Sudsy success

The room has the rustic look of a warehouse, with its wooden tables, brick walls, industrial metal chairs and a polished, modern bar. Warm, yellow bulbs hang on black wires, creating a nice contrast between softness and a bit of edge. A hand-painted beer menu hanging on the wall adds a collage of color, while a flashy sign reading "BEER" lights up a back corner.

It's quiet now, but come opening time, the Jing-A Taproom will echo with the chatter of foreigners and Chinese amidst the clinks and clanks of beer glasses.

Since it opened its doors late last year in 1949 The Hidden City compound in Beijing's buzzing Sanlitun area, the restaurant and bar has made quite a name for itself. The creative duo behind the operation, Canadian Kristian Li and American Alex Acker, are two guys living the dream and not taking anything too seriously. They've been brewing up a storm for three years but their friendship spans over a decade.