CX launches first beer made for drinking at 35,000 feet

In partnership with Hong Kong craft brewery, HK Beer Co, Cathay Pacific has released a beer created for drinking in the air.

Called ‘Betsy’ after Cathay Pacific’s first aircraft, a Douglas DC-3 which flew passengers around Asia in the 1940s and 1950s, the beer will be served to First and Business Class passengers on flights between Hong Kong and Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester, initially from 1 March until 30 April.

Created in partnership with HK Beer Co based in Chai Wan, the 5.1% Betsy uses Fuggle hops from Kent, honey from the New Territories in Hong Kong and dragon eye, a Hong Kong fruit, also known as longan.

The tasting panel included Asia’s Best Female chef 2016, May Chow, Thomas Lau, chairman of the Hong Kong Craft Beer Association and Willem van Emden, Swire Restaurants general manager.

Speaking to dbHK at the launch, Devin Kimble, director of HK Beer Co said:

“This is not something that we’ve made before. When you’re in the air, bitterness gets accentuated and with hops, beer tends to be on the bitter side. But we use fruit and honey to accentuate the sweetness and Fuggle hops are wonderfully aromatic. The base beer is a wheat beer, about 60% wheat with a Pilsner malt.

“Beer is relaxing and it’s something restorative so we want people to feel good when they get off the plane.”

With an initial roll out of 600 cases, it is anticipated that Betsy will be served on more routes later on in the year.