Introduction: Passing on China's millennia-old brewing culture to consumers, continuing to lead Chinese beer cultural confidence.
On September 25, China Resources Beer held the "Li Cheng Qian Nian, Nong Yun Dong Fang" (Heritage of a Thousand Years, Brewed in the East) Nongli launch and Li series national sales kickoff meeting in Sanmenxia, Henan Province, the core area of Yangshao culture.
At the meeting, China Resources Beer unveiled its new ultra-premium product, Nongli (pronounced nóng lǐ), a strong beer with an alcohol content of ≥12.0% vol and original wort concentration of ≥25.0% vol.
This is another ultra-premium new product from China Resources Beer following the launch of the ultra-premium product "Li" in May 2021 (alcohol content ≥8.0% vol), as part of its ongoing exploration, inheritance, and promotion of traditional Chinese beer culture. It sets a new record for alcohol content in Chinese strong beers.
What kind of beer is Nongli?
In May 2021, the launch of "Li" broke the consumer perception that "beer is a Western import." The launch of "Li" also became one of the notable trending topics that year.
Archaeologists have found ample evidence that beer was not exclusively a Western invention; Chinese people had already learned to brew beer thousands of years ago.
The Western Han dynasty text "Huainanzi" records: "Clear and fine wine originates from the plow. Sprouted grains make li, and koji makes jiu." This indicates that beverages made from sprouted grains were called li, which is highly similar to the raw materials and brewing process used for modern beer.
After the Western Han, li gradually fell into obscurity. "Tiangong Kaiwu" (The Works of Heaven and the Inception of Things) records: "In ancient times, koji was used to make jiu, and sprouted grains to make li. Later generations disliked the thin taste of li, so it was lost, and with it the method of using sprouted grains."
The "Li" beer launched by China Resources Snow is a product that revives traditional Chinese beer, based on rigorous research into the raw materials and production techniques of li in Yangshao culture, combined with modern technology.
So what is Nongli, and how does it differ from "Li"?
Image: New ultra-premium strong beer "Nongli"
"Nong" is synonymous with "thick" or "rich," meaning "strong and full-bodied." It follows the same style as the previously launched "Li" beer but has a higher alcohol content and a richer flavor, placing it in the strong beer category.
Currently, strong beers typically have an alcohol content of around 10% vol, but increasing Nongli to over 12% vol is no easy feat.
According to Zhong Junhui, Dean of the China Resources Beer Technology Research Institute, "With ordinary yeast, when the alcohol content exceeds 8% vol, the yeast mortality rate changes dramatically, greatly affecting the beer's taste. Nongli not only requires a longer brewing time but also requires solving many fermentation challenges."
After extensive experimentation, the China Resources Beer R&D team innovated with a process involving two temperature increases and a three-stage fermentation method, overcoming the technical difficulties of flavor coordination and balance, ultimately achieving the optimal balance of flavor and mouthfeel for Nongli.
In addition, Nongli has undergone significant changes in vessel design, brewing techniques, and product packaging. The bottle design, material selection, and drinking vessel choices are more aligned with traditional cultural elements.
For example, the bottle design of Nongli is inspired by the Neolithic "double-eared salamander pattern bottle," with a textured body resembling antique black pottery; the decorative patterns from Neolithic pottery on the bottle symbolize auspiciousness; and the drinking vessel shape is a faithful reproduction of the ancient wine vessel, the gu.
Breakthroughs of the China Resources Beer "Li" Series
Ma Weidu, Cultural Ambassador for Li and founder of the Guanfu Museum, stated, "The launch of 'Li' and 'Nongli' by China Resources Beer is a groundbreaking contribution to Chinese beer culture."
First, the "Li" beer series is a clarification of the historical origins of Chinese beer culture.
Zhong Junhui said in his speech, "The 'beer' in Yangshao culture dates to around 3500 BC; Sumerian 'beer' to around 6000 BC; and ancient Egyptian 'beer' to around 3000 BC. These three types of 'beer' share many similarities in raw materials and production processes, but the timeline proves they developed independently, and Sumerian 'beer' did not spread to China."
Therefore, China's own "beer" has an independent origin, culture, and heritage. Chinese beer culture has its own "roots," and China should forge a distinct beer culture.
Second, the "Li" beer series represents a major breakthrough in Chinese beer drinking scenarios.
Ma Weidu believes that Chinese drinking occasions are relatively monotonous, usually accompanying meals. However, "Li" and "Nongli" have strong social attributes, breaking through and enriching consumer drinking scenarios.
Whether it is drinking alone "inviting the moon to share a cup," two people drinking together in a study or living room, or a few friends sharing a drink, "Li" and "Nongli" can meet diverse social needs, adding more color to life.
The birth of "Li" and "Nongli" brings more possibilities for "social drinking" scenarios in China, contributing unique value and significance to Chinese drinking culture.
Image: Ma Weidu, Cultural Ambassador for Li and founder of the Guanfu Museum
The "Li" series is a historic breakthrough in Chinese beer cultural confidence
He Yong, Secretary-General of the China Alcoholic Drinks Association and Chairman of the Beer Branch, stated, "Through historical research, scientific experiments, technical breakthroughs, and production practice, China Resources Beer has used modern production processes to simulate natural fermentation environments, allowing the ancient 'Li' and 'Nongli' to be reborn. This is not only a look back at traditional culture but also a historic breakthrough in the cultural and quality confidence of China's beer industry."
Image: He Yong, Secretary-General of the China Alcoholic Drinks Association and Chairman of the Beer Branch
In traditional Chinese culture, alcohol holds an extremely high status and significance. Throughout history, literati have spared no praise for fine wines, with as many as 281 alternative names for fine wines, and "Nongli" is one of the most representative.
In fact, China Resources Beer has long been committed to inheriting and promoting traditional Chinese culture. The path of China Resources Beer's rise is essentially a "Chinese characteristic" beer path, exemplified by the successful creation of the era-defining mega-brand "Brave the World" (Yongchuang Tianya).
In recent years, China Resources Beer has proposed using the concept of "top-level inheritance" to build a Chinese beer image for high-end products, gradually exploring a new path that separates Chinese beer from European styles and integrates Chinese historical culture and aesthetics.
The "Li" beer launched by China Resources Beer in 2021 has become one of the benchmark products in the Chinese beer field. The launch of "Nongli" not only enriches the "Li" product series but also represents a landmark move for Chinese beer culture.
He Yong stated, "Nongli" is a landmark product that combines "scientific innovation and cultural creativity," and it is of great significance in boosting and enhancing the image of the Chinese beer category and changing consumer perceptions of beer.
"Drinking 'Nongli' is drinking history and tasting ancient flavors." Zhao Chunwu, President of China Resources Beer and General Manager of China Resources Snow, also stated that day, "The mission of 'Nongli' is to pass on China's millennia-old brewing culture to consumers. This is the responsibility of a major country that Chinese enterprises bear, and it is also the original aspiration and relentless pursuit of every China Resources Snow employee."