Beerlao Lager
Lao Brewery Co.

I just finished a long trip through SE Asia, and Beer Lao was the best "national" beer I enjoyed on the trip, better than anything offered in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, or Malaysia. But winning the "best beer in Southeast Asia" crown is like living near a sewage treatment plant: even the best is still near shit.

Why is Beer Lao the best of the SE Asian brews? Maybe it's because it's made at a big brewery you can't help but pass on the way in to (or out of) Vientiane, and so you know the stock is fresh, and the good folks of Laos keep it nice and cold (take notes, China). Maybe it's because their dark lager is actually drinkable. Or maybe it's because in a whole subcontinent of cheap beer, Beer Lao is the cheapest. Anyway, I'll be reviewing the large, 660mL bottle that you can find pretty much anywhere in Laos.

Into a nice clear pint glass we get a respectable foamy head that lingers with decent lacing, but halfway through, the head simmers into nothingness. All in all, the appearance is nothing mind-blowing, but looks inviting enough. The smell is again nothing special, just a weakly consistent aroma of grain and a generic, barely-there malt with standard lager-smell. Even in the middle of a dry Laos January it's a very indistinct, not especially impressive, but certainly not poor lead-up to the first sip.

The taste at first seemed dull and simple, with very few standout flavors. A second sip reveals a crisp tasty flavor, slightly sweet but nothing too strong. The carbonation was average, which seems to be the standard for this beer. The finish is as simple as the rest of the beer, a simple lagery dryness with just a tinge of malt.

So in the end, Beer Lao is really nothing special, in the grand scheme of things, but it's cheap and cheerful; it's tastier and far more drinkable than anything else out there in Laos, or in the rest of SE Asia. It won't leave your skull thumping after a few (like Beer Chang), and it just tastes better than Singha. Drink up while you're there, but don't bother bringing any home.

 

 

 

A very nice beer that is light enough to help on a hot day. Good, solid taste.

 

Regular macro lager, definitely not the best one. Pale golden color with decent, white head which quickly disappear. Malty aroma and taste with light grassy notes.

Beerlao Lager pours a pale yellow color, with a small head—apple juice notes in the aroma. The flavor is sweeter, pale, and dry, and lots of apple juice flavors. Flat feel. Overall, a lovely, juice-like beer could be a lot worse.

 

 

Very Fresh tasting, easy to drink, very enjoyable, especially on a hot day.
Clean look, pleasant smell of the hops & rice mixture. Thoroughly enjoyed, probably going to become my 'go to' beer.
Interested in trying other beer from this brand.

 

 

Bottle pour into a tulip glass.
Clear golden appearance, with a foamy white head that recedes quickly to a collar. Grain, scallion, sweet tea notes. Light body and carbonation, creamy finish.

 

I've had copious amounts of this stuff while backpacking around Southeast Asia about 15 years ago. Is it a great beer compared to German lagers, for example? Of course not. Does it go down crisp and easy in 35°+ degree heat and 80%+ humidity? You betcha! Seriously, from what I remember this made for a very refreshing, inoffensive lager with some doughy, grainy malt and pretty light, grassy hops. Clear golden coloration with strong carbonation. Tastes even better when drunk sitting on the pavement on tiny plastic chairs!

Let's not kid ourselves. This is no classic German lager, but I have yet to meet anyone who doesn't like it. Surely the most inoffensive and one of the tastiest beers in SE Asia. Pours a clear, straw colour. Taste is clean up front and down the neck. Nothing remotely complex here, but it pairs excellently with any food I've tried. Imagine an Italian white (wine) that is trying hard to say nothing as you scoff down seafood linguine. This is the beer equivalent. Fresh, clean, unremarkable, unobtrusive and delicious. The problem is they go down too fast.

 

 

From a glass bottle. Pours a clear golden color with a thin layer of white head. Toasted malt smell. Medium body with good carbonation. Toasted malt flavors with moderate sweetness and a slight bitterness on the finish. Surprisingly good!