Hi Bro's,
Been off the scene for a while now, and sadly that doesn't seem like changing for a little while - thank God for 141 to keep me sane.

Anyway, I thought I might just start up a thread for the beer drinkers out there. I for one enjoy nothing more when travelling than soaking up the local ambiance with a local beer in a local bar/club. Specifically, I want to know about the local beers in an region or "must-try's" that come from a particular area. It might inspire sometime to try something new, or at least might help someone not feel like a total newbie when they walk into a bar in a new country for the first time!

So, here is my list to start:

Australia: (plenty to choose from, but my favourites)
VB. Victoria Bitter. My all time No 1.
Melbourne Bitter. Good.
Cascade. Brewed down in Tasmania. Very, very nice!
NOTE: NOT Fosters - For the Poms, they're lying to you. I don't know anyone in Oz who drinks that SH1T!!!

Cambodia
Angkor. Well, that's the reason most people go to Cambodia, isn't it?

Costa Rica
Imperial. Decent drop, but I tended to stick to Heineken's in San Jose, so it can't have been that good!

[Dominican Republic
Presidente (pronounced Presi-den-tay) Good drop, but nothing special.

England
Fosters. Australian bath-water, but it seems popular over there. (Sorry boys, I couldn't resist. Hey, you've just won the bloody Ashes, so back off!)

Indonesia
Bintang. Pretty good. Bloody cheap.

Mexico
Corona. Good stuff. Almost made my Oz list as it seems to be widely available...
This is my MUST TRY. Recently began to be imported in Oz! Sol beer. Nectar of the Gods!!

Philippines:
San Miguel. The amount of this stuff I've put away, I should have shares in the company. Nuff said!

Singapore
Tiger. For some reason, I often seem to end up drinking this at the end of a big night. I guess it improves with intoxication.

Thailand:
Singha - Well, its got an elephant on it, doesn't it!
Leo - pretty ordinary, for mine.

[B]USA
Budweister. Sorry to the Yank Bro's here. For mine, you don't get coffee and you don't get beer. Each to their own, I suppose. But please, educate me on American beer...


So that's my starting point. In HK I was drinking Heineken or whatever was cheap - is there a local beer in HK?

So lets all get educated about international beers!


PS: image is just ripped from a Google search for "Drunk". Hope that's okay!

[ Last edited by  lister01 at 7-1-2011 17:31 ]

One beer in China that is worth checking out is the Xinjiang Black Beer, a bit hard to find, but a lamb dinner at a xinjiang restaurant with some black beer is a tasty treat.

I agree with your opinion of the Costa Rican Imperial, definitely was very bleh.

I think Sam Adams is a decent American mass produced beer.  There is plenty of nice american stuff, but it usually comes from the small breweries.

[ Last edited by  scootermonger at 7-1-2011 17:59 ]

Thought I'd add my two cents:

USA: Rolling Rock, Blue Moon, Yuengling.. but so many more to name..

Thailand: Chang - feel like its stronger than Singha

Hong Kong: Blue Girl! cheap and crappy but gets the job done.

Macau/Zhuhai:  Haizhu ..I find it clean and crisp

Singha has a lion on it (I've just checked the fridge). You're thinking of chang, which is Thai for elephant and which for some strange reason does have an elephant on the label.

Alan

I'm a Heineken guy, especially in HK. Prefer the real Dutch stuff but hard to find in HK now, mostly made in Shen Zhen.

If you get up to Qing Dao at any stage, try Tsing Tao (same phonetic name different spelling) Premium. Hard to find the "PREMIUM" anywhere but Qing Dao, you'll recognise it by it's gold foil top and clear bottle. Absolutely beautiful!!!

While on the subject of beer, I have to say my biggest criticism of beer in HK and China is... it's NEVER cold enough! Turn your refrigerators on HIGH and LEAVE THEM ON!!!

US: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (I think East End Brewery has it.)
Sweetwater 420 (Excellent on tap, but you won't find it in HK or outside SE USA)
Coors Light (quite watery, but easy to drink a lot)
Sam Adams (I never cared much for the regular stuff, but their Boston Ale & some other specialty brews are quite nice)


Mexico: Carta Blanca (available in several of the Mexican restaurants in HK) I like it more than Corona, which I believe is the Mexican equivalent of Fosters)
Negro Modelo (darker Mexican beer)

Germany: Paulaner (I like the lager, but usually you just find the Hefe Wiesen in HK)

Thanks for the summary. I know the more popular brands of beer listed but not much of a beer drinker myself these days. For me, it's wine (a nice Burgundy) or occasionally a Scottish or Irish Malt Whisky.

Tsing Tao Premium IS sold in HK in supermarkets. I know because I'm having one right now. Haha... but I do not remember exactly which supermarket. I think it was the big Park N Shop's that have it.

But to add my favourite beers:

Australia
Victoria Bitter (already mentioned)

Belgium
Chimay Blue
Pauwel Kwak
Trappistes Rochefort 10
And many more Belgian beer (I'm a big fan)

China/HK
Tsing Tao Premium (already mentioned)
Tsing Tao Dark

I believe I said "hard" to find not impossible. Thanks for the PnS tip. I am keen to find a Bar that serves it though, that's the hard part. I discovered it at the BATS Bar at the Qing Dao Shangri-La some years ago. Absolutely beautiful! Agree with you about Belgium beers! very nice!

I do love trying new beers, some of my favourites

Belgium
Hoegaarden
Leffe
Plus many different kinds of fruit beers

Brazil
Brahma

China/HK
Tsingtao

England
Honeydew

Germany
Oettinger
Warsteiner Premium

India
Cobra

Ireland
Guinness

Japan
Asahi
Sapporo

Portugal
Sagres

I've not seen it at bars in HK before, but surprisingly, recently I asked for Tsing Tao at a Chinese restaurant, and they actually served the Premium version! Only happened once though...

for great selection of belgian beers i recommend frites bar/restaurant nearby lkf...pricey but can't beat the selection!

We have the same tastes in beer, I too like Heineken and Tsing Tao, there is a reason though, Tsing Tao bought the factory from Heineken I think so they are very similar.  In the US the Heineken body is thick, smooth and creamy with just the right amount of fizz, in HK the Heineken is slightly thicker, same smoothness, less creamy and definitely less fizz making it easier to drink but for some odd reason not as pleasant as the US version, that's why I still with Tsing Tao in HK, it's the same all around, and always good and also very cheap compared to the US, $20 on temple street eating pissing shrimp and clams, even cheaper in 7-11 for the same  HUGE bottle.

The USA has bud which is piss, I have no idea how people like it in China, tastes like fizzy cold piss to me.  There is however a super cheap beer called Pabst Blue Ribbon, it's usually drunk in the countryside of the USA, many cities carry it but not a lot of people drink it.  It has a pleasant enough taste and literally slides down your throat with barely any aftertaste.  One can get piss drunk in a matter of minutes because it just slides down your throat.  I've done a 12 pack without even realizing.

It should be the Ho Choi Seafood Restaurant in Kwun Tong, but I'm guessing that all the other Ho Choi branches will have it too. I asked for Tsing Tao and all they had was the Premium version.

I just got back from Melbourne Last week. Little creatures dining hall in Fitzroy was pretty nice if you want to try something uniquely aussie (not fosters please)!! Ribs and grilled corn was spot on. There's a few board games available from the bar if you decide to plan yourself there for the arvo ...


https://www.littlecreatures.com. ... rne/menu-id-67.html

Th best beer in the world, in my humble opinion is the Granville Island Honey Lager! From Canada (B.C.) brewed by the GI Brewery. Great tasting beer and I recently found out that they are importing this into HK! I found (and immediately bought ALL their stock) some at the City Super in CWB. Great stuff and if you like beer, you gotta get one and if you can honestly tell me it's a crap beer, I'll buy next round!

Beer can collections from around the world can be extremely attractive.  If you work at it the display can become a full wall or more making the room have a pretty cool feel.  Also it's educational to know all the beer available.

There are some great micro breweries in the US.  It has really taken off.  Boutique beers iall across the country.  

Sam Adams started as one, but is so big now that they are losing their micro brew status. Inspite of their size, the micro brew spirit remains alive and well.

One of my favorites is from Stone Berewery in San Diego.  http://www.stonebrew.com/home.asp

Some of the beers brewed are Stone Pale Ale, IPA, Levitation, Ruination and Arrogant Bastard.

For obvious reasons, I get along well with Arrogant Bastard.



Che'lu

Hey TT, I think the Tsing Tao Premium brand is all over HK now. Since you've mentioned it, I've been specifically looking for it when I walk around HK and I've now also seen it sold in some Citysuper's and Marketplace as well!!

As an aussie it's hard for me to say this, but i prefer english beer to australian ones . Less fizzy. You do have exceptions such as XXXX that is poured from a wooden barrel in one pub in brisbane. Eng beers i love include newcastle brown ale and kilkenny (which laguna used to serve before it closed down).