Something's brewing in the Chinese beer scene

When Leon Mickelson arrived in Shanghai to take up the role of brewmaster at The Brew at The Kerry Hotel Pudong, the country's craft beer scene was virtually non-existent, despite China being the world's largest beer market. In the three years he has called China home, the beer aficionado has helped cultivate a buzz for more artisan and specialty brews in a country thirsty for beer more interesting than what can be found at the standard convenience store.

China has the largest consumption of beer in the world, having reached a record high in 2011 with 50 billion liters of beer consumed, according to a 2012 study by Mintel, an international market research group. The US ranked second with less than half of that amount consumed, at 24 billion liters. There are also more than 500 breweries in China. It was these exciting and encouraging figures that lured Mickelson to China.

Like many things in China, Mickelson says the craft beer market has exploded. The brewer has been making specialty craft beers for more than 15 years in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom, but decided to come to China after seeing a great opportunity to introduce a country of beer drinkers to more complex and flavorful brews.