Vietnam beachside microbrewery/restaurant offers beer mecca for Asian beer explorers

January 3, 9:27 PMBeer ExaminerCharlie Papazian

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Clean hoppy pilsener refreshes one right after another.
Served beachside on Nha Trang, Vietname beach - as
fresh as it gets.

I didn't have high expectations for beer in Vietnam, but now with the discovery of Louisiane Beerhouse and Restaurant on Nha Trang beach I know that anything is possible!

      Offering a wide selection of seafood, western, Vietnamese, Japanese and other foods, there's something to please everyone - and the quality is superb.  I haven't even begun to praise the beer.  Its full flavored and has real craft beer character.  

    I've sampled the Bohemian Pilsner, Black Lager, Red Lager and Belgian style Witbier.  All excellent and spot on for the style.  Made with Australian malts and New Zealand hops all their beers are clean, without fault.  I was actually blown away by the hoppy character of the pilsener - a real surprise. 

    Then I learned from (Canadian) general manager Jessica Illman, that the brewhouse has been operating now for 2 years.  At first under direction of Australian skilled brewmaster Sean Symons (formerly of James Squire Brewery in Sydney).  He's moved on to Lion Nathan Brewery in Brisbane, and  has trained two Vietnamese brewers who are maintaining quality.

     What's not a surprise is the the place is busy all day and evening.   I don't know how they keep up with the 5 hectoliter size brewery, but they do. 

     I'll note that it is extraordinarily difficult to brew clean ales and especially lagers in a tropical climate.   This brewery is literally 10 meters from the beach and somehow the brewers and management has got it right. 

Photos: Above- Lotus sprouts and shrimp spring rolls with red lager.  Below - 5 hl brewhouse front and center. Huong and Hai, brewer and assistant brewer seem to like what they do - make good beer

     Added bonus.  If you eat or drink you have complimentary use of their beachside swimming pool as well.   A rarity in the world of tourism. 

     Pilsener was hoppy in flavor, bitter (I'd guess over 35 BUs) and aroma.  Good malt foundation.  Black Lager had a nice roasted malt note with smooth creamy drinkability; hops perfectly balanced.  Witbier - zesty with slight banana character and a good dose of pleasant coriander and orange citrus peel.  Red Lager smooth, with Munich and caramel notes.  Adequate hops to give it great drinkability.

     Fal Allen, American brewmaster at Singapore's Asia Pacific's Archipelego Brewery reports to me that there are more than 50 small and independent microbreweries throughout Vietnam.

     Now I'm in search of another hidden brewery in the downtown area that someone has given me a lead on... Gotta go.

Follow me on twitter at charliepapazian.