We're only here for the beer!

It's that time of year again that all the city's beer aficionados have been waiting for. Shanghai Beer Week is hitting town for the second year and, according to organizer Michael Jordan, this time around it's going to be even bigger and better.

"In recent years beer festivals have started to become popular around the world, especially in the US," said Jordan, who is the "brewmaster" at the city's Boxing Cat Brewery. "And there was nothing like this in Shanghai before, so I thought it would be a good idea to organize an event for all the beer lovers in Shanghai. Our event is the first 'beer week' of its kind in China, and might even be the first one in Asia."

Pint of Porky's

This year the event will run from May 17 to 26 and will kick off with a Brew Cruise along the Huangpu River with free flow of nine craft beers provided by three Shanghai breweries: The Brew, Dr. Beer and Boxing Cat Brewery. The food will be provided by Boxing Cat Brewery.

"A collaborative brew between the three breweries called Porky's Revenge Imperial Pilsner - named after the recent flood of pigs in the Huangpu River - will be officially released and available for free-flow pour. It's an 8.5 percent ale with light pineapple, citrus and pine notes," said Jordan.

During the cruise on the night of May 17, organizers will be "auctioning off" brewmaster Michael Jordan for charity. The highest bidder will win a Brew Day where they will join Jordan and create their own personalized beer. All proceeds from the auction and the profits from the Brew Cruise ticket sales will go to Bean Shanghai to build a new library for migrant children.