Page 43 - Thirst Magazine Issue 1 (Feb 2017)

Tiger Beer. So with the exception of a Kronenbourg 1664, which is now
certain black and white draught stout, brewed locally, and the Belgian lager
lager was pretty much it for Malaysian Stella Artois which is imported. Both
drinkers for decades. Right up until the can be found in supermarkets or on
last ten years in fact. draught in certain bars. This style of
First Carlsberg and GAB (now crisp pale lager and pilsner is also
Heineken) started to bring in brands available from a number of craft
their parent companies owned. breweries too with much stronger
Initially there were German beers, flavours, which can be found at craft
then Belgian. Shortly after, some beer bars and bottle shops like Taps
English Ales arrived and more recently and The Great Beer Bar.
lesser known beers from UK, US and
Australia. And in the past five or so
years, a few intrepid Malaysians who ALES
knew a thing or two about beer started Away from lagers there are ales from
importing the best craft beers from established brewers like Fullers and
around the world; beers from small Wells & Youngs from the UK. Likewise
breweries in all manner of traditional German and Belgian beers from the
styles re-invented with big flavours likes of Paulaner, Erdinger, Leffe and
and attitude. More malty, more hoppy Hoegaarden can be found in bottle and
and often more inventive than the increasingly on tap.
commercial brewers. In the meantime, the craft beer
Although still a fledgling industry revolution continues apace. Whilst
in Malaysia, the choice of beers is now the bars and bottle shops of Taps, Ales
impressive. A sometimes bewildering & Lagers and The Great Beer Bar have
line-up of all styles is available to take championed these beers for the past
home from supermarkets, bottle shops few years, an increasing number of
and bars alike, whilst restaurants, bars supermarkets and restaurants have
and pubs are adding to their range all started adding to their range with
the time. beers from, amongst others, Rogue,
Brew Dog, Little Creatures and Stone
LAGERS breweries often popping up on shelves
and menus.
Alongside usual lagers like Carlsberg, All-in-all there has never been
Tiger and Heineken, other commercial a better time to be a beer drinker in
brands of continental style lagers Malaysia and the choice is only set
have hit the market like the French to increase.

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