Richkat Justout

www.instagram.com/richkatcraftbrewing

Brewed by Richkat Craft Brewing
Style: Oatmeal Stout
Shenzhen, China

Just shortly after September 2001, the world was in a strange place, as what had happened in Lower Manhattan, New York shook up the planet and everyone was on edge. In my case, I had just set foot in China to take up a teaching position in a city (Taiyuan) I had never heard before, and in a country I had very little knowledge of. To say it was daunting for me, is an understatement, yet in the same breath it was slightly exciting! China at that time was just setting off on a developmental story that by the end of the decade would transform the world. As for myself, I ended up staying in China for over five years and developed a keen interest in the Middle Kingdom.

In the early noughties craft beer was not really a thing, not just in China but anywhere really. I got used to drinking Tsingtao or Harbin Píjiǔ (“beer”), the main fare in those days, and to be fair pretty decent brands too. The Chinese could drink; I saw that myself whilst living in Harbin – a city which has one of the highest average per capita beer consumptions in the world – and the Chinese bar culture, with their KTVs and easy access to good food, was and is always good fun. The ground was there for a beer revolution.

So returning to China over 20 and a bit years later I can say the country has gone through a massive change – and all for the best – more modern infrastructure, better transport facilities and networks, more modern conveniences, and a cleaner and greener environment in many of the cities, and, I am happy to say, also a new appreciation for the finer things in life – yes, that means good high quality beer!

And so the story begins

In the year of 2017, Richkat Craft Brewing, a craft beer maker, was founded in the vibrant and oh so massive city of Shenzhen. This city in southern China is, of course, that modern metropolis of 17 and a half million people that is just a stones throw from Hong Kong.

From here Richkat have established a strong presence in mainland China with over 180 locations nationwide and also have just tapped (literally!) into the large Hong Kong market with five, and soon to be six, bars dotted on the small crowded region. Not bad work at all for a beer brand that is still very much in its infancy.

What they offer is award-winning, independently produced beers, available in both draft and freshly canned options, and in an extensive network of cool and hip taprooms. The beers are unfiltered and undiluted to retain active yeast delivering the genuine freshness and complexity of artisan brewing, and they have won multiple international awards, including at the World Beer Awards, the Australian International Beer Awards and the Kong International Beer Awards, cementing RICHKAT’s reputation as a leading craft beer producer not just in Asia but also in the world.

So whats the back story to this exciting new brewery? Well it all started when a software developer by the name of Zhao Yong who, while enjoying the local beer scene in Shenzhen, came up with the idea of opening his own craft beer joint. A lover of craft beers, Zhao Yong wanted to have something different to the expensive prices that were on offer at the time. He saught to provide good quality brews but also at prices that wouldn’t hurt the pocket of the local beer enthusiast. Step forward Gavin Hemple, British born and a regular at a bar owned by Zhao Yong, and someone who also just happened to have completed a brewing internship at Norway’s exciting Nøgne Ø craft brewery and had even studied brewing and the business of brewing at the famous American home of craft brewing, the Siebel Institute of Technology.

A match made in heaven perhaps? Well in 2017 the pair teamed up to create a Chinese craft beer brand that they would name RichKat – the idea behind the name coming from the pleasure one gets from a cat who welcomes its owner home and gives off a good mood – so similar to a Richkat bar then – relax, destress and enjoy in a warm and pleasing environment, while drinking some delicious and tasty craft beers! Rich of course signifying wealth and prosperity – important traits in China. Together we get Richkat and with it the logo of Richkat, or Mao Yuanwai (貓員外) as the locals call it, you can find the features of a cat – hence the name. I don’t know how much of that is true, but it certainly is a good yarn!

With this experience and a good taste in beers we see that Richkat brew a wide variety of top quality brews and also exciting and out there beers – the typical IPA’s for sure but also Belgian inspired Wit’s, German Kölsch’s (Hawthorn), Gose’s (yes even them), and Chocolate Imperial Stouts – amongst a raft of other exciting beers. Respect goes to the brewery for allowing Gavin and his team to be so creative this side of Asia – introducing European and American styles to the Asian drinker, and knocking it out the door too. Take a bow Richkat!

And now we move to the present where we have an exciting new brewery going places. Winning awards and brewing quality and quite frankly bloody good craft beers – expanding all the time – in both mainland China and in Hong Kong. The world – WATCH THIS SPACE!

Review: 330ml can of Richkat Justout: 4.5% vol.

Coming from Ireland it was natural for me to be instantly drawn to their Stout. How would it taste and compare to what we drink back in the old country – Ireland – the Guinness, the Murphys, The Beamish and all the new stouts on offer in the land of the Stouts. The Chinese are innovative and creative for sure but can a Chinese stout rise to the occasion?

Richkat Justout is what I tried. It is an oatmeal stout brewed by Richkat Craft Brewing and can be found on tap in places in certain cities in mainland China, and in Hong Kong.

I really liked the small lovely can it comes in – all black with white lettering – very distinctive in its small dinky little can. On the can it is clear that this is a “Nitro Stout” – which is to give it a creamy feel – putting all stout lovers at ease . Also on the can there are instructions on how to drink it – for the uninitiated – heh not everyone is a native of Ireland!

As per instructions, and truth be told what you should do for any proper porter or stout, serve it cold from the fridge. But the Richkat can is specially designed with oxygen – free sealing, which seems to make it even that little extra cold, which is very noticeable.

And back to the instructions:

1- shake for a few seconds then open, allowing the stout to work its magic and surge nice, keeping the flavour

2- pour at an angle to get the look of a decent stout

3- let it settle and then drink, preferably with a large gulp. Or at least that’s what I guess it is as its written in Chinese!

We can also see from the can that this brew won at the prestigious World Beer Awards in 2025 – Getting a silver for China – in the stout/porter category – which is pretty impressive I have to say. Well done to all involved.

(Stop press! JUSTOUT has won an other award in November – Brussels beer challenge 2025 Silver Medal!)

On pour – nice pitch black colour, with a good lively creamy white and tanned caramel coloured head. The lacing (or “the shtick”) is good, initially at least, but does die off a little later.

For the second pint – pour was nice, again pitch black, good tanned head, very decent – does die a little, but that’s ok as its the right colour, and looks all good.

The aroma is one of a typical rich porter smell, and, as anticipated, roasted malts, dark chocolate, caramel and coffee on the nose. Lovely and reassuring – its nicely setting things up for the taste…

Onto the taste – initial lovely deep creamy mouthfuls, very satisfying and as you’d expect from any decent stout. Bubbly and alive on the tongue.

Its light, fresh and smooth enough too, not overly aggressive or bitter, so easy to drink and saviour. But at the back end, you get the distinct stout flavours, the coffee is present with the roasted dark malts and the chocolate tastes are there as well.

A slow burner – over a long evening I liked it. It maintains its taste throughout and was very sessionable. It also has a full bodied taste – you get a lot of bang for your buck here – which is why I like Stouts. I like to think its part of my healthy diet! (all that iron!)

People will ask – how does it compare to a Guinness? I don’t think its fair to make a real comparison to be honest. The gang in St James Gate have been brewing for over 250 years while Richkat are still very much in its infancy. Guinness is wholesome, a fully bodied meal of a drink, but also much more bitter and strong with the tastes – Id say Juststout is like a Chinese brother, similar but on a much lighter scale. Definitely one to introduce to someone who is perhaps skeptical about trying stouts, let them try this as a good introduction to the style.

Overall an extremely good effort from a Chinese brewery – well crafted, tasty and very enjoyable – not often you can say that an Asian brewery could get a good stout going but the gang at Richkat have done it, well done, and that’s coming from an Irish man! I definitely will be searching out this stout more often when the opportunity should arise. Strongly recommended!

Over twenty years later I see the future is bright for Chinese beers; “Slainte”, I will drink to that!