Article By Ji Kai Rui
1F, L di Bin Fen Hui, Northeast Corner of Jin Ye Road and Zhang Ba 2 Road Intersection
锦业路与丈八二路十字东北角绿地缤纷荟一楼
(029) 8115 1280
10:00am – Midnight
Average Price per Person /人均消费: 45RMB
PROS: Good price for a craft pint, food more authentic than most, beer is the right temperature (ice cold)
CONS: Location may be a bit far for some
Irecently had the pleasure of visiting the Xi’an Taproom, a second location of the already well-known Xian Brewery. This second location is in the south of Gaoxin, which may be a bit out of the way for some, but in my opinion is worth the trip. The most important part of any brewpub is the brew, so let’s start there..
I tried nearly everything they had on tap, and honestly there wasn’t a single beer I didn’t enjoy. The highlights were the Cider (6.6% ABV), the Passion Fruit IPA (5.5%, 35 IBU), and the Imperial Milk Stout (8.5% 30 IBU). The cider is refreshing, not overly sweet like many ciders can be, and has a very natural apple flavor. The IPA has a decent level of bitterness, but didn’t feel overly hoppy, which I appreciated since I’m not really an IPA fan. The Milk Stout and Imperial Stout are both great beers, but I found the Imperial a little smoother and creamier, and also appreciated the slightly higher ABV. They also have a few rotating guest beers on tap, but I didn’t get a chance to try them out. After sampling more than 10 beers and a ton of food, my body was already trying to decide if my difficulty walking was due to being too full or too drunk.
The food here is probably the closest you’ll find to authentic western food in Xi’an. I had the hot wings, which are sauced with something that seems like a combination of traditional wing sauce and BBQ. Beef and chicken skewers were both nice, and the burger here is the best in town.
I found the location to be comfortable and relaxed, but it’s definitely more of a “drinks and dinner after work” sort of feel than a “let’s go party tonight” type of place. This is also reflected in the hours of operation, as they open for lunch and close at midnight.
All told, my visit to the Xi’an Taproom was great. The beers, service, and food were all on-point. Once summer rolls around, they will also have a ton of outdoor seating available so you can bask in the sunshine as you enjoy an after-work pint or two.
Ji is a singer, maker of Ejuice, and lover of all things drinkable