Sometimes after a hot sweaty punt, i seek a cold misty pint. Been running around Asia and have come
across many brands of beer which i don't get back home. Some have been utter piss while some are, in
my opinion, top class tipples on par or even better than some of their European counterparts. Here are
my top 3:

Tiger Beer (Origin: Singapore - Tried in Singapore)
San Miguel (Origin: Philippines - Tried in HK)
BeerLao Dark (Origin: Laos - Tried in Bangkok)

The first two are pretty big names in Asia. Top class brews!
There is this Spanish brand called "San Miguel" as well but i prefer the Philippines one (they are not from
the same brewing company). But BeerLao was a pleasant surprise! I got a bottle of it in a small pub in
Bangkok and i must say it surpasses all the local Thai beers (think Singha or Chang) in terms of taste and
general drinkability.

Whats your flavour?

[ Last edited by  DutchDoubles at 20-10-2009 13:47 ]

i haven't tried all asian beers but i find chinese and korean beer a bit weak. its like drinking carbonated water. although saying that when i do want a refresher, tsing tao is pretty good. i do like japanese beer the most, my fave would be kirin.

Ashahi or how ever u spell it is the best

San Miguel has a Made in Philippines and a Made in HK version. The one from the Philippines is the better one.

As for my top 3 Asian beer brands, it would have to be:
Tsing Tao (I've heard that their dark version is supposed to be good but have not tried it yet)
Asahi
San Miguel (Philippines version)

But IMO the world's best beers come from Belgium.

Kirin is good ,

Tsingtao is a copy of German beer which is good a little weak on the mainland though 3.2% (its a copy as the germans left their brewery behind and the Chinese staff during a revolution).

Hite a Korean beer is weak , fizzy and more like a lager / carbonated urine.

Cass is pretty much the same but even weaker.


However what you shouldn't do is ever drink beer in a place where beer is not often drunk, as they stick preservatives in it and you can taste it a mile off, Nepal and many muslim countries are famous for this. OTOH they up the alcohol content to cover this nasty taste you can get 12% beer in centra Asia , same applies to Africa where beer can go up to 23% to cover the nasty chemicals they stick into it.

But yup Belgium / German beer is best , I remember this smooth tasting beer which was black but not stout in Mons it tasted like normal beer , and we kept throwing back pints until we tried to get up and realised it was like Sake , it snuck up on you and the bar maid laughed at us as it was 9% beer.

They have a dark version? Has it just been released? Worth a try on my next trip to China. Lets see
if they can get it right. Tsing Tao Pure Draft Beer is mediocre at best. I would take it on a hot
summer's afternoon more as a thirst quencher than as serious amber fortification.

I know Asahi has a dark version and is only exclusive to some bars/restaurants in the UK. I tried it
at this sushi place in London and it was pretty good although it is very difficult to find.

Yeah, as the discussion has been going, Belgian and German Beers are up there in the World. However,
i make it a point to try at least a pint of the local brew wherever i am. I will then usually get a small can
of Heineken (wherever it is brewed, Heineken has pretty consistent standards and is a reliable European
style lager). I will take a taste test to compare them. The only Asian brand that i have tried so far that
is comparable in standard to Heineken would be Tiger Beer.

In fact, i would also tend to favour the Philippine San Miguel over Heineken but its not really a fair test:
ones a pilsener and the other a lager.

I'm asian, but i do have to say this much. we don't really make that many good beers. at least IMHO...

Back when I lived in Japan, I had a good premium beer by Kirin and tsing tao is ok too...but that's it. maybe i should give philipino san miguel a try.

Speaking o beers (i know this is a bit off-topic) but has anyone tried Honeydew? You can get it from grappas and the globe in soho. It's a really good smooth ale.

Are you refering to the Honeydew Ale brewed by Fullers? Thats a pretty decent one to come
off their lines. Its a seasonal brew however, and only available during the summer months.

My favourite is Boddington followed by Newcastle Brown, the later of which I can't seem to find in HK.

Asahi Japanese
Kirin Japanese
Bintang Indo
Tsingtao Chinese
Bura Morretti Italian
Beez Kneez Australian

Asian beers? None are anywhere near as good as a good European brew, but San Miguel is the best and it's better than any American beer I've ever tasted.

I think Tsing Tao Dark beer has been around for a while but it was only recently that I've seen it in HK. Unfortunately I can't remember where at the moment... Let you know when I see it again!

Draft Beer Tsingtao – smooth, but very watered down. Better than domestic light beers in the states. I like the taste of regular Tsingtao much better.

Tsingtao Premium - a similar evaluation goes to this “premium” beer. It even tastes like it might have been brewed rather than mixed up with chemicals. Still the flavor seems a bit watered down compared to what I expected from the “premium.” Tastes like a mild corona. I miss the little bite from Tsingtao. Tsingtao premium is good.
Tsingtao Dark - quite a step away from the breed of beers generally easy to find in Hong Kong. It’s a dark ale. Tastes solid, and sweet aftertaste. This beer is quite different than anything else Tsingtao is selling. I’m not a huge fan of dark ales, but it tastes good, although not as good as American microbrews.

Tsingtao (regular) – some might prefer the “premium,” but this is my favorite all around Tsingtao beer, only partially paying attention to cost. When cost becomes more important, HuiQuan sounds even tastier.

HuiQuan – Drinking HuiQuan immediately after Tsingtao regular, I am disappointed by what had become my new favorite beer. It’s not as crisp as Tsingtao regular and doesn’t taste as fresh. Regardless, for the price, it’s still my favorite. Superior, I think, to the Pearl River budget options.

Yes! Fullers' Honeydew Ale...i didn't know it was Summer only though!

Boddingtons at 6'C is always a reliable brew!

My absolute fav is Irish Guiness, at room temperature. Three Rings, baby!

Has anyone had genuine Harbin beer *from* Harbin? (not the stuff sold in hk.) I had it many times over the course of a one-week trip in Northern China. Great Stuff.

Tuborg is good too. Any other suggestions for smooth ales, gentlemen?

Yup, the Honeydew Ale is a Summer only thing. For the Winter which is around the corner,
they have their "Jack Frost" brew. Its higher in alcohol content to keep to you warm during
the season apparently.

Guiness Draught is an absolute delight i agree. If you like it smooth, thats your drink
Another recommendation for a smooth ale would be Fullers London Pride. This is their staple
and is available all year round. Reddish-amber colour and a really well-done English style ale.

I have seen the Harbin brand of beer in China before but never tried though. Although it is
not that widely available i think.

kirin is my preferred beer

The Asahi here (USA) is brewed in Vancouver, Canada since mid 90s. I think it tasted a tad different since the change.

Thought the korean beer OB is decent. Do they serve that in HK?

personally i thought Tsingtao taste like water piss....just my personal opinion

i agree with you.

Kirin whilst less popular, for me tastes better. i think its just smoother

btw i went to the ashasi building in tokyo. its awesome! its designed like a glass of beer with a light froth at the top. also the beer has a great selection of ashai beers. i only drink the normal version here in aus but there's actually a range in japan

for its price in china, lao tsingtao (original) is a good china pilsner...

yebisu is also good...but sapporo is a bit too dry for my taste...

Speaking of Tsingtao, what is the difference between the 'lao' Tsingtao and the newer
draft Tsingtao? If the 'lao' Tsingtao is a pilsner, is the 'draft' version a lager or is the same
brew but just packaged differently?

Sapporo seems to be more of a meal companion. I see people drinking it when they have
their teppanyaki but never really seen it taken as a "pub beer" that is enjoyed on its own.