QINGDAO-In Qingdao, the hometown of the Tsingtao Brewery, Beer is having a moment as the hot summer days tap people’s growing taste for quality brews.

Tsingtao 1903, a local bar owned by the domestic beer maker, is bustling with thirsty patrons one evening.

The bar manager said summer is high season for the drink, with recent beer sales tripling from previous months.

“After a hard day’s work, I come here to drink beer with some friends which is quite relaxing, said one person.

Other than traditional beer flavors which tend to be cheaper, the bar also sells an assortment of more expensive mid-to high-end brews.

“As long as the beer tastes good, it is ok for me to spend 40 yuan (about six U.S.dollars) (on one bottle of beer). Actually, I am fine with even higher prices (as long as its of higher quality),” said another beer drinker.

China’s Tebon Securities estimate the country will consume more than 5.5million kiloliters of high-end beer by 2024 generating a market worth 280 billion yuan (about 42 billion US dollars). Upscale beer is expected to account for 40 percent of the total beer market.

Source：International Daily