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Its a Friday and we’ve read weeks of depressing Asian news – the food crisis isn’t over yet, the monsoon has left death and destruction in its path, inflation has hit a 2-3 year high and now to top it all, Asia seems to be buckling under the Wall Street crash. At a time when nothing seems to going right in the world, we turn to alcohol, more refreshingly Beer.
Beer is not just a thirst quencher in Asia, its not just guzzled after work in dark bars by brawny men, instead its a fine accompaniment to Asian cuisine, its a flavorful drink to sip while rafting down the Mekong, listening to monks drone their scriptures.
Most Asian countries have their indigenous beers. Voted as Time magazine’s best Asian beer in 2004, BeerLao, with it’s an arrestingly crisp brew, tops the list for many Asian beer connoisseurs. However, Singha from Thailand, Kingfisher from India, Tsingtao from China, Kirin and Sapporo from Japan, Taiwan beer from Taiwan, 333 and Bia Saigon from Cambodia, Angkor from Laos, San Miguel from the Philippines and Tiger from Singapore too have a large patronage.
Lets start with BeerLao, which started production in 1973. A crisp mix of the finest hops, yeast, and Himalayan spring water, Beer Lao is said to be the perfect beer to accompany fusion Laos food. Its currently available in the United States, Britain. Australia, Cambodia, France, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and Russia.
Singha is Thailand’s most famous beer. Six percent alcohol by volume, the chrome colored beer with a golden lion as its symbol is produced by Boon Rawd Brewery. Singha pours to a fantastic golden colour with a fizzy and thick head which swells to the very top of the long glass and rapidly subsides. As a result, the nose really promises sweet and drooling malt goodness, with the palate nicely delivering it. The beer has a fresh and surprisingly biscuity malt character with a rather gentle nudge of Thai sweetness.
India’s Kingfisher goes by the tag line good times, great beer. A perfect accompaniment to spicy Indian food, Kingfisher is brewed by United Breweries since the 1950’s and is owned by billionaire Vijay Mallya. A market leader, in India, Kingfisher is distributed in 52 countries around the world.
Tsingtao, of China fame is brewed by the Germans since 1903 in the north eastern, similar sounding city if Qingdao. Although now owned by the Chinese, the beer is known to be light, refreshing, malty and not overly gassy.
Japan’s Kirin beer is known for its full bodied richness, unique taste, crispness and fine yellow color. Its alcoholic volume is 5 percent and is available in most Asian countries with a strong Japanese presence – Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
Taiwan Beer, is brewed by the Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation. With an alcoholic content of 4.5 percent, its considered one of Asia’s weakest beers. Its also characteristic by a clean, refreshing and smooth taste.
Philippines very own San Miguel is famed for its strong kick, low cost and malty taste. The San Miguel company has been brewing beer since the 1890’s and occupies more than 90 percent of the Philippines beer market.
