a friend brought down some LaneXang (bottles) from Vientiane a couple of weeks ago.. A slightly cheaper brew than Beer lao Lager, and a bit different taste... I'd say LaneXang is a Beer Chang equivalent targeting the low-end consumer with a bit more alcohol. During the same visit, another friend brought down a full 12 bottle rack of Beer Lao lager my personal favorite... I detected no discernible change in the taste of the beer which I drank regularly when living in Vientiane for 5 years... I'm still waiting for ASEAN to enforce the low-tariffs they agreed to on alcohol that should have taken effect back in 2008... That's why the Lao built that additional Savannakhet Beer Lao brewery, to export into Thailand..

FrazeeDK wrote:I'm still waiting for ASEAN to enforce the low-tariffs they agreed to on alcohol that should have taken effect back in 2008... That's why the Lao built that additional Savannakhet Beer Lao brewery, to export into Thailand..

It's the Laotians who have asked for an extension on the low-tariffs as they feel their market isn't mature enough to cope with the expected influx of Thai beers and that Beer Lao will take a bit of a battering.

I know that Beer Lao is a far superior beer than any made here, but that doesn't mean that the Thais will actually buy much of it, for two reasons. One; it's not 'Thai' and two; they wouldn't know a good beer if it bit them on the arse.

It reminds me of a time in the Dubliner (Bangkok) when I asked the waitress if they had any Beer Lao. She told me with a certain smugness that we were in Thailand, not Laos and that they only sold Thai beers. I didn't have the heart...

you're right Marmite, the Lao did say that.. Seeing as how 95% of Beer Lao is currently brewed for domestic consumption, and the new Savannakhet brewery will more than double capacity, I'd conjecture that the Lao big boys probably got paid off by the big Thai brewers. Those old commies are all about "bird in hand cash" as opposed to looking at the future. As for Thais not knowing good beer, you'r probably right there too!! If however, Beer Lao is brought in with only a 5% tariff on top of a wholesale price for a 640 ml bottle (about 24 oz), I'd figure retail price in Thailand with a 5-8 baht profit would be 25-29 Baht, beating almost all Thai Beer hands down.. And for poor Thais, that's the bottom line... cheap with a higher alcohol content..

Maybe that's why they've just launched that stronger LaneXang stuff, to cater for the immature Thai palette?

tamada wrote:American beers are generally in the 1.8% to 3% bracket which is the maximum allowed for 'beer'

yes, they sell that in the uk as well - but in the uk it's called shandy

with regard to beer lao dark - i found it doesn't keep very well - if it's anywhere near the sell by
date it taste stale. although may i add that it's a delightful brew when it's fresh and ice cold.