Carlsberg Buys Into Chinese Craft Brewery

Danish brewer Carlsberg has acquired a minority stake in Jing–A Brewing, a Beijing-based craft brewery that’s been building an empire on the Chinese mainland.

Founded in 2012 by Alex Acker and Kris Li, two North American expatriates who had been living in Beijing since 2000, Jing-A is known for its use of Chinese ingredients such as red rice koji, ginger, and Sichuan peppercorn, as well as for its interpretations of more American beer styles such as IPAs (of course), Witbiers and Stouts.

Once the deal closes, Carlsberg will assume responsibility for the distribution of Jing-A’s beer portfolio, “while the Chinese brewer will continue to produce its craft and specialty beers while developing its brand,” according to FoodBev Media.

This from the Jing-A’s founders…

“Jing-A has always been driven by a deep love for good beer – it’s been a thrill for us to devote ourselves, our energy and our creativity to it.

“Over the past year, we’ve found ourselves increasingly pulled out of the brewery and into the back office. As a result we’ve been exploring funding options that would support Jing-A’s future development, while at the same time allow us to bring focus back to what we love most – brewing craft beer in China.

“We’re excited to announce that to that end, we’ve received investment from Carlsberg as a minority partner to fuel Jing-A’s next chapter. It will be the same people doing it, driven by the same passion and creativity – now with more support for quality, innovation, and distribution.”

Jing-A, who also operate two brewpubs in China have developed strong relationships with some of craft beers biggest names in the US…And last November Jing-A and Stone Brewing released a collaboration they did with Stone Brewing.

Conceived when Jing-A traveled to California to participate in Stone’s 22nd-anniversary festival, Jing-A/Stone Delights and Sorrows, (or Tong Gan Gong Ku if you will) was a 7% ABV West-Coast IPA brewed with chrysanthemum tea.