Editor’s Note: This post is part of my Myanmar–Thailand trip to Asia. For more on this trip, check out my other posts on Myanmar, Thailand, and Japan.
After about 5 or 6 (or 7?) Jack and Cokes at the Executive Lounge at the Hilton Mandalay’s Cocktail Hour, we decided it would probably be a good idea to eat something.
We set out to explore some local food options that were walking distance from the hotel. We didn’t get far before we were seduced by a sign that read “B.B.Q.” and another that said “Beer”.
Just like that, we were ordering off a menu at the restaurant “My”.
Review: Myanmar Beer (Myanmar)
Its been said (by me) that one can never truly know a country unless he or she knows its alcohol.
With that in mind, we easily decided on going all in on our first local brew, “Myanmar Beer”.
Myanmar Beer Description
A 5.0% alcohol, straight-lager with a dry finish, the beer comes with a nice golden color and a white head.
Neither too sweet nor too “pale”, it pretty much hit that perfect “sweet-spot” that I like in a lager (especially when in the tropics). The brew was medium-bodied, alcohol forward, and easy to toss down – but you do have to drink it when it’s “ice-cold”.
When I say “ice-cold”, I mean “ice-cold” like the locals do (Myanmar Beer @ Inle Lake, Myanmar)
Background On Myanmar Beer
The condensed history of this brew reads like this: Founded in 1886, this brewery survived the British and Japanese occupations of Burma. The brewery was nationalized in 1954.
In 1995, it was folded into a joint venture with the Singaporeans (Tiger Beer) and the Dutch (Heineken). It then went through a series of divestments and reinvestments (due to Myanmar’s internal military actions at the time) before finally being acquired by Japan’s Kirin Beer Corporation in 2015.
I won! Free Myanmar Beer for me!
The Bottom-Line Review: Myanmar Beer (Myanmar)
I guess I could try and describe the “hints of this”, or the “notes of that”, but I’ll instead frame it this way: On this particular trip to Asia (which included Japan, Myanmar, and Thailand) this was the best beer we had, hands down.
It was our “go-to”, and I’m talking the large-bottle version. We literally had it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Even when compared to other Southeast Asian beer classics like Tiger Beer, Beer Chang, and Leo – Myanmar Beer held its own and outshined the rest.
Now – if only I could get this back in the States.
Highly Recommended (When In Myanmar)!
Cheers!
