawthorn berries, and even sea buckthorn. The result is a beer scene that feels alive, unpredictable, and deeply connected to the city itself.
Tianjin has a long relationship with beer. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the city was a hub for foreign concessions, and Western brewers set up shop. The most famous legacy is the Tianjin Brewery, founded in 1903 by German settlers, which produced the iconic Tianjin Beer—a light lager that still has a loyal following today. But for decades, the local beer scene stagnated under state-controlled production. It wasn’t until the mid-2010s that a new wave of homebrewers and entrepreneurs began to revive the city’s brewing traditions.
Today, Tianjin boasts over a dozen dedicated craft breweries and dozens of bars that serve both local and imported beers. While the scene is smaller than Shanghai’s, it’s growing fast, and it has a distinct character that sets it apart.
If there’s one brewery that put Tianjin on the craft beer map, it’s Tianjin Taps. Founded in 2016 by a group of expats and local beer enthusiasts, this brewery started as a small operation in the city’s Italian-style district (yes, Tianjin has one). Their flagship beer, the Old Town Brown Ale, is a smooth, malty brew with notes of caramel and chocolate—perfect for the city’s cold winters. But their seasonal offerings are where they shine. In autumn, they release a Hawthorn Sour made with locally foraged hawthorn berries, which gives the beer a tart, fruity kick that pairs beautifully with Tianjin’s famous goubuli steamed buns.
Tianjin Taps also runs a taproom that feels like a community hub. It’s not uncommon to see locals playing cards at the bar while sipping a pint of their Treaty Port IPA, a hoppy but balanced beer that nods to the city’s colonial past. The vibe is casual, the staff is knowledgeable, and the prices are refreshingly low compared to Shanghai.
Located in the Hexi District, Jingjin Brewing Co. is a collaboration between brewers from Tianjin and Beijing. Their name literally means “Beijing-Tianjin,” and their beers reflect a fusion of the two cities’ cultures. Their most popular beer is the Great Wall Gose, a salty-sour ale that uses sea buckthorn from the mountains near Beijing. It’s a light, refreshing beer that’s perfect for Tianjin’s humid summers.
Jingjin also has a strong focus on sustainability. They source ingredients locally whenever possible, and they’ve partnered with nearby farms to recycle spent grain into animal feed. This eco-conscious approach resonates with Tianjin’s younger, more environmentally aware crowd.
Named after the Haihe River that runs through Tianjin, this brewery is all about experimentation. Their taproom, located in a converted warehouse near the river, is a haven for beer geeks. They’ve brewed everything from a Chili Chocolate Stout (made with Tianjin’s own laoganma chili sauce) to a Lychee Saison that tastes like summer in a glass.
What sets Haihe apart is their willingness to push boundaries. Their Jianbing IPA was a controversial hit—a hazy IPA brewed with the crispy crepe-like pancakes that are a Tianjin breakfast staple. It sounds bizarre, but the combination of hoppy bitterness and savory notes actually works surprisingly well. Haihe is also known for their barrel-aging program, where they experiment with Chinese baijiu barrels to create unique, boozy stouts and barleywines.
Tucked away near Nankai University, this brewery has a strong connection to the city’s academic community. Many of their beers are named after famous scholars or historical events, and the taproom is a popular spot for students and professors to unwind after a long day of research. Their Scholar’s Stout is a rich, roasty beer with notes of coffee and dark chocolate, while their May Fourth Pale Ale is a crisp, citrusy tribute to the 1919 protest movement that began in Beijing but had strong support in Tianjin.
Nankai Brewing also hosts regular events, including homebrewing workshops and beer-pairing dinners with local restaurants. It’s a great place to meet the people behind the beer and learn about the city’s brewing history.
Don’t let the name fool you—this isn’t a religious establishment. The Beer Temple is a cozy, dimly lit bar in the Heping District that specializes in rare and hard-to-find beers. The owner, a Tianjin native who spent years traveling through Europe and the US, curates a rotating selection of local and international craft beers. On any given night, you might find a barrel-aged imperial stout from Haihe Brewing, a hazy IPA from a small brewery in Oregon, or a traditional German hefeweizen.
The atmosphere is intimate and relaxed, with exposed brick walls, vintage beer posters, and a jukebox that plays everything from classic rock to Chinese indie music. It’s the kind of place where you can sit for hours, strike up a conversation with a stranger, and leave with a new friend and a new favorite beer.
Named after the year the Tianjin Brewery was founded, Dagukou 1888 is a bar that pays homage to the city’s brewing heritage. The interior is designed to look like a 19th-century German beer hall, with long wooden tables, stained glass windows, and a massive copper brew kettle on display. They serve a mix of traditional lagers and modern craft beers, but the highlight is their Dagukou Pilsner, a crisp, clean beer that’s a nod to the original Tianjin Beer recipe.
Dagukou 1888 is also known for its food menu, which features German-style sausages, pretzels, and sauerkraut. It’s a popular spot for groups and celebrations, and the lively atmosphere makes it a great introduction to Tianjin’s beer culture.
For a different perspective on Tianjin, head to Sky Brew, a rooftop bar located in the Italian-style district. The bar offers stunning views of the city skyline, including the iconic Tianjin Eye Ferris wheel and the Haihe River. Sky Brew specializes in light, sessionable beers that are perfect for sipping on a warm evening. Their Riverbank Blonde Ale is a favorite, with a subtle sweetness and a clean finish.
The bar also hosts live music on weekends, ranging from jazz to acoustic sets. It’s a popular spot for both locals and tourists, and the relaxed vibe makes it easy to spend an entire evening here, watching the sunset and enjoying a cold pint.
No beer scene is complete without food, and Tianjin’s culinary traditions offer some surprising pairings. The city is famous for its street food, and many of the local dishes are a natural match for craft beer.
These fluffy, stuffed buns are a Tianjin institution. The most traditional version is filled with pork and a savory broth, but modern variations include shrimp, vegetables, and even sweet red bean paste. The rich, savory flavors of goubuli pair beautifully with a malty brown ale or a crisp pilsner. The beer cuts through the richness of the meat while complementing the dough’s subtle sweetness.
As mentioned earlier, jianbing is a savory crepe filled with egg, scallions, cilantro, and a crispy fried cracker. It’s a breakfast staple, but it’s also a popular late-night snack. The combination of textures and flavors—crispy, chewy, salty, and savory—makes it a great pairing for a hazy IPA or a sour ale. The beer’s bitterness balances the richness of the crepe, while the carbonation cleanses the palate.
These long, golden-fried dough sticks are a common breakfast item, but they’re also enjoyed as a snack throughout the day. They’re light, airy, and slightly salty, making them a perfect match for a light lager or a wheat beer. The beer’s subtle sweetness and low bitterness allow the dough’s flavor to shine.
Many of Tianjin’s craft beer bars also serve food, but for a more authentic experience, head to the street food stalls near the Ancient Culture Street or the Italian-style district. Grab a plate of goubuli or a freshly made jianbing, then walk to a nearby taproom for a pint. The combination of local food and craft beer is a match made in heaven.
Tianjin’s craft beer scene comes alive during its annual festivals. The Tianjin Craft Beer Festival is held every autumn in the Italian-style district, featuring over 30 breweries from across China and beyond. It’s a lively event with live music, food stalls, and, of course, plenty of beer. The festival is a great opportunity to try limited-edition brews and meet the brewers behind them.
Another notable event is the Haihe River Beer Walk, a guided pub crawl that takes participants to some of the city’s best craft beer bars. It’s held several times a year and is a popular activity for both locals and tourists. The walk includes beer tastings, food pairings, and behind-the-scenes tours of breweries.
One of the most striking things about Tianjin’s craft beer scene is the sense of community. Unlike Shanghai, where the scene can feel fragmented and commercialized, Tianjin’s brewers and bar owners genuinely seem to know each other. They collaborate on special releases, share ingredients, and promote each other’s events. This camaraderie extends to the customers, who are often regulars at multiple bars and are eager to share recommendations.
There’s also a strong DIY ethos here. Several of Tianjin’s breweries started as homebrewing projects, and the city has a thriving homebrewing community that meets regularly to share tips and taste each other’s creations. This grassroots energy gives the scene a sense of authenticity that’s hard to find in more established beer cities.
Tianjin’s craft beer scene is still in its early stages, but the momentum is undeniable. More breweries are opening every year, and the quality of the beer is improving rapidly. There’s also a growing interest in beer tourism, with visitors from Beijing and other parts of China making the trip specifically to explore Tianjin’s taprooms.
One trend to watch is the rise of brewery taprooms in repurposed industrial spaces. Tianjin has a wealth of abandoned factories and warehouses, and several brewers are eyeing these spaces as potential locations for large-scale production facilities and tasting rooms. This could give the scene a more permanent, sustainable foundation.
Another exciting development is the increasing use of local ingredients. Brewers are experimenting with everything from Tianjin’s famous erduoyan (a type of pickled vegetable) to locally grown hops. This focus on terroir gives Tianjin’s beers a distinct identity that sets them apart from the more generic offerings found in other cities.
If you’re planning a visit to Tianjin specifically for its craft beer scene, here’s a suggested itinerary:
Start your trip in the Italian-style district, where you’ll find Tianjin Taps and several other craft beer bars. Spend the afternoon exploring the area’s cobblestone streets and historic buildings, then grab a pint at Tianjin Taps. For dinner, head to a nearby restaurant for goubuli and pair it with a brown ale.
Spend the morning at the Ancient Culture Street, where you can sample street food and buy local snacks. In the afternoon, visit Haihe Brewing for a tasting flight and a tour of their facility. In the evening, head to The Beer Temple for a night of rare beers and good conversation.
Take a taxi to the Hexi District to visit Jingjin Brewing Co. and Nankai Brewing. These breweries are less touristy and offer a more authentic glimpse into Tianjin’s beer culture. End your trip at Dagukou 1888 for a traditional German-style beer hall experience.
Tianjin’s craft beer scene is a refreshing alternative to Shanghai’s polished, expensive offerings. It’s a scene built on passion, community, and a genuine love for beer. Whether you’re a seasoned beer geek or a casual drinker, Tianjin offers something unique: a chance to explore a city’s culture through its brews, one pint at a time. So skip the high-speed train to Shanghai and head north instead. You might just find your new favorite beer city.
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Author: Tianjin Travel
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