Capital Notes: Experiencing Exotic Ambiance at Blumberg (Photo)

A deeper understanding of German beer culture came from the reporter's trip to Munich, Germany on June 14, 2017, where he visited the famous 'HB German Beer House.' At that time, I learned that in 1516, Duke Wilhelm IV of Bavaria issued the German Beer Purity Law, stipulating that German beer could only be made from barley malt, hops, and water. Thus, for nearly 500 years, German beer has been synonymous with pure beer.

Munich HB Beer House (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The lively atmosphere of that 400-year-old beer house left a deep impression on me. Drinking beer itself is a joyous and celebratory affair, and because of the beer house's widespread fame and the crowds of tourists, the atmosphere was thrilling to the extreme. Everyone stared wide-eyed, eager to see the unprecedented spectacle of the most famous beer house in the capital of beer, and everyone had a massive beer stein ready to gulp down the beer. Coupled with live Bavarian folk music, it made you want to try every kind of beer. If you looked closely, every table was laden with large platters of meat and oversized glasses of beer; specialties like roast chicken, German pork knuckle, and Munich's famous white sausage were particularly favored by guests from all over the world drinking there.

Blumberg Beer House (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Coincidentally, on the evening of December 22, 2021, I was invited by a friend to gather at a place called 'Blumberg German Beer Tavern' in the CBD of Beijing. I never expected that the authentic German beer brewing and the genuine German-centric cuisine, complemented by Western dishes from other countries and the lively Latin American music performed by a resident Cuban band, would remind me so naturally of the HB Beer House in Munich. In a way, I thought that although these two places are miles apart—one in Munich, Germany, and the other in Beijing, China—they share an intriguing similarity.

German Beer Brewing Equipment (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Walking into the Blumberg Beer Tavern, the first floor is a place for tasting wine. On the left, a large set of German beer brewing equipment stands against the wall, particularly eye-catching. The structure is complex, and the huge metal barrels gleam under the lights. Opposite the equipment, a few rows of tasting seats are flanked by wine racks displaying various brands of red wine.

First-Floor Wine Tasting Area (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Mr. Zhang Bin, who is in charge of the Blumberg Beer Tavern’s layout, explained to me that the equipment is imported from Germany, and the beer is brewed right in the restaurant through large tanks of various shapes and functions. The entire brewing system is housed on the premises, and a brewing cycle takes about 27 days. The first floor is the wine tasting area, while the second floor is where authentic German beer is enjoyed. In addition to beer, the restaurant also offers traditional German and other international cuisines, hence it is called a beer hall — Brauhaus.

A Corner of the Stairway Mural (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Going up the stairs from the first to the second floor, the walls on both sides are adorned with murals related to wine and beer culture. The simple and cheerful paintings sketch out the theme of Blumberg. There are also snapshots of guests on the walls. After being seated on the second-floor beer house, Zhang Bin slowly told me more about the Blumberg Beer Tavern.

A Wall Corner of the Beer House (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Blumberg originated in Bamberg, Bavaria, Germany. Our logo is based on the black, red, and gold of the German flag, with an abstract medieval knight's visor set in a shield and grain ears around it symbolizing thriving prosperity. This embodies the current outlets and characteristics of Blumberg.

House-Brewed Beers of Blumberg Beer Tavern

At our beer house, professional brewers produce classic beers such as wheat white beer, barley pale lager, barley dark beer, Pilsner, IPA, and more. Germans' love for beer is reflected in every detail, and even a small beer glass embodies a rich beer culture.

Beer Glasses in the Beer House

The wheat beer glass has no handle and a slender body covered with ridges, designed specifically for beers made mainly from wheat malt. The barley beer glass has a handle and is commonly called a pineapple glass, meant for beers based on barley malt. Whether wheat or barley glasses, the ridges serve to slow the transfer of hand warmth to the beer, preventing it from warming up and affecting the taste. The charm of craft beer, or what people call fresh draught beer, lies in the active yeast. Typically, active yeast thrives at temperatures of 1-3°C; higher temperatures reduce yeast activity, eventually killing it and altering the flavor.

Tempting Special Salad (Photo: Wang Jue)

While we were talking, a visually striking and very appetizing special salad made of vegetables and seafood, along with an assortment of sausages, was brought to the table. When it comes to the food at Blumberg, it is particularly distinctive. The star dishes here have long won the hearts of countless fans, with the crispy roasted pork knee, Bavarian sausage platter, roasted spring chicken, tuna salad, pretzel bread, and more being much talked about by guests.

Bavarian Sausage Platter

German sausages are often named after their places of origin, and our menu features flavors from Thuringia, Frankfurt, Berlin, Nuremberg, and more. This is another characteristic of Blumberg: it’s not just a dining bar, but also a bridge for spreading German culture and enhancing Sino-German friendship.

German Crispy Roasted Pork Knuckle

It is especially worth mentioning that Blumberg's core team belongs to the traditional German cuisine system. Among the must-mention specialties are three dishes that perfectly embody the spirit of 'eating large chunks of meat and drinking big gulps of beer.' The German crispy roasted pork knuckle is the most ordered item at Blumberg. A 1.5-kilogram pork knuckle is marinated, steamed for four hours, and then roasted in a high-temperature oven for 30 minutes. When it comes out, the skin is golden and crispy, with a charred exterior and tender interior.

Beer House Bakery (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Additionally, the restaurant has an in-house bakery where all bread is made fresh and baked on the same day. The pretzel bread, from its shape to its taste, wins over diners. The beer house's bread follows traditional German baking methods, and unlike many other bread brands, it uses almost no sugar, substituting salt, baking soda, and abundant grains instead. This is the main reason why German bread is widely recognized as the healthiest bread. After tasting it, I felt the slightly salty bread had an excellent texture.

Pretzel Bread (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Zhang Bin explained that the Chinese dining market is vast, and customer tastes change roughly every three years. Therefore, sticking solely to German cuisine wouldn't work. That's why we introduced the concept of 'international cuisine.' Examples include Spanish olive oil shrimp, British fish and chips, Italian specialty pasta, Mexican tacos and fajitas, Chilean dried beef salad, American barbecue pork ribs, and Asian-style Malaysian fried rice.

A Platter of Delicacies in the Beer House

As a 'dining bar,' our expertise lies in our kitchen's accumulated recipes to adapt to market changes. The term 'dining bar' in Chinese naturally splits into 'dining' and 'bar,' meaning that food comes first and then drinks. From this, people discover that our dishes are very suitable for pairing with drinks, which is a major feature of our cuisine.

Dartboards Inside the Beer House (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

At Blumberg Beer Tavern, apart from eating and drinking, entertainment is also essential. On the second-floor beer tasting area, I saw a stage and three professional dart lanes. The stage is where a resident Cuban band performs. The dart area offers guests a dart experience and serves as one of the venues for dart competitions. Players train here regularly, and dart tournaments are held periodically.

The Resident Cuban Band at the Beer House

A few nights each week, the REAL BEAT band, hailing from the beautiful island nation of Cuba in Latin America, gives exclusive performances. The band is composed of a beautiful female singer, Rosalía, and three talented musicians. The band leader and drummer, Luis A. Granados, is a very gifted percussionist who commands the stage, and occasionally he shows off his other skill — improvising on the trumpet — which always stuns the audience.

During the Performance (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

I happened to catch the performance that evening. The dynamic melodies and lyrical, beautiful vocals repeatedly drew cheers from the guests. When the music had a dance beat, some diners happily danced in front of the stage. The interaction between the stage and the audience created a lively and joyous atmosphere throughout the beer house, with laughter and applause echoing overhead for a long time.

Posing for a Photo with the Band (Photo: Zhou Ji)

Rosalía is the lead singer, a genuine beauty who is also skilled at playing the flute. Additionally, the band includes a pretty female guitarist, Elizabeth, and an experienced bassist, Edel. These four youthful and energetic musicians form a charismatic and versatile band. Their musical styles include jazz, pop, Latin, rock, bossa nova, and more, enabling them to perform a wide range of live music for audiences of all ages, thus maximizing customer satisfaction.

Joyful Guests (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

That night at Blumberg Beer Tavern, I noticed that most of the guests were young people, including some foreigners. The group at the next table, holding a birthday party, were staff from the Thai Embassy in China. Their exuberant and happy scene filled the entire beer house with joy. They also enthusiastically offered pieces of cake to other guests, sharing their happiness.

A Corner of the Beer House at Night (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Interestingly, a companion who joined me for the gathering casually posted about the beer house on WeChat, and immediately a friend working at a foreign company commented that Blumberg Beer Tavern indeed has great ambiance and taste. Her company even held an annual party there, and everyone felt it was great. It seems that spending an evening at Blumberg Beer Tavern in the capital, savoring fine beer, delicious food, and wonderful music while soaking up an exotic atmosphere, is truly a memorable experience. (Text and photos: Feng Ganyong)