Not so much news about the Mongolian brewing industry but the fact that I have found a bit of news about beer in Mongolia at all. Last January, the news was not happy: police corruption, breweries shutting and a questionable reporter. Today's update in the Ulan Bator Post about the Chinggis Brewery's pub/restaurant is a bit more encouraging:

This is actually a ‘real-life’ brewery, with its own distillery in an expansive room adjoining the bar and restaurant. Copper pipes and large silver vats turn hops and water and other stuff, into either a dark beer or light pilsner. And bloody good they are too: I tried the pilsner and I have to profess to being ignorant in the ways of true brewing. Fortunately we had amongst us something of a beer expert who guzzled half a liter of what the restaurant calls the dark beer, one of the reasons she keeps coming back to the brewery she admitted. For me, a plebian of the beer-world, a sampling sip means next-to-nothing, but when offered I drew up a large portion and swished it around my mouth, more in the hope I looked worldly than anything...I was easily able to finish my mug of Chinggis pilsner, and that is a rarity, an alcoholic wonder no less. From the restaurant regular, and our aficionado of beer consumption, came the description that the dark brew was hearty with a silk cover. Make of that what you will, but when a second and then a third half-liter turned up at our table, being hearty and silk covered at the same time is apparently a positive attribute.

OK - so the writer calls the brewery a "distillery" and admits really not to know much about beer. What is important is that it is Mongolian beer news...or at least information...of a sort. Also importantly was the information that Chinggis is the place to get the best steak in Mongolia. While this is a bit of a slap in the face to every backyard - back o' the yurt perhaps - Mongolian tailgater, it is at least handy to know in case one finds oneself in Ulan Bator with a protein hankering coming on.

The photo is a classic, taken from this handy dandy "Things To Do In Mongolia" tourist page and provides all the cheery hoisty steiny action you expect from a brewery tour visit in Mongolia photo. Love the utterly useless white lab coats they make you wear. Excellent.