Beer Lao is the national drink of Laos and I feel as though we have been a little remiss in our blogging because we have not shared the pleasure that is a cold Beer Lao with the reading public. Founded in 1973, the Lao Brewing Company now produces more than 210 million liters of beer each year (they also make drinking water) and has a 99% market share. Beer Lao is ubiquitous in Laos and no Lao event is complete without Beer Lao. Beer Lao is one of the best beers in Asia and has become a bit of a "it" beer lately--You can follow all of the press in the
New York Times, the
Wall Street Journal, and
NPR. Below are the four types of Beer Lao on the market.
Beer Lao Lager (5% alcohol) is the best selling of the beers in Laos and is the winner of numerous beer competitions. The beer's unique flavor comes from the use of local rice in the brewing process.
Beer Lao Dark (6.5% alcohol) is a fuller body, more robust tasting beer made with roasted malt. Oddly, it is only available in pint bottles. Very tasty.
Lane Xang Beer, or Million Elephant Beer (5.5%) has a unique taste that the Beer Lao brewery says is perfectly suited for accompanying traditional Lao food. I prefer the two beers above but felt compelled to drink Lane Xang while at the elephant festival. Lane Xang is also more popular in the rural parts of the country because...if you are going to go to the trouble of transporting large cases of beer, you might as well bring the one that has the most alcohol in it and that will provide the most bang for the buck.
And, presenting the newest of the Beer Lao products: Beer Lao Gold, released in January 2010. Made with sapphire aroma hops, it is quite good. After it was initially released, I proceeded to go on a frustratingly unsuccessful search for Beer Lao Gold. Restaurants would have it and then be sold out the next day. From talking to vendors and restaurant owners, it appeared that there was a noticeable shortage of the drink. Perhaps this was just cunning marketing on the part of Beer Lao because it certainly peaked my interest. Thankfully, I have now found a steady supply.
Beer Lao is the national drink of Laos and I feel as though we have been a little remiss in our blogging because we have not shared the pleasure that is a cold Beer Lao with the reading public. Founded in 1973, the Lao Brewing Company now produces more than 210 million liters of beer each year (they also make drinking water) and has a 99% market share. Beer Lao is ubiquitous in Laos and no Lao event is complete without Beer Lao. Beer Lao is one of the best beers in Asia and has become a bit of a "it" beer lately--You can follow all of the press in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and NPR. Below are the four types of Beer Lao on the market.
Beer Lao Lager (5% alcohol) is the best selling of the beers in Laos and is the winner of numerous beer competitions. The beer's unique flavor comes from the use of local rice in the brewing process.
Beer Lao Dark (6.5% alcohol) is a fuller body, more robust tasting beer made with roasted malt. Oddly, it is only available in pint bottles. Very tasty.
Lane Xang Beer, or Million Elephant Beer (5.5%) has a unique taste that the Beer Lao brewery says is perfectly suited for accompanying traditional Lao food. I prefer the two beers above but felt compelled to drink Lane Xang while at the elephant festival. Lane Xang is also more popular in the rural parts of the country because...if you are going to go to the trouble of transporting large cases of beer, you might as well bring the one that has the most alcohol in it and that will provide the most bang for the buck.
And, presenting the newest of the Beer Lao products: Beer Lao Gold, released in January 2010. Made with sapphire aroma hops, it is quite good. After it was initially released, I proceeded to go on a frustratingly unsuccessful search for Beer Lao Gold. Restaurants would have it and then be sold out the next day. From talking to vendors and restaurant owners, it appeared that there was a noticeable shortage of the drink. Perhaps this was just cunning marketing on the part of Beer Lao because it certainly peaked my interest. Thankfully, I have now found a steady supply.
Can you write Lao Brewery Company Ltd. a letter, using squiggles, to make some ales for a change? As an "it" consumer, I prefer ales over lagers.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Sung
How much is Beer Lao paying you.
ReplyDelete