Southeast Asia forum

What's the best beer in southeast Asia?

  • exacto

    Hey gang,

    Any suds lovers out there? I'm a big fan myself, and wonder what people think is the best beer between Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. (Somtam, how is the Bintang in Indonesia these days?)

    When I first started backpacking around Thailand, you had your choice of Singha. One couldn't easily get a tourist visa to Laos in those days, and Cambodia was still in the middle of a civil war. Then things started looking up when Kloster hit the market in Thailand.

    I'm partial to Beer Lao myself. It just tastes good, and the Lao people are so very proud of it. I don't mind a nice draft of Angkor Beer either.

    What's your favorite?

    #1 Posted: 13/4/2006 - 08:38


  • somtam2000

    Easily Beer Lao! Swap a Bintang for a Beer Lao any day.

    #2 Posted: 13/4/2006 - 12:43

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    iPhone Apps for Southeast Asia

  • simeone_8

    Chang is very nice in Thailand but be warned - it hits you quicker than you might think. Pretty strong stuff!

    #3 Posted: 13/4/2006 - 18:40

  • slowmo

    G'day all.
    Beer lao with out a doubt. Thailand has a good selection of beers now with Singha, Chang, Leo, Cheers, Kloster but I would say Beer Lao no worries. Problem is you've got to go to Laos to get it.

    #4 Posted: 18/4/2006 - 11:50

  • tsargood

    Beer Chang is my favourite, although consuming it quickly can have dire results! Angkor Beer was another I really enjoyed. A few weeks ago I found a bar in Melbourne Australia that sold Beer Chang! Needles to say, I had a very bad Changover the next day..... Tim

    #5 Posted: 18/4/2006 - 17:41

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    Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail..............Buddha

  • runaway

    I am not a beer lover but I'd say "Singha" beer!
    (coz I am Thai and It was the first beer I tried..hoho)

    Cheers!

    #6 Posted: 19/4/2006 - 23:33

  • mangoboy

    Beer Lao hands down. Any 'quasi-resident' ex-pat in Thailand nipping across the border for a visa run is duty bound to bring some back with them. They can face excummunication if they don't. I'm serious.

    #7 Posted: 21/4/2006 - 21:29

  • steviej

    I seem to remember a beer in Thailand (1990) called Elephant Beer or was this just how my head felt next morning. I don't recall seeing it when I returned there in 1995.

    I do remember Kloster and found it better than Singa.

    This time next year I'll have tried the Beer Lao so the jury is out till then!!!

    chill
    steviej
    _______________________________________________

    travel, the best non-compulsory education in the world

    #8 Posted: 22/4/2006 - 00:11

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    www.panoramio.com/user/1528370

  • somtam2000

    Going on how I'm feeling at the moment, my fave beer certainly isn't "Bintang"...

    #9 Posted: 22/4/2006 - 17:07

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    iPhone Apps for Southeast Asia

  • tsargood

    You wouldnt beleive it! I also found a place in London that sells Beer Chang! quite expensive though. It is being sold as a boutique beer in a bar here that claims to have every bottled beer in the world! That's a big claim, I will put it to the test over the next few months I am in the UK. I will find out if they have Beer Lao. I have not had one of those since 2004! If they dont have it maybe they can get it for me, otherwise I must wait until December when I next visit SE Asia. hhmmmm Beeeeeerrr......

    #10 Posted: 25/4/2006 - 20:19

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    Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail..............Buddha

  • exacto

    Has anyone seen a beer in Thailand lately called "Amarit"? It used to be a nice alternative to Singha, but seems to have disappeared lately. I'd love to come across one of these again, if only for old times sake.

    #11 Posted: 27/4/2006 - 06:57

  • exacto

    Has anyone seen a beer in Thailand lately called "Amarit"? It used to be a nice alternative to Singha, but seems to have disappeared lately. I'd love to come across one of these again, if only for old times sake.

    #12 Posted: 27/4/2006 - 06:57

  • pantsninja

    From what i hear Myanmar Beer is the bees knees, i'm yet to get there so i haven't tried it. check it out http://www.myanmars.net/mybeer/

    Also word on the street Beer Lao is being discretely brought into Thailand and can be bought at some bars in bkk.

    #13 Posted: 12/6/2006 - 22:52

  • Tilapia

    Stevie,

    The Elephant beer is Beer Chang. Nasty stuff, but it's cheap and in the middle of a stifling hot afternoon isn't bad on the rocks with a chunk of lime and a few aspirin.

    Best beer is probably Beer Lao, though I tend to remember Angkor Beer being quite good, as well. I love Thailand and I love Thai food, but Thai beer just doesn't cut it. Singha, Leo, Kloster, Chang and even Carlsberg will all do your head in. Heinekin isn't too bad, though.

    #14 Posted: 13/7/2006 - 06:46

  • Tilapia

    Oh right! Myanmar beer IS quite good. Not readily available in Thailand, though.

    I can get Singha in my local liquor store. Can't be bothered, though.

    #15 Posted: 13/7/2006 - 06:48

  • wolfman

    beer lao-without a doubt! chang is the strongest stuff-for shure, but it´s not a clean one.

    #16 Posted: 13/7/2006 - 18:21

  • ReneHanoi

    Posted from within Vietnam.

    Nothing beats a cold Tiger I would say. I know, it's imported out of Singapore but brewn here and available everywhere. Beer lao tastes a bit too german for me, too rich in flavour. Cheers !

    #17 Posted: 13/7/2006 - 19:49

  • exacto

    hey rene,

    speaking of which, have you tried Cheers! beer here in Thailand. it has a light flavor, but tastes a bit better than Leo to me anyway. it's cheap too, but isn't available at many places yet.

    #18 Posted: 14/7/2006 - 13:56

  • Laura_B

    I loved beer Lao! But did anyone try beer larue in Vietnam? Lovely stuff.

    #19 Posted: 14/7/2006 - 15:32

  • pauljaymes

    Had no problem getting Beer Lao in Cambodia; both Lao and Angkor are my faves - The 'Changover' makes strong Chang too unpleasant as a regular drink, although it does get marks for being cheap-as.

    I'd put Tiger in the top 3 with Lao and Angkor.

    #20 Posted: 24/7/2006 - 16:02

  • bluesparkle

    I prefer Beer Lao clean, fresh and tasty beer.

    I live in the Netherlands and i must say i find Beer Lao much better then our own Heineken!

    #21 Posted: 24/7/2006 - 16:19

  • exacto

    we're here in siem reap now and are enjoying a few draft angkor beers. it is absolutely best as a draft beer, plus it is usually cheaper and tastes much better than out of a can or a bottle. we've found one place near our restaurant called 'home cocktail' that has 60 cent happy hours angkor drafts every evening from 5 til 9 pm. i imagine there are similar steals elsewhere all over town.

    beer lao is available here too, although typically in a can, and sadly, it just doesn't taste quite as good here as in laos. maybe it is the rough trip to get here that takes a toll, but i think a beer just tastes best when it is enjoyed in the home country. prost!

    #22 Posted: 24/7/2006 - 16:45

  • lolozo

    Tiger beer. Seems to be one of the most common/ popular beers in South East Asia. When in doubt, drink Tiger! Singha beer goes well w/ food, whereas lighter beers, eg. 333 and San Miguel(Vietnam, Philippines repectively)are drinkable in larger quantities. I`d say Angkor beer has the best balance in terms of taste.

    #23 Posted: 29/4/2010 - 21:03

  • caseyprich

    There are a few places in Shanghai where you can get your hands on Beer Lao (Dark!!!) and you can get the big bottles down around Kunming/Yunnan. I know plenty an ex-pat who'll set aside their Tsing Tao just opened to replace it with a Beer Lao -- no matter how long it must have been sitting on the shelf.

    #24 Posted: 29/4/2010 - 21:14

  • MADMAC

    Beers from this region that I am familiar with an like:

    Beer Leo
    Beer Lao
    San Miguel

    Beers I don't like much:

    Heineken
    Singha


    Beers I don't like at all:

    Federbrau
    Beer Chang
    Beer Isaan

    Everyone has their own tastes of course. And I live in Thailand, so I am sure there are regional beers I haven't has. If I could only pick one it would probably be beer Lao, although I find Leo a close second.

    #25 Posted: 30/4/2010 - 00:28

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    Victory in Pattani

  • JordanRHugh-
    es

    Now there's a question you could love. Thanks

    #26 Posted: 30/4/2010 - 01:48

  • somtam2000

    Beer Isaan - there is such a thing?

    Beerlao for me

    #27 Posted: 30/4/2010 - 18:16

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  • MADMAC

    Somtam
    Yep, there is such a thing. But it's surprisingly hard to find. Well, maybe not that surprising, like Archa (which I should have mentioned) it totally sucks.

    #28 Posted: 30/4/2010 - 20:15

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    Victory in Pattani

  • Archmichael

    My vote definitely goes to Beer Lao.

    It's available in the US now, but only on the two coasts, not out here in the middle where I live.

    #29 Posted: 30/4/2010 - 20:21

  • jacobmartin

    Go to the beach with a corona beer bucket and have some booze party with Thai females. Enjoy.

    #30 Posted: 20/7/2011 - 22:39

  • MADMAC

    Jacob
    I love Corona. And I have to admit there are times when I would prefer a San Mig... Saturday nights I get free Beer Lao, courtesy of one of my dancers (lovely woman). Otherwise I drink Leo most of the time.

    #31 Posted: 20/7/2011 - 23:39

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    Victory in Pattani

  • adclesta

    im yet to try beer lao, but will be there in a month or so, so i'll try it then. personally i really like chang, dont seem to get massive changovers. its not about Heineken though as a few people mentioned, coming from england thats the worst european beer you can get imo.
    oh and i really didnt think much to angkor draft to be honest, tasted a bit watered down for me

    #32 Posted: 21/7/2011 - 09:39

  • savorygal

    best beer= beer lao
    worst beer= Bintang. by a mile.

    #33 Posted: 21/7/2011 - 10:04

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    www.savorygal.wordpress.com

  • goonistik

    I am not that fond of beer but the one I kinda like is Cerveza Negra of San Miguel. It is a dark beer.

    #34 Posted: 21/7/2011 - 12:19

  • MADMAC

    Bintang - worse than Archa? Wow, it must REALLY suck.

    #35 Posted: 21/7/2011 - 13:41

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    Victory in Pattani

  • Rasheeed

    Black Panther, baby. Breakfast lunch and dinner.

    #36 Posted: 21/7/2011 - 20:06

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    Banlung, Footy, and everything else that makes me more authentic than you

  • Rasheeed

    Black Panther, baby. Breakfast lunch and dinner.

    #37 Posted: 21/7/2011 - 20:08

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    Banlung, Footy, and everything else that makes me more authentic than you

  • MADMAC

    Haram Rasheed. Haram!

    #38 Posted: 22/7/2011 - 11:01

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    Victory in Pattani

  • backpacker21

    san miguel beer is the best!

    #39 Posted: 22/7/2011 - 14:35

  • caseyprich

    last time i was in bangkok i had a big bottle of san miguel, i like the weight of those bottles, and it tasted pretty good . . . i still take beer lao first, but i like san miguel.

    #40 Posted: 22/7/2011 - 22:23

  • RobRose

    Beer Lao! Although Myanmar Beer and Angkor Beer are solid too.

    Of course you can't beat Sangsom and pineapple juice for pure, Thai deliciousness!

    #41 Posted: 13/8/2011 - 01:30

  • think87

    I just found out recently that a local supermarket where I live here in the states ( Boston area ) carries six packs of beer Lao small bottles reg. and dark.... for over $12 US. not quite the cheap big bottles in Laos but it was a refreshing way to treat myself. I was kinda shocked they exported them this far.

    beer Lao all the way

    #42 Posted: 13/8/2011 - 06:48

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  • MADMAC

    Boston kicks ass!

    Go Sox!

    #43 Posted: 13/8/2011 - 11:09

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    Victory in Pattani

  • think87

    Haha. Beer Lao and a red sox game. Good combo any day.

    #44 Posted: 13/8/2011 - 11:17

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    MY BLOG FOR TRIP: The guys who travels the world...... On minimum wage. :-)

  • MADMAC

    Indeed!

    #45 Posted: 13/8/2011 - 11:50

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    Victory in Pattani

  • sayadian

    In your best W.C.Fields impersonation say.
    'The best beer is the one your drinking.'
    Agreed?

    #46 Posted: 13/8/2011 - 23:42

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    money frees you from doing things you dislike,since I dislike doing nearly everything money is handy'

  • MADMAC

    I'll buy that hombre!

    #47 Posted: 14/8/2011 - 20:04

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    Victory in Pattani

  • shambles

    Cerveza Negra Best beer in south east asia

    #48 Posted: 22/8/2011 - 05:11

  • chinarocks

    Beer Lao, closely followed by Angkor.

    To get wasted, try a few Changs.

    #49 Posted: 22/8/2011 - 17:02

  • monkindy

    Fresh beer in Hoi An!

    #50 Posted: 22/8/2011 - 17:26

  • Rasheeed

    Whatever beer is in my hand. And that right now is Cheers. From the fridge in my new apartment...

    #51 Posted: 22/8/2011 - 17:30

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    Banlung, Footy, and everything else that makes me more authentic than you

  • sagemode

    Definitely Tiger for me maybe because I am a Singaporean.

    Beer Hoi is also not that bad tried in Hanoi and it cost me USD$0.25 a Glass absolutely brilliant.

    #52 Posted: 3/9/2011 - 18:28

  • Bonny_Ricar-
    do

    Definitely Leo. Hands down the best beer. Singha is piss water, as is Tiger.

    When I cut down on the cigarettes, and actually started tasting 333 it was pretty horrific.

    If stranded in Vietnam, it's well worth hunting down some Castle. It's a stout, but still, very nice with ice.

    #53 Posted: 7/9/2011 - 13:05

  • tttravelhk

    galseberg

    #54 Posted: 12/9/2011 - 14:09

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