Bia 33

8/6 Having some Phô at Phô Van in Beaverton, which presents the opportunity to drink some Bia 33 (what, you thought they had a website?) from a bottle (what, you thought you could get that on tap?). Bia 33 is Vietnamese. It's called Bia. I had Beer Lao once, and it was good. I want more beer with "Beer" and a country name. Incidentally I think this is how you say "Please bring me a glass of Bia 33": Cho toâi moät coác Bia 33. That may be the masculine form, btw. But I don't know. I don't speak Vietnamese.

My reaction to the Bia 33 was thus: this is a pretty interesting lager. The nose is pretty fruity for a lager, almost banana like. It is also fairly yeasty, but in a very pleasant way. It is very crisp, and the finish has a champagne like quality.

WDTB? Vietnamese? Let's ask Saren. He said Bia 33 is "Fairly ubiquitous", sort of like water. But most tiny Vietnamese restaurants in Vietnam had their own "proprietary blend" of beer in a big vat that they would ladle out to you as you ordered it. For preservatives they used formaldehyde, or some other chemical that you were better off not contemplating as you ingested it.

WSDTB? Iconoclastic Asian-Fetishists? No, seriously, this is a pretty good lager. If you get the opportunity you really should try it. But not at this Phô Van. Go to the other Phô Vans, they are both way way better. Not to say this is a bad place to get phô, it is actually quite nice. It just isn't the best.

7.9/10