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Mar 31
Southeast Asian Beer Authentic Food Quest

What You Want to Know to Delight in Southeast Asian Beer

  • Claire
  • 24 Comments
  • Drinks, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam
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Southeast Asia is known for its hot and humid climate. And, as you enjoy spicy food and local dishes at open air restaurants, you will want to quench your thirst with a cold and refreshing Southeast Asian beer.

On our quest for authentic food in Southeast Asia, we were surprised to learn that the growth rate of beer consumption in Southeast Asia is one of the highest in the world. The climate conditions and growing young middle-class population have contributed to the exponential growth.

In Southeast Asia, you will find big brands like Heineken, Carlsberg, Hoegaarden, and sometimes even Budweiser or Corona.

But, if you’ve already made it all the way to Southeast Asia, don’t fall back on familiar Western beers. Instead, soak up the local beer culture and taste the diversity of beers in the region. Embrace the experience and local flavors.

On your travels to Southeast Asia, here are a couple of helpful tips to help you delight in Southeast Asian beers.

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Table of Contents

  • 1- Most of Southeast Asian Beer Brands Are Owned by Large Corporations
  • 2- The Southeast Asian Craft Beer Scene Is Limited but Brewing
  • 3- Southeast Asian Beers Are Easy to Drink
  • 5- Laws and Religion Influence Beer Culture in Southeast Asia
  • 6 – Most Beer Drinking Take Place Outside of Meals
  • 7 – Beer Comes Served with Ice Cubes
  • The Beer Drinking Culture by Country
  • Vietnam and the Vietnamese Beer Scene
  • The Philippines and the Filipino Beer Scene
  • Cambodia and Cambodia Beer Scene
  • Thailand and the Thai Beer Scene
  • Malaysia and Local Beer Scene
  • Singapore and The Local Beer Scene
  • The Beer Scene in Laos, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Brunei
    • The Beer Scene in Laos
    • The Beer Scene in Myanmar and Indonesia
  • In Summary
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1- Most of Southeast Asian Beer Brands Are Owned by Large Corporations

Throughout our Southeast travels, one thing we observed is that Southeast Asian beer brands are owned by large corporations.

Today, many Southeast Asian countries produce their own beers. Interestingly, the first modern breweries were introduced by Europeans during the colonial period in the 1800s.

Nowadays, these large corporations like San Miguel Brewery in the Philippines dominate their local markets while foreign breweries like Heineken are increasing their presence.

2- The Southeast Asian Craft Beer Scene Is Limited but Brewing

Although the beer market is owned by the large corporations, Southeast Asian craft beers have started popping up.

When we were in Saigon, we discovered local craft beers at the International Food Festival where a few craft beer companies were exhibiting. Here, I sampled beers from Pasteur Brewing Company and Furbrew Craft Beer.

Saigon is also host to the craft beer festival in December.

Vietnamese craft beers are using interesting local flavors like lemongrass and jasmine which are really surprising. Needless to say that the craft beer scene is expanding and evolving.

SaigonCraftBeersFestival_SoutheastAsianBeer_AuthenticFoodQuestCraft beers at the International Food Festival in Saigon

The Philippines is also a country with a growing craft beer scene. While in Manila, our local Filipino friends introduced us to Brew Kettle one of the newer craft beers in the market.

 

BrewKettle_SoutheastAsianBeer_AuthenticFoodQuestEnjoying Brew Kettle with friends in Manila

In Thailand, the Thailand Liquor Act, which protects large corporations has made it difficult for smaller breweries to thrive.

However, the craft beer scene continues to grow and we had the chance to try one popular spot in Bangkok called Changwon Express.  

For more about local brews on tap in Bangkok, check out this article – craft beer bars in Bangkok.

 

3- Southeast Asian Beers Are Easy to Drink

One thing that I found consistent across the different countries in Southeast Asia is the similarity in the taste of the beers. Most of the beers I had were mild and easy to drink. The vast majority of beers are Pale Lagers or Lagers with a light golden body.

In general, Southeast Asian beer flavors are mild and the alcohol content is about 5% and not much more. This makes for an easy and refreshing drink in the hot and humid weather.

LightBeer_SoutheastAsianBeer_AuthenticFoodQuestTiger beer, an example of a typical light colored Southeast Asian beer

5- Laws and Religion Influence Beer Culture in Southeast Asia

The drinking laws across Southeast Asia vary by country and they influence the local drinking culture.

In Thailand for example, you can only buy or be served alcohol between the hours of 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to midnight.

The country’s majority religion also influences the beer culture. In Catholic Philippines and Buddhist Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos, drinking beer is generally permissible.

By contrast, in Malaysia, all Malaysian Muslims are forbidden from drinking alcohol according to Sharia Law. While in Indonesia, some Muslim politicians are calling for a total ban on alcohol.

Brunei, another Muslim-majority country, is completely dry.

Singapore food - Signage in Singapore on Alcohol Southeast Asian Beer Authentic Food QuestAlcohol restrictions on the streets of Singapore

6 – Most Beer Drinking Take Place Outside of Meals

In Southeast Asia, one thing we noticed is that drinking beer among the locals is best appreciated outside of mealtimes. Only on a few occasions did we see locals ordering beers. In most cases, locals would eat their meals accompanied by water or tea and drink beer elsewhere.

Vietnam, for example, has a strong culture of drinking beer after work and before meals at cafes or bars.

In Singapore, you will see groups of older men chatting while enjoying buckets of Tiger after their meals at hawker centers.

Workers having Bia Hoi for Food in Vietnam by Authentic Food QuestWorkers enjoying beer and peanuts at the end of the day in Hanoi

7 – Beer Comes Served with Ice Cubes

Don’t be surprised if you are handed a glass filled with ice cubes to drink your Southeast Asian beer.

This is a common trend in countries where the weather is so hot that beer doesn’t stay cold for long. To remedy this issue, most bars and restaurants tend to offer beer with ice cubes.

As a beer connoisseur, you might feel embarrassed by drinking your beer with ice. Though after a few hot nights where the beer gets mild and not so tasty, you will find the refreshing ice cubes, tolerable.

IcecubesinBeer_SoutheastAsianBeer_AuthenticFoodQuestBeer served with glass of ice common for Southeast Asian beer

The Beer Drinking Culture by Country

In each of the countries we visited on our quest, we observed subtle differences about the beer and the beer culture. Read below for what you can expect on your travels to the different countries in Southeast Asia.

Vietnam and the Vietnamese Beer Scene

Vietnam is the third-largest consumer of beer in Southeast Asia after  China and Japan. That might explain why we noticed that Vietnam has the most beer choices among countries in the region.

In northern Vietnam, Habeco the Hanoi brewery dominates the market. The two popular brands you will find are Bia Hanoi a lager and Hanoi Beer a pale lager with slightly higher alcohol content.

READ MORE:10 of the Best Authentic Food You Must Eat in Hanoi

One thing to do in northern Vietnam is to try the local Bia Hoi. It is a draft beer served in Bia Hoi cafes with roasted peanuts. These cafes are very famous in Hanoi where Vietnamese workers enjoy a few beers after their workday.

The beer itself is very low in alcohol content – less than 4% and very light in taste. It is also very cheap about 5,000 to 9,000 VND which is less than $0.50 USD.

BiaHoi_SoutheastAsianBeer_AuthenticFoodQuest

In central Vietnam, you will find Huda beer produced by Hue Brewery. It is not the most popular beer though you can find it in some restaurants. The popular Vietnamese beer for the region is La Rue, produced by the Satra Group.

Huda_SoutheastAsianBeer_AuthenticFoodQuest
LaRue_SoutheastAsianBeer_AuthenticFoodQuest

Then in Southern Vietnam, the market is dominated by Saigon beers produced by Sabeco, the Saigon brewery. You will find Saigon Export, Saigon Special, and Bia Saigon.

BiaSaigon_SoutheastAsianBeer_AuthenticFoodQuest
SaigonExport_SoutheastAsianBeer_AuthenticFoodQuest
SaigonSpecial_SoutheastAsianBeer_AuthenticFoodQuest

Honestly, I didn’t find much difference between all the Vietnamese beers. They are all mostly mild in flavor, low in alcohol content and easy to drink on hot days. The cost of beer ranges between 12,000 VND and 20,000 VND about $0.50 USD to $1.00 USD.

As I mentioned previously, the craft beer scene is booming and it is worth checking a few of the locally brewed beers.

In Saigon, you will find Pasteur Street Brewing Company on 144 Pasteur street. There you can try interesting flavors like Jasmine IPA or Jackfruit Wheat Ale beer.

PasteurBrewery2_SoutheastAsianBeer_AuthenticFoodQuest

RELATED: Guide To The Best Food in Saigon – 15 Local Dishes Not To Miss

The Philippines and the Filipino Beer Scene

I found the beers in the Philippines having the most distinctive taste in the Southeast Asian beer landscape.

The Filipino beer of choice is the San Miguel. San Miguel Brewery is the largest beer producer in the Philippines.

The most popular of their beers is the San Miguel Pale Pilsen which is a pale lager. I found it to have a distinct hoppy taste. The alcohol content is 5%.

SanMiguelPilsen_SoutheastAsianBeer_AuthenticFoodQuest

Then, you will also find San Miguel Light, San Miguel Super Dry, San Miguel Strong Ice, San Miguel Premium, and San Miguel Premium. I had a few of those and found them quite mild and easy to drink.

San Miguel brewery also produces Red Horse Beer which is known for its stronger taste with 8% of alcohol content. But I personally didn’t like the taste and preferred to stick with the San Miguel branded beers.

RedHorse_SoutheastAsianBeer_AuthenticFoodQuest

Cambodia and Cambodia Beer Scene

Cambodia has three major breweries. Angkor beer is the most popular beer brand and it is produced by Cambrew brewery. It is a light lager which is easy to drink. Surprisingly, some of the beer bottles have a unique top which can be pulled open like a can of beer.

Another popular beer brand is Cambodia beer, which is produced by Khmer Brewery in Phnom Penh.  

Cambodia_SoutheastAsianBeer_AuthenticFoodQuest
Angkor_SoutheastAsianBeer_AuthenticFoodQuestAngkor Beer to go with your grilled food

There is also a craft beer brewery called Kingdom Breweries, which is the only premium craft beer brewery in Phnom Penh. You can actually go to the brewery site on the north of Phnom Penh and enjoy a brewery tour with beer samples offered.

Beers in Cambodia will set you back to about $1USD to $1.50 USD per bottle.

READ RELATED: Top 10 Cambodian Street Food You Want To Try

Thailand and the Thai Beer Scene

In Thailand, the choice of beers is limited and two companies dominate the market. Boon Rawd Brewery the market leader, which produces Singha and Leo Beers. While its main competitor, Thai Beverage, which makes Chang beer.

I had a preference for the Singha or the Chang beers which I found to be very similar in taste and color. The Leo beer is considered a cheap beer and I found its taste “cheap” as well!

Singha_SoutheastAsianBeer_AuthenticFoodQuest
Leo_SoutheastAsianBeer_AuthenticFoodQuest
Chang_SoutheastAsianBeer_AuthenticFoodQuest

Beyond the large corporations, the Liquor Act in Thailand has considerably restrained competition including the growth of craft beers. With constraints such as needing producing more than 1 million liters a year and needing to have capital of 10 million Baht, it is virtually impossible to start a small brewery in Thailand.

Most of the craft beer brands work around the legislation by manufacturing their beer outside Thailand and importing it back to the country.

Beers in Thailand cost between 70 baht to 100 baht, which is about $2.00USD to $2.50 USD per bottle of 660ml. Leo and Chang are usually cheaper than Singha beer. A craft beer will run around 180 baht, which is about $5.20 USD.

Malaysia and Local Beer Scene

There are no local beers produced in Malaysia mostly due to the Muslim ban on alcoholic drinks. Heineken has a brewery in Kuala Lumpur where they produce Heineken, Guinness and Tiger beers.

Beers in Malaysia are slightly more expensive than in the rest of ASEAN countries except for Singapore. A small size beer will cost you between $1.80 USD to $4.00 USD.

As a result, in Malaysia, we recommend skipping the beers and enjoying the delicious local fruit juices and other interesting non-alcoholic beverages that are offered with the meals.

MalaysiaBeerScene_SoutheastAsianBeer_AuthenticFoodQuestSkip Tiger beer and try local juices like Starfruit (which Rosemary is drinking)

Singapore and The Local Beer Scene

The main beer produced in Singapore is Tiger beer. Launched in 1932, it is actually the first locally brewed beer in Singapore.

The beer is a Pale Lager with 5% alcohol content. I found the flavor mild and it is best enjoyed cold (or with ice cubes) similar to other Southeast Asian beer.

It is now owned by Heineken Asia Pacific, who also makes Heineken beer.

Tiger_SoutheastAsianBeer_AuthenticFoodQuest

Tiger brewery also makes Tiger Crystal beer, which I saw only in Vietnam. It is much lighter than Tiger and doesn’t have much taste. If you are in Singapore, I recommend sticking to Tiger beer.

TigerCrystal_SoutheastAsianBeer_AuthenticFoodQuest

There is also a craft beer scene in Singapore though I didn’t get the chance to explore it. Craft beers have been growing since the 2000s, though they remain a very small portion of the beer market in Singapore.

It is worth mentioning that Singapore holds Beerfest Asia every Summer. It is a 4-day event that brings together more than 500 beer varieties with concerts and more. A worthy event to go to if you are in Singapore in August.

The Beer Scene in Laos, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Brunei

While we did not visit these countries on our first trip to Southeast Asia we wanted to make a brief mention of the beers as they part of ASEAN countries.

Here is a quick overview of the beer scene in these countries.

The Beer Scene in Laos

**Update. We visited Laos on another trip to Southeast Asia and explored the local food in Luang Prabang.  Like other Southeast Asia countries, beer is widely consumed.

Beer Lao is the national beer and it is very popular and widely available. It is a lager with about 5% of alcohol content. It is also exported to international markets as well. 

I tried several versions including, White, Gold, and Amber, and enjoyed the unique tastes, with jasmine rice and malt.

BeerLao_SoutheastAsianBeer_AuthenticFoodQuestBeerlao

READ MORE: 15 Authentic Laos Food (+ beer) To Enjoy in Luang Prabang

The Beer Scene in Myanmar and Indonesia

In Myanmar, Myanmar beer and Dagon beer respectively, are the two most popular beers. Although Myanmar has one of the lowest beer consumption rates in Asia, things are changing and new beer companies are entering the market. Something to watch in the next few years.

In Indonesia, the most popular beer is Bintang beer produced by Heineken Pacific Brewery. Being a Muslim-majority country, the regulations on alcohol are getting stricter and as a result, the beer market is declining

While in Brunei, there is a complete ban on alcohol so you will not find any local beers. 

Authentic Food Quest Page_Break

In Summary

Overall, drinking Southeast Asian beer is an experience. The beers may not be the most exciting beers you’ve ever tasted, but they are definitively worth trying.  I highly recommend drinking them to cool off and refresh on the hot and humid days.

Get into the local beer culture while in Southeast Asia. Connect with the locals and skip the familiar beer brands. Take advantage of the revolution that is brewing in the craft beer scene. Try something new and check out the different microbrews on your travels in the region. That by itself is worth experiencing!

Have you had a Southeast Asian beer before? What is your favorite beer and where did you have it?

Savor the Adventure!

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Claire

Claire, ex-engineer, is a digital nomad and content creator at Authentic Food Quest. Since 2015, with her partner, Rosemary, they travel the world in search of the best local food experiences. Their mission is to help you enjoy the best local specialties on your travels or via recipes in your home kitchen. Favorite country for food: Vietnam. Favorite local dish: Hainanese Chicken Rice.  Favorite way to keep fit: Cycling. Claire is responsible for the website and the fun food & travel videos on Youtube. She is also co-author of Authentic Food Quest Argentina and Authentic Food Quest Peru, available on Amazon.

24 Comments

  1. Tamara
    April 1, 2017 at 10:58 am · Reply

    Great list- the first time I visited Asia I became obsessed with Tiger beer before I even landed, since Singapore Airlines was serving it on board!

    • Authentic Food Quest
      April 3, 2017 at 10:50 pm · Reply

      That’s great to hear Tamara. Did you get a chance to explore the juices as well? Those are also quite unusual. Glad you enjoyed the article 🙂

  2. Jackie Sills-Dellegrazie
    April 1, 2017 at 11:20 am · Reply

    What a comprehensive guide to Asian beers! Well-done. It’s true a cold beer is so refreshing and I love how brewers are experimenting with Asian flavors like lemongrass and jasmine. I guess I should take cue from the locals and not drink a Singha with my Thai food…but it goes so well with all the spices! 🙂

    • Authentic Food Quest
      April 6, 2017 at 2:19 pm · Reply

      Thank you Jackie! Glad you liked this Asian beers’ guide. Agree it is difficult to resist having a fresh beer with spicy hot food. Cheers!

  3. Kaisa
    April 1, 2017 at 11:44 am · Reply

    This post is so comprehensive and amazing. These are all things I wondered about while drinking beer in Southeast Asia but never knew! I also had no idea there was a burgeoning craft beer scene in ANY of the places you mentioned. That’s awesome to hear. Makes me want to go back and taste them all with a more informed palate! I’m bookmarking this for future reference.

    • Authentic Food Quest
      April 6, 2017 at 2:25 pm · Reply

      Thank you so much Kaisa! Glad you liked the detailed article. Yes you should definitely look for the local craft beers next time. It is burgeoning and they need support to grow amongst the big beer corporation. Cheers!

  4. Fiona Maclean
    April 1, 2017 at 1:30 pm · Reply

    The biggest challenge I have with beer in Asia is that the hot weather tends to make me drink WAY too much too quickly! Ice cubes are such a good idea for me

    • Authentic Food Quest
      April 6, 2017 at 2:27 pm · Reply

      LOL! I hear you Fiona, Southeast Asia beers tend to be easy to drink. Ice cubes are ok but it makes the beer watery.

  5. Hugo Cura
    April 1, 2017 at 3:36 pm · Reply

    I love a good beer and while I haven’t been to Southeast Asia, I normally try a lot of local beers when traveling.

    This is a very in-depth guide to drinking beer in Asia. I’m definitely keeping it for when I visit.

    Beer with ice cubes? That’s news to me!

    • Authentic Food Quest
      April 6, 2017 at 2:29 pm · Reply

      That’s great Hugo about tasting local beers. It always fun! Thanks for the nice comment. Ice cubes is definitely a bit weird but sometime it helps…

  6. Lois Alter Mark
    April 1, 2017 at 10:09 pm · Reply

    Wow, I had no idea of any of this. Now, of course, I want to go visit and experience all of it myself!

    • Authentic Food Quest
      April 6, 2017 at 2:34 pm · Reply

      Hi Lois, for sure you’ll have plenty to experience, enjoy!

  7. Penelopi
    April 2, 2017 at 6:15 am · Reply

    Great Post!! My favourite is Chang beer! Beer with ice cubes, its seems weird to me though. I used to drink a lot of beer while i was studying in Edinburgh! oh myy those days..! Not anymore though. But I quite often enjoy a very cold beer on the beach. 🙂

    • Authentic Food Quest
      April 6, 2017 at 2:38 pm · Reply

      Thank you Penelopi! I like Chang beer as well. I haven’t been to Scotland yet though I’m sure the beer scene and culture is quite different. Cheers to a good beer on the beach!

  8. Carol Perehudoff
    April 2, 2017 at 10:26 am · Reply

    We just came back from Vietnam and I wish I’d read this post before going on the trip. I would have loved to try beer with lemongrass and jasmine – I think we missed a huge opportunity to check out the craft beer scene, so I’ll bookmark this for our next trip!

    • Authentic Food Quest
      April 6, 2017 at 2:41 pm · Reply

      Hi Carol, well craft beer are not yet mainstream so it is easy to miss. For the craft beer in Saigon we stumbled on it by chance. We had the chance to meet a beer expert at the food festival in Saigon so it was nice to get the inside scoop about the craft beer scene. No doubt it will continue growing and there will be more interesting beer on your next trip there!

  9. Debra Schroeder
    April 2, 2017 at 12:25 pm · Reply

    Fascinating guide to Asian beers. Interesting tip about large corporations owning the beer brands. Beer festival in December? Sounds like I need to make plans to visit Saigon.

    • Authentic Food Quest
      April 6, 2017 at 2:43 pm · Reply

      Thank you Debra! Glad you liked reading this Southeast Asian beers’ guide. Yes you should definitely check Saigon, not only for the growing craft beer but also for the fantastic local food!

  10. Holly
    April 3, 2017 at 8:54 pm · Reply

    I don’t really drink, especially not beer. However I have tried a few in different countries and they weren’t bad. So maybe I would give a couple of these a sip to see for myself.

    • Authentic Food Quest
      April 6, 2017 at 2:45 pm · Reply

      Hi Holly, good to hear that you tried a few local beers. It is always an interesting way to learn about the local culture. Cheers!

  11. Trisha Velarmino
    April 4, 2017 at 2:38 pm · Reply

    Ahhhh, beers! Make me wanna gulp down some in the Philippines and in Indonesia!

    • Authentic Food Quest
      April 17, 2017 at 5:45 pm · Reply

      Thanks Trisha! I hear you, a good San Miguel on a hot day is very welcome!

  12. Vicky and Buddy
    April 4, 2017 at 9:51 pm · Reply

    I’m not really a beer drinker, so it’s good to know the beers are mild. I always like to try local dishes and drinks, so I’d definitely try the beer. It’s interesting though, that regulations on alcohol are getting stricter in Indonesia. Do you think it will continue to get worse?

  13. Name Mon(required)
    April 2, 2019 at 12:04 am · Reply

    San Miguel has a long lost twin in Europe. go to Spain ang get a maho san Miguel Beer. The San Miguel Beer was created in Manila in 1800s and started distributing both in the Philippines and Spain. in 1950s, the brewery in Manila and Spain separated.

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