Beer in Southeast Asia

Beer in Southeast Asia – it’s part of backpacking and long-term travel in the region. One of the best parts about backpacking, especially in the laid-back travel realm of Southeast Asia, is you can wake up and drink a beer at 9 AM and no one will judge you. If they do, you can’t understand the language anyway, so why not?

When beer – our precious, ice-cold, golden-crisp, liquid refresher – is less than a buck for a pint, you indulge. It’s just a rule. Okay, fine. If you have a responsibility or some other real-world downer, maybe you should wait an hour or two. If you’re backpacking, just think of it as cultural imbibing. Grab a few bucks and go buy an armload of ale! In Southeast Asia, beer is cheap. Sometimes frighteningly so.

Beer in Southeast Asia: Everything You Need to Know

This information is neither groundbreaking or new. In the 21st century, it’s pretty much common knowledge that a cheap bit of travel and fun (and beer) can be found in Southeast Asia. All that endless bragging about cheap brews in exotic locales gets annoying… Until you experience this paradise for yourself.

There is, however, a shortage of reviews of our frothy friend from these parts. After all, when you’re surrounded by dramatic scenery or lazing in paradise, who cares if the brews are good or not?

You should. Or you should at least travel aware, prepared and educated a tad bit more than the backpacker next to you.

For 6 months, I wandered through Southeast Asia learning and exploring. One of my most important objectives was gaining a greater understanding of the beer.

These are crucial questions of utmost importance that need answering. It takes a lot of work to get an adequate sample of beer from several countries. Countless man-hours, heavy lifting (of mugs), all while running the risk of dehydration, or even worse, the munchies.

Despite this seemingly insurmountable task, someone has to solve this mystery. Fortunately for you, I have undertaken this responsibility and I am here to report my findings on the beer of Southeast Asia.

Nearly every country in the world seems to have its own national brand of beer. Many nations even have regional or local brands. Yeah, this is pretty obvious stuff here. The same can be said for the beer of Southeast Asia. With the exception of Malaysia, it seems each country in the this part of the world has, at the very least, a distinct, national beer. These banner beers with generic names and brands are synonymous with their homelands.

But, as a whole, which of these Southeast Asian brews stands out among the rest? Are there a few that really set themselves apart?

Beer in Southeast Asia: The Breakdown

Beer in Cambodia

Cambodia does not have as many beer options as neighboring Vietnam or Thailand. Nearly every bar in Cambodia has Angkor Beer or Cambodia Beer. These are two mass-produced, cheap lagers, sometimes called American lagers. Simply, these beers are potable and that’s about it. When it’s hot out and you want a cold one, these are your options in Cambodia.

There is no difference, each with the same alcohol content (ABV) at about 5%. Like may travelers, I prefer Angkor, probably because of the name and label, with a silhouette of the temples of Angkor. At least the marketing is good.

Klang is another common Cambodian beer. It is usually cheaper than the two brands mentioned above and has the added bonus that it comes in at 7% ABV. While the others aren’t very good, Klang is truly terrible; however, cheap and strong deserves its place in every conversation.

 

Cambodia has its own currency, the Cambodian riel (KHR), but the country relies heavily on the US Dollar – bring NEW, CRISP US dollars with you. This reliance on the dollar (ATMs dispense US Dollars… in Cambodia!) amounts to overcharging for cheap beer. You can still get a beer for 2,000 KHR ($0.50 USD), but often times the charge is simply $1 USD. They know you have dollars, so learn to deal with your not-as-cheap, cheap beers. One dollar at a time.

Beer in Vietnam

Each region in Vietnam has its own beer available in a small area. With the exception of the larger brands (Hanoi Beer and Beer Saigon) found nationwide, your beer depends on your location.

Vietnam’s two main cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) are home to Bia Ha Noi and Bia Saigon (Bia = beer), respectively. Ironically, both of these beers taste like the flavorless, cheap American lagers that have been drowning the United States for generations. However, the Vietnamese won the war of crappy beer, too. These two lagers are for mass production, which translates to really cheap beer for you.

 

Other regional brews with boringly similar profiles: Bia Hai Phong (city of Haiphong) found in northeastern Vietnam; Huda (Hue) found in central Vietnam. These beers are similar in taste and ABV to the larger brands.

 

Biere Larue is another option found in southern Vietnam. The general characteristics of this lager are the same, light and boring. But Larue seems to have a slightly sweeter finish, making it a little more palatable.

All of these beers are extremely cheap. From the top of Vietnam all the way to the bottom, you can start your party for 10-20,000 Vietnamese đồng (VND), or about $0.50 USD. Keep in mind that most bars and restaurants geared towards tourists will charge at least this amount, but mini-marts and places a block or two from hotspots are your friend. Locals often drink by carts on the street. I paid 4,000 VND for a street beer in Hanoi.

Vietnam has a small, emerging craft beer scene. Saigon is home to a few brewpubs and there are also a couple in Hanoi.

Beer in Laos

Laos is seriously limited among countries of Southeast Asia when it comes to options for beer. Not to worry, though, Beerlao is the national brand and is readily available at nearly every turn. Another mass-produced lager, it is a little better than those available other beer in Southeast Asia. The beer is brewed in Vientiane and has three variations: lager, gold and dark. The lager is king. Beerlao is marketed as using local rice and good, imported malts. True or not, it tastes better than most large volume lagers of the world.

A Beerlao in most cafes, restaurants and bars will usually cost about 6,000-12,000 Lao kip (LAK), about $0.75-1.50 USD. Mini-marts will sell Beerlao for 4,000-6,000 LAK, with the gold or dark brews falling on the higher end of that spectrum.

Heineken has a growing presence in Laos, which brings in Heineken and Tiger for more expensive choices. The company also brews Namkhong, a local product. Namkhong is harder to find, a little more expensive than Beerlao and not as easy to drink. In Laos, you want an easy drinking beer.

For cost and quality sake, when in Laos, drink Beerlao.

Beer in Thailand

Beer in Thailand is a more interesting topic. In some ways, Thai society is more liberal than its neighbors – “liberal” is used very hesitantly here. The nation has been more open to Western visitors, investment and influence than most of the other nations in the area. The result, as far as beer is concerned, is more drinking options for you.

The three most commonly found beers in Thailand are Chang, Singha and Leo. Chang and Singha are the most internationally recognized brands, with exports reaching shelves thousands of miles away.

Chang is the beer of Southeast Asia, an easy drinking American-style lager. It comes in at 5% ABV and will usually cost about 50 Thai baht (THB), approximately $1.50 USD, in most (backpacker) tourist bars. Chang, the beer that American lagers wish they were (translated: potable), has become synonymous with Thailand.

Singha is the oldest beer in Thailand. It is a Thai take on Heineken, complete with the skunky smell. Singha is slightly more expensive than its competitors and comes in with the same 5% ABV. Overall, it’s mediocre. Like the infamous durian fruit, if you can get past the smell, you might enjoy a fresh Singha.

Leo is another very common beer in Thailand. It is produced by the same company as Singha, perhaps as a competitor to Chang. With a similar taste to Chang, Leo comes up a little short, with notes of bland and hints of boring. However, Leo is cheaper in some parts of Thailand.

The craft beer industry in Thailand is emerging more than any other Southeast Asian nation. Due in part to the openness towards foreigners, craft breweries have opened up in recent years.

In Thailand, let the price be your guide. The difference in product is insignificant. After you’ve got your Chang beer photo for Instagram, be stingy and buy the cheaper option, whatever that turns out to be.

Beer in Malaysia

With the exception of dry Brunei, the brew situation in Malaysia is the worst of beer in Southeast Asia. Simply, it sucks. Due to obvious religious reasons, alcohol production is strictly monitored and there is a limited amount of beer available. Your options are not unique. Tiger beer, the de facto national beer, is the most widely available beer and even this is from neighboring Singapore.

In nearly a month in Peninsular Malaysia, I was unable to find a locally produced beer.

In addition to Tiger, your options in Malaysia are other imported brands. Carlsberg, Heineken, Guinness and the occasional Budweiser are what you get. And they will not come cheap. In a bar or restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, expect to pay 20 Malaysian ringgits (MYR), about $5 USD, for a crappy import. A few places are cheaper, but 30-40 MYR for a Corona is not out of the question.

You do not come to Malaysia for beer. Fortunately, the food is worthy of your visit. But it sure would be nice to pair that cheap food with a cheap beer.

Beer in Myanmar

Myanmar, formerly Burma, has a big taste for beer going back to its days under British control. The country has a national brand and some regional beers along with a tad bit of variety. Myanmar Beer is the national beer and it is very obvious, as the brand and product are everywhere. Myanmar Beer is one of the few brands of beer from Southeast Asia that is exported.

Myanmar Beer is yet another American-style lager, coming in again at 5% ABV. It is nothing special, other than its place as a treat on those blistering Southeast Asian days. The national beer of Burma is in no short supply and can be found at most bars or restaurants for 1,000-2,000 Myanmar kyats (MMK), roughly $0.50-1.00 USD. Mini-marts are, of course, your cheaper option. Nicer restaurants and bars, especially in Yangon (formerly Rangoon), will push the price of your beverage to 2,000 MMK and higher.

Like other big cities in Southeast Asia, Yangon has a beer street. Beer Street (19th Street) in Yangon is a great stop for cheap dinner and a fun time with locals and the few other tourists around.

Mandalay, the main city of Upper Burma, is a cultural center of the nation. As far as beer is concerned, the city is dominated by Myanmar Beer like the rest of the nation. However, Mandalay Beer is also available in the area. It is a little better than the national brand and seems to be cheaper, too. But it is not worth an extensive trek to find. No beer in this part of the world is worth going out of your way to find.

 

Dagon and Andaman are more options for your monotonous lager-tasting of Southeast Asia. Andaman makes a gold lager and a gold lager special. These have an ABV of 5% and 6.5%, respectively. They are usually found in supermarkets and mini-marts, coming in a little cheaper in those places than a Myanmar Beer at a bar. At 6.5% in the Andaman Gold Special, you can suffer through the beer for the extra boost. There is no need for further mention of Dagon.

 

Yoma is another Burmese brew that you may see in Myanmar. Yoma is a newer product (same boring-style lager) from a global beer giant brewed in Myanmar. Over the course of one month in the country, I only saw Yoma in a single restaurant. It really is not any better than Myanmar Beer, but it has a slightly higher ABV at 5.40%. If you have no other choice, Yoma is fine. However, when in Myanmar, the national brand is likely the cheaper option and should be your go-to beer.

Overall, Myanmar is in the middle of the pack for beer in Southeast Asia, perhaps slightly above average.

Imported Beer in Southeast Asia

Beer from the brewing giants around the world have found their way to Southeast Asia, on the shelves of mini-marts and in the coolers of bars. If you need a Budweiser, Corona, Heineken or Carlsberg, you can find these options. Why you would ever want to consume any of these is a discussion for you and your physician over your ineffective taste buds.

Craft Beer in Southeast Asia

Craft beer is in. What used to be the realm of nerdy chemists, beer snobs and pretentious boozers is now mainstream. However, many people forget about Southeast Asia when they think about the craft beer world.

Bar hopping in Bangkok is definitely not the heavenly indulgence that is Belgian bars or the IPA wonderland of dingy Portland dives. To the surprise of many, you can find plenty of quality craft beer options in the chaos that is the infamous backpacker hub of Southeast Asia.

Due in part to the openness towards foreigners, craft breweries have opened up in recent years. Several expatriates from North America and Europe have relocated to this Kingdom in Southeast Asia and brought a love of quality beer with them. Thanks to these brave, enterprising runaways, you will find craft beer options across the country. The downside is that these beers are usually geared towards tourists or wealthier people. There will be no deals on craft beer.

  

Cambodia does not have much in the way of craft beer outside of Phnom Penh. Even in the capital city, there are only two or three options. Notably, Hops Brewery in the city center is a fantastic option to satisfy your beer-drinking needs. Hops follows traditional German purity laws of brewing and is owned and personally run by a German expat. While the food is not as cheap as what you find elsewhere in the city, it is probably the best German food you can find in the country, if not all of Southeast Asia.

Sitting at the bar in Hops, looking at the tanks and brewhouse around, you will forget you’re in the middle of Phnom Penh. Hops is a unique scene for beer in Southeast Asia. The Hops IPA and Red Fury are my personal favorites.

The western influences so obviously visible in Ho Chi Minh City have yielded a few craft brewing operations. While still on a very small scale, this has even spread north to Hanoi.

Pasteur Street Brewing Company originated in Ho Chi Minh City and also has a location in Hanoi, right behind St. Joseph’s Cathedral. The beer here is very good. The quality stands up to craft beers in the west, but the the prices do too. Stop in here if you have an extra 100,000 VND or are in dire need of a good quality beer. Sipping a double IPA on the balcony, I briefly felt as though I was in Oregon. Sometimes it gets cold in Hanoi.

The State of Beer in Southeast Asia: The Results

National Brands

It’s all pretty bad. While there are a few brews that are significantly worse than others, nothing stands high above. Overall, the mass-produced labels in Southeast Asia are basically the same product in different packaging. Lagers. Pale lagers. Wheat and rice beers. Occasionally, someone throws in a stout for confusion.

Beer in Southeast Asia might be crap in the giant continuum that is beer analysis, but that doesn’t mean it’s all bad news. There are positives about drinking beer in these countries.

Cheap beer is good thing. Maybe you aren’t going to get top quality in Yangon, but you won’t pay five bucks for uncertainty either. That lager in Hanoi might not be the Bavarian treat you dreamt of, but how about a large bottle for less than $0.50? Yeah, sounds good. And certainly a hell of a lot better than 10 Euros in a Munich bar.

The basic beers of Southeast Asia are nothing in comparison to the products many of us are used to, and quite frankly, with which we are spoiled.

Craft Beer

As far as the craft beer industry is concerned, growth in Southeast Asia is exploding. That is, where there may have been a handful in the past, today you can find a couple of handfuls. This is unlikely to turn into exponential growth anytime soon. After all, many of these countries are corrupt, totalitarian states that wouldn’t want to see the profits of state-owned breweries diminish.

Perhaps even worse than intensely government regulated beer is that many of the flagship/national brands mentioned above are, in fact, controlled or owned by the giants. That’s right. Heineken and Carlsberg are owners, at least in part, of leading brands in Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar and Singapore. As long as these giants keep paying and are in control of the regional market, craft beers will be few and far between.

Nevertheless, even slow growth is progress. If you want to see a change in beer for the better, there is certainly a politician to be found in Southeast Asia awaiting your bribe!

The Takeaway

Most travelers do not arrive in Southeast Asia seeking or expecting anything exceptional when it comes to beer. Nearly every option would leave a beer snob disappointed. And that’s the key: leave the beer snobbery at home. The beautiful thing about beer in this part of the world is that it works. It works wonderfully with a plate of spicy mystery in Mandalay and pairs perfectly with paradise in Ko Lanta. Your relief from the Saigon sauna is an ice-cold beer for less than a dollar and that ain’t a bad thing.

Southeast Asian beers might not be the best, but refreshing and cheap goes a long way. At the end of the day, at least it’s not a Bud Light.