This October, Brewed in China: the Rise of Chinese Craft Beer (Chinese edition: 《了不起的中国精酿》) was published in China.

It’s written by Beer Matters founder Tian Zhou, and it’s his second book. More importantly, it’s a rare attempt to do something the Chinese craft beer scene has needed for a long time: a single, readable volume that looks at China’s craft beer as a whole—where it comes from, what it tastes like, and what makes it uniquely “China,” beyond isolated brand stories.

The idea behind the book is simple. Beer is not only “something tasty,” but also a local product and a cultural expression. When it’s made by small, independent breweries, it can carry a place’s ingredients, habits, humor, and identity in a way few other drinks can.

This book grew out of years of reporting and conversations. Since launching the Beer Matters podcast in 2020, we’ve interviewed close to 200 Chinese craft brewery founders and brewers. Their stories, experiments, and debates shaped the questions that run through these pages.

The book is structured as a guided map for understanding Chinese craft beer through flavor and context, not hype.

It moves through five themes:

• how beer flavor works, and how to talk about it clearly
• beer as a local culture, with a quick global tour of how different beer countries formed their own “normal”
• a flavor journey through Chinese craft, from grains and hops to Chinese-style fermentation and local ingredients used for brewing
• beer with Chinese food, with a practical pairing framework and examples across major cuisines
• where to drink, with a look at independent, quality-driven craft beer bars and what they reveal about the scene

“Craft” is an easy word to use and a hard one to keep honest. In China there isn’t a single official definition, so the term can mean many things at once, sometimes in helpful ways, sometimes not. Rather than forcing a conclusion, this book documents what’s happening, explains why it tastes the way it tastes, and argues that Chinese craft beer deserves to be discussed as part of contemporary food culture.

If you’re curious about Chinese craft beer and want to talk, collaborate, or learn more, email us at info@beermatters.cn.