Drinkers have reason for good cheer

More brands on offer than ever before amid increasing thirst for refined beverages

The Olympic Games and an unusually scorching summer should have provided a big boost for major beer companies, not least for craft beers who are emerging, it seems, stronger, swifter and faster.

The craft beer industry has been experiencing robust growth in recent years despite a generally shrinking beer market as wine makes inroads. The National Statistics Bureau announced last month that for the first half of 2016, China produced 22.51 million tons of beer, down by 8.36 percent year-on-year. The industry has recorded falling production, up to June, for 24 consecutive months.