33 Export
VBL Tien Giang Limited (Fosters)

12 oz bottle purchased at Huckleberry’s in Spokane for $1.79. Purchased solely because I’d never had a beer from ‘Nam before. According to the label, “Fill & Expiry Date: See On The Bottle.” It’s not there.

Poured into a Budge Bros. shaker pint glass, this was a clear, golden color, with a thin, fizzy white head that collapsed in seconds. What little Lace that was created was sparse and spotty.

Mildly grainy, with a little bit of diacetyl, which wasn’t to a point to make things unpalateable but did give off a little bit of an apple juicey aroma.

This tastes like a really mild apple cider. Again, it’s not to the point of being downright unpleasant, but it can’t be what was in mind when it was brewed. This tastes like it spent a long time coming to America and/or sitting in a warehouse once it got here, and with no freshness date to show otherwise, I’d be willing to bet that’s exactly what happened.

Mouthfeel? Oh, who cares for this one?

No great surprise. A bland macro-style beer from a country not know for brewing beer that showed some age possibly due to the long distances it would have travelled. I’ve certainly had worse beers with similar origins, but this wasn’t exactly miles ahead of them either.

 

Light, golden color and a medium-sized white head. The aroma of malt, some herbs, and cardboard. Malty taste, hint of hoppy bitterness in the finish. Just something to drink in summer. However, it is not the worst one.

Bottle. Clear pale yellow.

Tastes like a euro pale lager. Skunky and Heineken like. Bready and biscuity malts. Grassy hops. Not much else here. Light bodied. About it.

 

 

 

Bottle from Asian market. Typical pale lager, cereal aromas. Sweet malt and wet paper dominate the taste. Some kind of finish, feel a coating on my tongue, not sure what it is

 

 

Decanted from a 12 oz (355 ml) green bottle into a conical pint glass; no production information
A: Pours a crystal clear, dark straw or light bronze color with less than a quarter inch head, Little retention and soapy lacing.
S: Aromas of grains, toast, and cocoa.
T: Taste follows the nose. Bitterness limited.
M: Very light bodied. Carbonation a little disappointing for a Dortmunder.
O: I have not had enough Dortmunders to say anything beyond an interesting take on the style. In fairness, not as bad as many of the comments would suggest.

This was a skunked bottle but that's what happens when you put beer in green bottles and ship them across the globe. Beyond this, the beer was fairly malty and with a slight alcoholic bite. No hops obviously, on the nose or flavor. Medium body and without hardly any carbonation at all. 

 

My number choice of beer at any Vietnamese restaurant if they got it. One of the few beers you almost can't buy anywhere. There's a Vietnamese grocery store in San Diego with them on palettes.

However if you find it in most places it's $10.99 and over per 6pk. Yet that place had it at 7.99. Worth it. It's a beer. But the feeling is why I love it.

 

 

Really enjoyed this! Think of a better Heineken that you can just sorta slug.

L: crystal clear, slightly carbonated, very little head
S: slinky, corn, light malt
T: sweeter than I expected
F: has a funny aftertaste
O: better than expected, would take over a Heineken

Had at a very good French Vietnamese restaurant. 33 went well with 5 of 6 dishes ordered, the hold-out was spicy. 33 is a malted, sweet accompaniment to a good kitchen; but not an beer aficionado's friend.

It is what it is. Lots of aromas of malt, sugary sweetness and rice. Basically a low level AB produce. Feel is not that bad, but too many cheap additives make this beer a well below average drink..