Beer Lao is to Laos what muay thai is to Thailand.  It permeates every part of their culture and way of life.  Living in Southeast Asia for about a year and a half now, there aren’t many things about America that I get teary-eyed over, but one thing that does drive me crazy is the serious lack of beer… good beer, that is…

I’ve always been a German and Belgian ale kind of guy.  Microbrews.  You name it, if it has got hops and a good kick to it, then I am all about it.  Considering this is Southeast Asia, I was bound to be disappointed.  Water-down beers with a pinch of alcohol.  It just doesn’t cut it…

But that all changed the first time I set foot in Laos.  A strong, hearty beer that never disappoints.  I tell everybody, especially my Thai friends, that I look forward to the majestic mountains and the relaxing atmosphere, but there’s something to be said about the fact that the first thing I do when I step in-country is grab myself a big bottle of the token beer.

Everywhere you go, you see crates upon crates of this stuff.  There is a real national pride associated with it, and they have reason to be proud if ask me.  Like I said, I’m a beer guy.  Did you know that this beer actually won awards in Belgian beer festivals?  Other Asian beers just can’t lay claim to something like that.

A beer Lao takes the prize without a doubt, the number one beer in the overall region—and for a country most people, even Asians, can’t seem to find on a map, that’s pretty good.

At $1 for a 1 liter bottle, you really can’t go wrong.  The most popular beer that they serve is the Beer Lao classic, but there are several different styles now offered.  Most notably, and one that I highly recommend to those who like dark beers, is the Beer Lao dark.  While certainly not the darkest beer you’ll ever taste, it’s got a nice sweet nutty flavor, and it is just about as much dark as you can handle in the hot Asian sun.

Although a few bottles on a cold Mountain night works wonders.

And the whole country seems to be caught in a beer drinking frenzy.  It’s a wonder they’re not walking around with huge beer guts.  I was working hours on end day after day while in the country.  I’d leave the coffee shop where I was toiling in front of the computer to head home, and about every few blocks a party called.

There would be a group of locals sitting around a table small enough for a day care center, eating papaya salad, laughing, drinking beer Lao, and beckoning for me to join.

What could I do?  Of course I had to join them for a few beers and have some laughs at jokes a language I didn’t understand—most of which were probably at my expense.  And then I’d politely excuse myself until two blocks later, when there would be another table of Laos geared up and ready to drink.

And if you don’t get out of there quick enough, someone is bound to walk to a nearby shop and just buy a crate or two.

It’s not just the locals who’ve been seized by this beer-drinking frenzy.  Beer Lao has become a bit of a legend on the American and European backpacker circuits as well.  Young backpackers  make their way through Laos for the popular Vang Vieng tubing trip and fall in love with the beer.

In fact, these backpackers are providing hope for a growing company who wants to make it out to the international playing field.  They’ve begun recruiting young college kids who are here on holiday to become distributors in their own country–a grass roots marketing strategy that shows a lot of promise.

Considering that there are people in this world who have flown all the way to Laos just to drink this beer after their first taste, there’s a good chance the efforts will pay off

I sure hope so.

Because it’s a long trip back to Laos if I ever go back to America.  Meanwhile, I’m making a lot of trips northeast of Thailand.  I love Thailand.  I love Thai food.  I love the Thai way of life.  But I can’t say that I love Thai beer.

Beer Lao is my saving grace.  And for those of you who can stomach it — spicy food and strong beer that is — you’ve got to try my favorite Southeast Asian meal.  Spicy papaya salad, barbecued chicken, sticky rice, and of course Beer Lao. As far as the simple things in life, it just doesn’t get any better than that…