Cambodia may not be famous for its cider, but it does have a secret! Kampot Cider is actually made in Sihanoukville but it is still Cambodian Cider.  I’ve tried to find more information about this cidery but haven’t been able to dig anything up.  The only other hard cider I have been able to find here in Cambodia is Hops’ Mango Cider, which Beckie can attest to is amazing!  Everything else I have seen has been imported from Australia or Europe.  I have had a few Kampot Ciders and I can tell you it is lovely, sparkling and refreshing on the tropically hot days here in Cambodia.

Kampot Cider is made with Cider with Champagne Yeast which gives it a beautiful sparkle, I have been told it carries on fermenting in the bottles so the strength could be higher than what is on the label.  It’s also got the classic hard cider gunk at the bottom of the bottle so you know it’s really local.

Know of any other cider shops in Cambodia?  Please let me know, I’d love to check them out.

Just when you think you know about all the breweries in Phnom Penh, Cambodia surprises you.  Bullet and I went to a dog meet up here in Phnom Penh and Riel Brewing was pouring craft beer at the event.  I was fascinated to find another brewery here in Cambodia.  I did some more research on this brewery and this is what I found:

It all started in July 2013, when the founders were relaxing in their apartment in Toul Kork, Phnom Penh. In love with Phnom Penh and Cambodia, there was only one thing they missed – great beer!  The founders had brewed for many years in the past, but a lust for adventure had put an unfortunate end to that.
And so a plan was put in action. Returning to their home countries of America and Australia, they began building funds and putting together resources.

Returning to Phnom Penh in 2015, they set to work building their dream brewery. Finally able to bring the beer they missed so much, to the country that stole their hearts.  Their head brewer also happens to be a software engineer and so was able to custom-build our entire brewing and fermentation system. These systems allow for any style of beer you can imagine and all at the press of a button!  Well, maybe a few buttons.

While at the dog meet up, I tried their newly released Smash Cream Ale.  I’m really looking forward to trying a few more of their beers the next time I’m near their brewery in Toul Tom Poung in Phnom Penh.  Here are a few of the other beers they make:

• Toasted Coconut Brown Ale – This smooth brown ale was made with both dark and non-dark beer drinkers in mind. With its light roasted malt flavors blended perfectly with toasted coconut flesh for a fresh, mild, easy-drinking brown ale. Even if you’re not a fan of dark beers, you’ll love this one.
• India Pale Ale – For those familiar with IPAs you already know what this is all about: hops, big beer. We use varieties of hops from around the globe, and we use a lot of them! Along with a hefty malt bill to give a great body and smooth taste.
• Grapefruit Pale Ale – This refreshing pale ale is created using varieties of hops all the way from New Zealand. We add fresh grapefruit zest to give the perfect zesty compliment to the specially selected hop varieties. We then match this with a carefully chosen malt bill to give this ale it’s refreshing, easy drinking flavor that just begs for another sip!
• Summer Session Ale – A lighter beer than our other selections, this refreshing and smooth ale is crisp and clean tasting. It is a very drinkable beer while still being aromatic, with a fresh malt character. Perfect for a hot Cambodian summers eve!

Ever been to Cambodia?  What was your favorite brewery there?

Kingdom Brewery’s Export Beer

I recently rode a little outside of the Phnom Penh to check out Kingdom Brewery.  They offer a tour, with “unlimited” beer.  The tour book said it would be $7, then when we arrived we were told it would be $8, but in the end we were charged $12.  I’m still not 100% sure why.  To be completely honest, the tour isn’t great.  The hops they have to “smell” are pink with age.  The woman giving the tour spoke very limited English and the tour itself is very, very basic.  For example: “This is where fermentation happens.”  ”This is a water pipe.”

The best part of the tour was walking into the only white guy in the entire facility, he apparently worked at the brewery and suggested we ask for “something in the fridge” after the tour was done.  At the end of the tour, we did that.  The bartenders had no idea what we were asking, so I physically walked behind the bar and opened the fridge.  Inside was a treasure trove of beers that Kingdom Brewery brews for export to other parts of Asia.  Being able to try beers not available in Cambodia was a real treat.  Since we were on our motorcycles, we opted to split a beer.

My advice, skip the tour, hang out in The Taproom and try beers from call over Asia, made in Cambodia, but not sold in Cambodia.  You feel like you are in an exclusive club.

Here is what we tried:

• Kingdom Pilsner – Light, golden colored lager brewed and matured as a real, traditional Pilsner using European malt and hops with a long, slow fermentation and cold maturation to allow flavors to develop. Reasonably full bodied with a crisp finish, well balanced bitterness and continental hop flavor. Citrus fruits and Saaz are evident on aroma.
• Kingdom Dark Lager – Dark, amber colored beer, reasonably full bodied with distinct malty tones and a hint of caramel. Moderately bitter and smooth with a distinctive Continental hop aroma.
• Kingdom Tommy Brown – Dark, full bodied beer, matured and aged to allow flavors to develop. It has a satisfying mouth coating malt sweetness balanced by the pure flavor and taste of the finest Continental hops. Distinctive cocoa and velvety milk chocolate notes come through on the flavor and aroma, making this a fine beer for special occasions.
• Indochine Belgian Wheat – A refreshing, citrusy Belgian-style white beer with coriander notes.
• Indochine Indian Pale Ale – Deep, golden colored ale, full bodied, malty and extremely well balanced with distinctive bitterness and hop character from the finest East Kent Goldings and an unmistakable aroma from traditional British Fuggles hops along with very evident citrus notes.
• Bruntys Cider – A smooth refreshing taste with a crisp dry finish.
• Brewlander Love Wild Yeast IPA – Brewed with bucket loads of New World hops and fermented with a wild yeast.  With a simple malt bill instead of the crystal heavy grist so that the hops and yeast driven flavors can shine. Love explodes with a beautiful tropical medley of pineapple, mango and passionfruit aromas finishing with a long, clean hoppy bitterness. The mouthfeel is silky and teases with a hint of tartness. The decision to use Extra Pale malt ensures that the bare grist still packs a solid punch. This brew’s enticing fruity aroma will make you fall in love! The hoppiness of this IPA pairs well with stews and all kinds of meat. For more flavor, swirl the bottle and get all the yeast into your glass!

Have you been to Cambodia before?  What is your favorite brewery?

Beckie and I at Hops

I found out about Hops Brewery when a tuktuk advertising their brewery drove past me while I was in another tuktuk heading to work.  I knew it was the place to take Beckie when she came to Cambodia and I have been back several times since.  Hops Brewery also has a beer garden is in a touristy part of  Phnom Penh follows the idea of any German beer garden in the world – to convey a feeling of warmth, friendliness, and belonging to their visitors.  Plus, they let me bring Bullet, which gives it a very home-y, Portland vibe that I love.  If you need a place to relax and get a great craft beer, Hops Brewery is the place to go by the Riverside.

As Cambodia’s first independently owned international beer garden, Hops is proud to brew their beer following the more than 500 year old German purity law and brewing tradition (Reinheitsgebot).  They only use water, hops, malt, wheat and yeast to produce one of the most natural and pure beers in the Kingdom.  Apart from the water – Hops imports all-natural ingredients from Germany’s best regions. Their brew water is purpose-filtered and treated, ensuring that minerals stay in – guaranteeing that unique Hops’ taste. Beer fans are welcome to try their brew water at the counter to savor its unmatched quality!  (It’s interesting that they advertise this on their website since every time I come to Hops, I have to buy water if I don’t remember to pack my own.)  In the food arts world, craft beer is a beverage that not only enhances food when paired with a dish, but it is also often brought into the kitchen as a cooking ingredient. Hops sometimes use Hops’ beer for some of their house dishes to enhance the experience.

Celebrating International Women’s Day at Hops with friends!

Hops currently has four beers and one cider available for purchase.  Of course Beckie and I tried them all:

• Mango Cider – Clearly, Beckie and my love of fruit beers is well documented.  This cider did not disappoint.  It is delicious, refreshing and a great welcome drink for anyone visiting Phnom Penh.
• Golden Angel – A hit with every beer lover.  “Situated between a classic smooth lager and a German pilsner beer.”  (For the record, pilsners are a type of lager…)  Hops’ Gold Angel is a fusion between Asian and European tastes.  Gold Angel is refreshing, easy to drink and seduces to always want – more.  (It was also the beer given out at Hops for International Women’s Day.  There is a saying here in Cambodia. “Boys are like gold and girls are like white cloth.” Meaning a brick of gold can get dirty and you can wipe it off and it still retains it value. Where white cloth, once stained is ruined. There are a few great NGOs here trying to change that mindset with the saying “women are gold”. Happy to support them today on International Women’s Day.
• Amber Witch – Hops premium wheat beer is highly refreshing and less filling than a traditional wheat beer.  It is brewed with top-fermentation following an original, south-German recipe.
• Red Fury – The essence of 32 years of experience by our brew master and was created for beer connoisseurs.  A full-bodied beer composition, higher in alcohol but smooth in its finish.  Brewed following a German recipe itself based on an English stout, this unique beer is of sensational quality.
• HOPS’ IPA – A shiny, dark-red English beer with a bulky taste and an increase bitterness rooted in Hops special “Cascade” hops.  (This is funny to me since my motorcycle here is named, Cascade, for the hops and valley I grew up in – in Oregon, definitely not Germany…)

Have you ever been to Phnom Penh?  What is your favorite beer there?