THERE are not too many countries that would boast about being one of the world's largest consumers of beer, but in China it is seen as a symbol of the country's development.
In 2002, China surpassed the United States as the biggest beer consumer in the world.
And with production at eight million tonnes a year, China is also the largest producer of beer in Asia.
Growers on the CBH tour had the opportunity to visit one of China's biggest breweries, Yanjing Brewery, which is situated in Beijing.
Not only was Yanjing a major sponsor of the Beijing Olympics, it is also the major sponsor of China's moon exploration project.
Yanjing produces 1.2 million metric tonnes of beer annually and is the largest brewery in Beijing.
Its brewery complex covers 1km2 and includes accommodation for workers, a sports stadium and a coal plant that is used to power the brewery.
The Yanjing brewery employs 8000 workers and has 40,000 staff spread throughout China who work in its 46 breweries.
Its annual demand for barley is 250,000 tonnes and 70 per cent of that comes from Australia.
The brewery produces beer across all price levels in China and believes the best barley for brewing is Baudin, Vlamingh and Buloke.
This year marks the first time Yanjing will be using Bass, and says it is watching with interest to see how it performs within the brewing process.
When the grower group was at the brewery, the first loads of Bass were arriving, being trucked 200 kilometres from the port. A total of 300 trucks carrying 20t each were bringing a shipload to the brewery.
The process from receiving the grain to bottling the beer takes about 40 days.
This includes seven days to make the malt, then it ferments for 30 days before being brewed into the beer. There are 80, 400t fermentation tanks on site.
The Yanjing bottling plant was fully imported from Germany with a production of 36,000 bottles an hour.
* The reporter travelled to China courtesy of CBH Group.