The Great Stumble

August 28th 2017

My feet were killing me but I was determined to find Great Leap Brewing!

It is a microbrewery in one of the Hutongs and has a great selection of ales made mostly from local ingredients. 

We arrived about 3.30pm and were the only people there; we decided to have a pint each and sit outside and enjoy the sunshine. A Chinese couple arrived shortly after and ordered a flight to share....this was next on our list!

While I was waiting for Iain to bring back a flight each (I don't like sharing!), I logged onto the wifi only to find Sharon had sent me all the pictures from the tour earlier.....75 to be precise! I am actually really grateful as she managed to capture some moments that we would not have been able to...5 star review on the way, once I get wifi again!

Anyway, back to the beer flight, this is what we had:
1. Silver Needle White Ale
2. Fruit for Life Citrus IPA
3. Chesty Puller IPA
4. East City Porter




I was reasonably merry after the flight, but we thought we should have one more for the road.....just a light lager this time though!

We left the brewing company determined to make the flag lowering ceremony at Tiananmen Square; it was a short walk then 3 changes on the subway. We made it with about 15 minutes to spare; I found a great place to stand while Iain went off to find the public toilet. All was well until he came back and said..."I can't find the go-pro!"

He rechecked his bag while I took photos of the square, now decked in lights. I actually missed the flag lowering as I was searching his bag too...never mind, next time!

We decided to go back to the brewing company and ask if it had been handed in, thinking the worst for obvious reasons! We both remember it on the table then neither of us remember seeeing it again. 

Back on the subway, 3 changes later and a walk to the brewing company in the pitch dark (well almost, there were a few street lights but that was about it). We went into the bar, which was rammed,  and asked if it had been handed in, no joy......I thought, one last check around the table, and there it was! It must have been knocked off the table and had been sitting on the ground for over 2 hours, what luck!

After our exhausting tour and having to retrace our steps back to the brewing company, we decided to call it a night and head back to the hotel on the subway. It was a nice easy journey, just 2 changes and relatively quick.

We both collapsed and decided to pack for the train to Mongolia in the morning! What a day!

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