First published on 1 Nov 2011. Updated on 7 Dec 2011.
Classy ale-focused microbrewery from the people behind Dr Wine
2011 may go down as the year in which microbreweries colonised Shanghai. With Pudong's
The BREW, and Dongping Lu's Shanghai Brewery (opening this month) also entering the fray, Dr Beer nonetheless has something special to offer, other than its prime location on Fumin Lu.
The bar is the city’s first to properly separate brewed on-site beers from sports. There's not a screen in sight at this chic, loft-style space. The focus here is very much on the beers. You can tell from the layout: tables are fitted with beer taps and the copper brewing tanks – a jumble of pipes, canisters and valves – are lit up for all to admire.
The design comes from Yann Quilbeuf, the brains behind
Dr Wine (just down the road at number 177). After opening last year, Dr Wine quickly established itself as a chic, low-key destination for dedicated, mainly local, wine drinkers. Headed by Pierre Weyland, formerly of
Enoterra, Dr Beer is now providing a similar experience for beer-drinkers.
There are just five brews – Wheat, Pale Ale, Pilsner, IPA and Dark Ale (48RMB/small or 58RMB/medium). The IPA is classically American, with a powerful aroma, strong hoppy flavour and a slight bitterness (45 on the Bitterness Scale). For winter, the dark ale is especially good with its full-bodied malt flavour enriched with hints of coffee and chocolate. The pale ale is lighter with pine and floral notes, and comes served with a slice of orange. If you can’t chose, order the Brew Master’s tasting panel (68RMB) and try all five. Wine is available too from 57RMB/glass.
Food options are hit and miss: the Chef’s Selection (bread dips, feta and sun-dried tomato) arrives with canned olives, disappointing for 58RMB, and the white pizzas (63RMB) taste like béchamel on bread. More exciting are the Dr Beer signature dishes: skewer platters (64RMB/six skewers to 210RMB/24 skewers) and roasted pork belly with dark ale sauce (68RMB).
Like Dr Wine, Dr Beer is doing little sensational. But in providing a chic, relaxed space to enjoy quality brews, and recognising that a microbrew-pub needn’t show big screen sports, Dr Beer stands out in a crowded field.
Charlotte Middlehurst