Jing-A Brewpub XFC: Time to Meat n’ Greet!

Posted: December 11th, 2017 | Author: LumDimSum | Filed under: Foodies & Dining Scene | Tags: BBQ, beer tasting, BJ Foodies, carnivore platter, Chef Andrew Dilda, cocktails on tap, crispy brussel sprouts, Holistic Care Programs, jewelry, Jing-A Brewpub XFC, Jing-A Taproom 1949, meat n greet, pie in a jar, slow-smoked Texas BBQ, social enterprise, Starfish Project, Xingfucun, 京A, 京A Taproom | No Comments »

Jing-A Brewpub’s Killer Carnivore Platter

In case you hadn’t noticed, Big Smoke closed down and Jing-A Brewpub have moved in to fill the void. Technically, 京A had their own space within Big Smoke, but now the whole space is re-branded as Jing-A Brewpub XingFuCun (XFC) and this space and menu is entirely 京A through and through.

This is a big step up for the 京A guys who are excited that they now have a truckload more space to play around with. As such, this new location has an expanded menu and functions as a central kitchen to prepare smoked and cured meats for the original 京A Taproom in 1949 – The Hidden City in south Sanlitun. They’ve custom-built a new smoker, making BBQ a big focus here. We went over to check it out and see the results!

In addition to Jing-A beers on tap including both their collection of year-round beers alongside seasonal and experimental brews, they also feature guest beers and ciders. One thing worth noting (if you didn’t already know) is that they offer “BEER TO GO” – all their draft beers are available for take-away in 1L and 2L growlers, or you can get their Worker’s Pale Ale and Flying Fist IPA in 330ml bottles – RMB 100/115 for 4-pack or RMB 408/528 for a case of 24 bottles.

Here’s how they are differentiating between the two hubs:

“Jing-A Brewpub Xingfucun offers an extensive menu by Chef Andrew Dilda, with a focus on slow-smoked Texas BBQ. In our Back Bar you’ll also find six cocktails on tap and a curated selection of Bourbons, Whiskeys, and Rums.

Jing-A Taproom 1949 serves a dinner menu of pub food favorites with a Beijing twist, as well as the popular Brewer’s Brunch on weekends.”

Stepping inside, nothing revolutionary has happened, but Jing-A have made some design tweaks and left their mark on their new digs. Beijinger’s will notice that a wall is “bricked-up” on one-side, they’ve added a main bar in the center of their space and a cocktail bar in the back.  It is still a great space to sit down with some friends and have a chat, only now, you can choose to do so at the bustling main bar, or at the smaller and more intimate cocktail bar they have set up at the other end of the building (where Big Smoke had their roast chickens). I like this option, as on the night we went, things got pretty noisy with a couple of big groups. That’s great if you’re looking for a casual and rowdy atmosphere, but it’s also nice to have the calmer redoubt to fall back to around the corner.

LDS Snapshots of the New 京A Brewpub: 

Stepping inside the Front Entrace into a Dining Space with Bike Wagon for Beers on Tap

Twist on Traditional Chengyu for Wall Decor

This Corridor leads you down to the other venue spaces + bathrooms!

Reminds me of the walls of any Chinese apartment covered in stamps and phone numbers! 

Main Dining Space with Tables Near the Main Bar

Main Bar with Tall Counters and High Stools

Cocktails on Tap! Plus Curated Selection of Bourbons, Whiskeys, and Rums

Loaded Fries (RMB 46)

The loaded fries were great, a real guilty pleasure with piles of pulled pork, sour cream, salsa and melted cheese.

Crispy Brussel Sprouts (RMB 30)

 As good as the loaded fries were, our favourite hands down was the Crispy Brussel Sprouts. One member of the group even claiming that these are the only sprouts he would ever consider eating!

Jing-A Wings x 8 (RMB 55)

The chicken wings were a nice suprise because the batter isn’t too thick and the tangy house sauce is a nice alternative to the usual blue cheese dip or BBQ sauce. But get them out of the bowl asap as there was quite a lot of sauce pooled at the bottom that left one of our wings soggy. #leavenowingbehind

Chop Chop Salad (RMB 50)

Baby gem leaves with griddled corn, sliced avocado, red onion, and cherry tomatoes with a honey-lime vinaigrette, the salad was fine but it didn’t have anything particularly memorable about it.  *Update: Jing-A have confirmed that this salad has been replaced with a Fattoush salad (also available at Jing-A Taproom 1949).

Roasted Cauliflower with Creamy Pepper Sauce (RMB 30)

The cauliflower too was lacking punch. Maybe some kind of pungent parmesan or some chili, but the “Creamy Pepper Sauce” was lacking in flavor overall.

Carnivore Platter (RMB 388)

The carnivore platter is a great option if you go with a group and could have fed 3-4 people no problem. This includes their classic smoked meats including their Beef Brisket, Pulled Pork, Two Sausage Links, a 1/2 Slab of Pork Ribs and Brisket Burnt Ends alongside 3x Slaw, Pickles and Mantou.

The ribs were a little bland and tough, but the brisket was great and the other meats were solid, especially with the addition of the BBQ sauce. Basically the only meat that they didn’t include in this platter is the pork belly, which we felt was one of the best things we tasted!

Pork Belly (250g) for RMB 70

Southern Green with Bacon (RMB 30)

The greens were interesting because Jing-A have used kale instead of the usual collard greens. Unfortunately this means the dish is pretty bitter at the moment. With a few tweaks, I can see the potential for a great dish!

Mac n’ Cheese (RMB 40)

Creamy and gooey – they’ve got the texture on point, but similar to the Roasted Cauliflower – we thought this one could use a ramp up in flavor and cheesiness as well.

Pie in a Jar (RMB 30 each) – Banana Cream Walnut (L) & Double chocolate Oreo (R)

There are three flavors on offer – banana cream walnut, cinnamon apple and double chocolate oreo. You can also add a scoop of ice cream for an additional RMB 10. This is a good option for the cinnamon apple that comes served hot! While all three were tasty, the warm apple pie was a general favorite but the banana walnut was my pie of choice!

Pie in a Jar – Cinnamon Apple is served Hot! (RMB 30 + 10 for Ice Cream!)

Either way, this new Jing-A Brewpub space at XFC is a solid replacement for Big Smoke. A little noisy in the main area perhaps, and they have some teething issues to work through with the smoker, but I trust the guys and fully expect that in the next few months things will just get better and better!

For those who haven’t been and are looking for an excuse to try, the BJ FOoDiEs crew are hosting their monthly charity dinner at Jing-A Brewpub this coming Sunday, December 17 from 7:30-9:30PM.

Early foodies get the best seats so if you want to bring your own entourage of foodies, then we recommend that you come on time at 19:30. Come join this entourage of die-hard foodies who are always up for new dining adventures and keen to support community events around town.

With limited seating, I’d recommend booking your seats ASAP as we expect to sell out. All you need to do is transfer of RMB 100 to WeChat ID: LumDimSum and you’ll be set!

Meat n’ Greet Party Menu

Shared BBQ: Carnivore Platter

Slow-Smoked Beef Brisket

Pork Ribs & Sausage Links

Pulled Pork + Special Portion of Burnt Brisket Ends

Sides & More:

Lao Ma’s Cornbread

Crispy Brussel Sprouts

Homemade Mac n’ Cheese

Cole Slaw, House Pickles & Grilled Mantou

Dessert:

Pie in a Jar: Pumpkin Pie

RMB 100 includes Meat n’ Greet Menu (Shared between 4)

+ Drink of Choice (Pint of Draft Beer, Cocktail from Back Bar or Any Soft Drink)

“Indulge for a Cause”

Carnivore Platter (Photo Courtesy of Jing-A)

**Note that this set menu is also available for group parties at a price of RMB 180 per person and they also have a more premium version that includes pork belly, rotisserie chicken and extra sides + extra drink per person. 

Selected Charity: Starfish Project

 “Starfish Project is a social enterprise that cares for women coming out of exploitation.  We provide life-changing opportunities through our Holistic Care Programs and our social enterprise where women create beautiful jewelry and become managers, accountants, graphic designers, and photographers.

Through our Holistic Care Programs, we provide vocational training, healthcare, shelter, counselling, and education grants for our women and their children. Starfish Project has employed over 125 women and has served thousands through our Community Outreach Services.

100% of our profits are reinvested into our social mission to help women and girls experience freedom, establish independence and develop careers.”

Starfish Project’s Beautiful Jewelry Products:

*Starfish will have some jewelry available for sale as well!

For those who are not familiar with the FOoDiEs concept, they organize monthly charity dinners at different restaurants each month at an amazing price between RMB 100-150 per person (for a meal worth much more its value) so that guests will feel extra generous to the sponsored organization that month.

The RMB 100 for this month’s dinner will be paid directly to the hosting restaurant and guests will be introduced to a representative of the sponsored organization and envelopes will be passed out during the main course so that after the organization representative has introduced their cause, guests can anonymously donate as they wish! Our hope is that the more satisfied with the generous meal, the more generous you’ll be with your wallet!

Donations are accepted in both cash form and WeChat transfers (I always bring extra cash for your transfer donations).

About BJ Foodies Group:

Organizing monthly group meals at about RMB 100-150/head with food/drinks included, this group of dedicated foodies is all about “satiating their inner-foodie appetites for good quality food, conversation & fine wining/sake-ing/cocktailing/beering while indulging for a cause”.

BJ FOODIES PURPOSE: 

1. Just to eat a nice meal & catch up with real people & friends outside worklife and boozy nightlife.

2. Opportunity to contribute our little bits to society while doing something we love – EATING. The Charity aspect is a supplementary & added bonus to our shared loved for FANTASTIC FOOD. 

BJ FOoDiEs Charity Dinner @Jing-A Brewpub:

• Date: Sunday, December 17th

• Time: 19:30-21:30

• Location: Jing-A Brewpub XFC (contact details below)

• Cost: RMB 100 per FOoDiE includes Meat n’ Greet Menu (Shared Between 4) + Drink of Choice (Pint of Draft Beer, Cocktail or Soft Drink)

• To Book Your Seat: WeChat Transfer RMB 100 to LumDimSum

• To Join the BJ FOoDiEs Mailing List: E-mail bjfoodies@gmail.com

京A Brewpub XFC Contact Details:

• Address: 57 Xingfucun Zhong Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing

• 地址：北京市朝阳区幸福村中路57号 京A Brewpub

• Tel: (8610) 6416-5195

• Hours: Monday-Thursday: 5PM-Midnight, Friday: 4PM-2AM, Saturday: 11AM-2AM, Sunday: 11AM-Midnight

京A Taproom 1949:

• Address: 京A Taproom, 1949 The Hidden City, Courtyard 4, Gongti Bei Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing

• 地址：北京市朝阳区工体北路4号院1949大院内 京A Taproom

• Tel: (8610) 6501-8883

• Hours: Monday-Thursday: 5PM-Midnight, Friday: 4PM-2AM, Saturday: 11AM-2AM, Sunday: 11AM-Midnight

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