China
Tsingtao Brewery
Chinese brewery founded by German brewers during the German lease of Qingdao, and the origin of Chinese lager brewing at scale.
Also known as Qingdao Brewery.
Why it matters
China is the largest beer market in the world and its brewing is almost entirely a lager tradition, which is not an indigenous inheritance. This brewery is where the transmission is documented: founded in 1903 by German brewers to German practice, and still the country’s most widely exported beer.
Details
| Founded | 1903 |
|---|---|
| Where | China |
| Status | Operating |
Reference beers
BeerHQ carries only the products that anchor something. This is not the brewery’s full range.
Styles it is associated with
- International pale lager — The global mainstream lager: pale, clean, lightly hopped and built for consistency and refreshment above flavour intensity.
Last reviewed 2026-08-16.