This Sunday Great Leap Brewing is releasing the Hidden General IPA, a beer named after the legendary Hua Mulan. Light bodied and flavorful, we infused this session IPA with dried chrysanthemum flowers to highlight the floral aromas of the Mandarina Bavaria hops. To celebrate the release of the Hidden General IPA, we’re out to set the record straight on a couple of mysterious figures in Chinese history, Hua Mulan and Edmund Backhouse.
Hidden General 花木兰
Much of Hua Mulan’s story has been distorted by myth, bedtime stories, and a certain animated film. However, there is far more to Mulan than can fit into a G-rated movie. The real Hidden General would get along with the likes of Artemisia of Caria and Fu Hao far better than Cinderella and Snow White. In fact, the most historically accurate part of the Disney version of the legend of Mulan might just be the talking dragon. But who was the real Hua Mulan? Hua Mulan is the story behind the myth. How has this story of the girl who dressed as a soldier to save her father and defend her nation become one of China’s most cherished national myths?
Edmund Backhouse 爱得猛的·后房爵士
Part intellectual and part con artist, Edmund Backhouse was skilled enough with his tongue (in more ways than one) to gain the confidence of certain members of the Qing royal court. Or so he claimed. On a scale of truth, many of the fantabulist’s accounts actually fall somewhere between “total bullshit” and “middle school rumor.” What we do know is that he was always willing to trade on inside knowledge cultivated during his fervent explorations of the back passages of Beijing. He was an important source for many journalists, including the famous George “Morrison of Peking” Morrison, China correspondent for the Times. The fact that 80% of what he told Morrison was a mixture of fantasy and bordello rumors didn’t matter. At the time, Backhouse appeared to be one of the few foreigners in Beijing who knew what was really going on behind the walls and gates of the Forbidden City.
Of course, any Great Leap Brewing history lesson wouldn’t count without a couple beers. As part of the discussion all “students” will be served the two beers whose namesakes we’ll be talking about, the Hidden General IPA and the Edmund Backhouse Pilsner. The discussion will begin promptly at 1pm (make sure to show up at 12:30 to get a seat) at Great Leap Original #6. Tickets are 100 RMB for pre-registration and 120 RMB at the door.
Local historian Jeremiah Jenne will lead the conversation in both Chinese and English.
To make a reservation, send an email to jimmy@greatleapbrewing.com. Email jimmy@greatleapbrewing.com to reserve a seat.
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