Great Leap Beers Chinese Ingredients

ABOUT

Great Leap Brewing is the first craft brewery in Beijing, China. Great Leap craft beers proudly incorporate traditional Chinese ingredients and boast flavors and aromas unique to the Middle Kingdom. Each of our beers is created with the goal of showcasing the finest aspects of Chinese history and culture. Founded by Carl Setzer and Liu Fang, Great Leap first opened for business in October of 2010 at Original #6 in Doujiao Hutong. Our menu has since grown from four beers in one taproom to twenty taps across three locations.

In spring 2013, we opened Flagship Brewpub #12, which expanded our brewing capacity and allowed our Directors of Fermentation to increase production to over 40 different craft beers every year. Aside from the beer menu, Flagship #12 quickly achieved local fame for our classic double-meat-double-cheese Cheeseburger. 2014 saw the opening of our newest restaurant/brewpub, Great Leap #45, which houses the equipment to produce our three best selling craft beers: Honey Ma Gold, Pale Ale #6, and Banana Wheat. Great Leap #45 offers a menu of New York style pizza, and features the only Angram Beer Machine in Mainland China. Our fourth facility, which was originally our first production capable brewery, is located in Tian Xian Yu, and is home to our Great Wall Barrel Program. Led by the Wall Builder Imperial Stout, our barrel-program released its inaugural brews in 2016.

Craft beer is more than just a product at Great Leap Brewing. It is a responsibility. Since pouring our first pints of Honey Ma Gold, Pale Ale #6 and the East City Porter on a fateful autumn evening, we have gladly carried the responsibility of building a craft beer community in Beijing. We set out with the goal of brewing world-class beers, of which Beijing would be proud. Now it is our goal to put Great Leap beer in the hands of as many people as possible, both in China and around the globe.

FOUNDERS

Carl Setzer

Founder and Brewmaster

Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Carl first came to China in 2004 and has been fascinated by this country ever since. While pursuing a Master’s Degree in Public International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh, Carl studied Chinese language and culture. From 2007 to 2010, he worked for various IT companies across Taiwan, Pennsylvania, and Beijing. However, after a few years of working 17-hour days in the IT world, Carl decided he wanted to do something creative, challenging, and rewarding. Following a trip to Europe with his wife, Liu Fang, Carl was inspired by European beer culture and decided to try brewing beer that represented Chinese culinary tradition. After months of playing around with different recipes, he found a few that made him proud, and invited some friends over to try the beer. Once they recognized the potential of craft beer in Beijing, Carl and Liu Fang founded Great Leap Brewing in October of 2010. Carl remains Brewmaster and CEO of Great Leap Brewing, which has grown from four taps and one location to sixty taps across three locations. Carl is also a founding member of the Craft Beer Association of China and sits on their board of directors as well as on the technical committee. Carl also sits on the Technical Scientific Committee of the Berlin Institute for Fermentation and Biotechnology (VLB).

Liu Fang

Founder and Boss

Liu Fang was born and raised in Shandong Province. For university, she chose to attend the Hubei University of Medicine, where she graduated in 2006. After graduation, she took a job as a translator at a coal mining securities company that was a joint venture between China and France. Eventually, she was promoted into administrative management, in particular managing both the departments human resources and tactical development. At this level she was able to study and learn ways to manage and run an intercultural business in China, and even more importantly she learned the local Chinese drinking styles and customs. In 2009 she left this company and began experimenting with brewing beer at her own house with her husband, because she firmly believes that a world class beer can come from China. Since she has chosen this path for herself, to this day she has not once regretted her decision to quit her job and start the craft beer business in China.