Our New Home in Isleton
Each Beer Has Its Own Story
Beer in Asia began a long time ago. It’s history can be traced back to Sumer, Mesopotamia. Now Asian beers are brewed in the United States for the first time by us, the refugees or boat people in the modern era. With the beers we have also brought our stories.
As part of our beer brewing value, aside from crafting a right beer with the right ingredients, we had to teach each of our beers to speak its native tongue. Our beers will tell you their stories. They will tell stories of our native lands, of where we came from. You will hear stories of our histories, of our values and our faiths. The stories will help you make a sense of our brotherhood and the people that it comprises. The beers will speak to you and they will take you on a journey, a journey that has yet to reach a destination. You will get to know us as who we were, who we are now, and who we will be as we survived, adapted, and integrated in the new lands around the world. The future is bright. There is hope. The beers will keep us together. Cheers and may God continue to bless all of us.
Each of our beer must have three key components: One, the taste and aroma that is Southeast Asian specific. Two, the beer must have a meaningful name. And three, a story dedicated to the beer that has a historical significance, and culturally meaningful to pass on and share to the next generation. Please read our beer stories and perhaps the combination of the three components that is defining our definition of what Asian Craft means to us. Cheers!
People & Beers
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Each Beer Has a Story
Here is the story of the Thai Warrior
Our Thai Warrior, a Thai style sweet lager, is a representation of the Muay Thai Fighters.
In our view, the Muay Thai fighter is a warrior. He or she is a warrior because of his / her iron mindset – “I can move a mountain.”
"One Ring, One Opponent, One Iron Mindset. Nothing Else Will Matter. My Life, My Battle. Blessed is “the Buddha”, Keeper of My Soul" - Michael Le
The dedication, the sacrifice, and the determination to be number one in his / her sport is and should be an inspiration to all of us.
There comes a time in our life when we must be so focused on a task that we must zero in on that task and that task only. Our determination, our sacrifice, and our dedication to complete this task will determine the course of our future or the future of our family.
We must become like the Muay Thai Fighter.
We must share his mentality: nothing else will matter. At the same time we must cherish the warriors that have been fighting and are still fighting by our side.
Asian Brothers would like to salute all those who have been fighting by our side and are continuing to fight for us. We love you. We appreciate you. You are our Muay Thai Warriors! Cheers!.
75 Vietnamese Tropical IPA
Around 1954 the U.S entered Vietnam and brought with it beer and the Vietnam / American War. It was also the year my grandmothers, yes both of them, started “Anh Hong – Bo 7 Mon” restaurant in Phu Nhuan, Saigon. Their cornerstone dish, “Bo 7 Mon” or Seven Courses of Beef, was so good, the small restaurant grew to become a 600-seat restaurant by 1975 when it as forced to closed.
The number 75 is a tribute to all hurt by the withdrawal of US forces in 1975. When the North Vietnamese Army proclaimed victory over the South of Vietnam, many of America’s allies — the Hmong, Mien, South Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, and Thai — had to flee. Many lost their lives. Many felt they lost their nation.
The war affected everyone. It tore apart families. Survivors had to settle abroad as political refugees. Now, we are here. We remember. We will never forget. As brewers, we ask you to join us in a toast remembering 1975’s tragedy and heroism.
54-Saigon
So 1954 was technically the year when the Vietnam / American War got started. It was the year when Vietnam was split into two parts; the north and the south.
The war was bad, but the beer was good. We had our first taste of the beer and we, the Vietnamese, were hooked. We drank beer from chilled bottles or from clear plastic bags with cubes of ice inside and a straw tied around the top of the bag. The beer tasted really good, especially in the hot and humid climate. Most of us, the common people, enjoyed our beer in these cold plastic bags on the street and sidewalks of Saigon … and now we called our beer – “54-Saigon Street Beer”.
We make this lager from a Belgium ale yeast strain. Then we ferment the lager at ale temperatures. The result is a light, dry, crisp ale that tastes like a lager. Saigon Street Beer is low in alcohol and tastes light. it is a beer for hot tropical weather. It can replace water. Store below 40 F for freshest flavor. Our beer is light and drinkable for everyday Vietnamese dishes.
We would like to dedicate this beer to my grandmothers and to all the men and women of this era. For some, life was good. For others, it was unbearable because of the war. And for others, they have lost their lives and families. We invite you to try this beer and taste our culture and history. Taste it as how we tasted it with wonderful (and not so wonderful) memories from the streets of Saigon.
Thai IPA
We dedicate this beer to the grapefruit, our Asian Forbidden Fruit.
God once said: “of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat. But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it. For in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die.”
Then, the serpent tempts the woman and said, “Ye shall not surely die. For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof. then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”
We, Asian Brothers, say to you: we are no longer in the garden of Eden. The original sin has been upon us and through the valleys of darkness we must go. Drink this IPA, or eat the forbidden fruit and take on the knowledge of good and evil for we don’t belong in the garden of Eden.
My dad once said, eat the grapefruit, just do it. He then continued: Mistakes are meant to be made. Regrets are a part of life. Regrets give life meaning. Suffering and happiness go hand in hand. Use intelligence to make decisions. Live with choices that were made. Learn, adapt, and progress. The garden of Eden is a cage for life is journey. Think about it son. Think about what God said. God said to us: “I made you in my image”. Why would God give us intelligence, free will and the apple all at the same time? We are meant to be like him. So eat the apple and go on the journey of life. One day may we transcend and earn our place, in a true place, by His presence.
Now I understand dad. I still have a long journey ahead of me. So my friends and family, join me. Cheers to the apple, the grapefruit, and to the journey ahead of us. Let’s go sinners!
The Cambodian Player
The message of the Cambodian Player is about friendship. The Cambodian people have a saying, no matter what happens between two people, the friendship must always remain. And so Cambodian kids are taught to value friendship at a very young age. As kids, they played with each and referred to their playmates as players.
Cambodian people are know as loving people. The message of the Cambodian Player is also about learning how to say sorry and how to forgive. Remember when we were kids and got into an argument with a friend? Within minutes, we were back to being friends again. Now as adults, when we get into an argument with a friend, we may not ever speak to each other again. Why is this? As an adult, is it hard to say sorry and to forgive?
At Asian Brothers Brewing Company, we are always promoting the message of friendship because we know that as we grow older, we “lose” people around us. Perhaps we should remember the message of the kids and let us be players always.
The Blonde Khmer
The message of the Blonde Khmer (Khmer is another word for Cambodian) is one against genocide, as well as a reminder of the horrific killing fields that happened in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979 when more than two million people were murdered under the Pol Pot and Khmer Rouge regime.
Many Cambodians fled their country as political refugees during the Pol Pot era. Now, as expatriates, they dye their hair blonde when they visit their homeland. The dyeing of their hair signifies them wanting to be different, to be able to voice their own opinions, to be able to disagree with authorities, and to be able to challenge their country’s philosophy should it be necessary. If these things are not allowed, Cambodia will allow for another Pol Pot regime.
For these people we dedicate this Blonde Khmer. Being courageous is what parents always wanted from their children. My dad often reminded me, son, I raised a lion. I didn’t raise a chicken. So let us rise to each and every occasions and live a courageous and meaningful life. Cheers!
Lao Jungle is an IPA with almost no bitterness. We specifically made it that way because I don’t like bitterness. Bitterness does not go well with Asian cuisines.
The color is an attractive amber with thick and hazy foam. Mouthfeel is rich and full-bodied with earthy citrus notes. The beer’s aroma is strong with citrus, caramel, and white peach. The finish is dry and woody flavored by caramel malt then fading to citrus and sweet hops. At the end, there is a tiny hint of bitterness. Lao Jungle is perfect with everything from Laotian curries (red, green and yellow) to fine Vientian Duck and Mama D’s Hell Pork crackins.
Did you know that a few of us were born in the jungles of Laos between 1975 to 1986? Our parents had to flee the oppressive regimes that came to power in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam when American troops pulled our of Vietnam in April of 1975.
Many Laotian, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Hmong and Mien parents said: “Better to give birth to you in the jungle, than under an oppressive regime”. The jungles of Laos became the gathering ground for many of these people who fled the war and many of these sites later became refugee camps. So, if you were born in one of these refugee camps in Laos between 1975 to 1986, your nationality is in fact “Jungle People”.
Personally, I think of Lao Jungle as a happy place. Because for many of the families, their backyard and garden was literally the jungle. Picture the backyard full of low growing vegetables, dense high fruit trees and loose running animals.
Lao Jungle is also a story about love. Many of the refugees met in the jungle. Share possessions in the jungle. while others felt in love and married in the jungle. A few of these couples gave birth to their children in the jungle. My granddaughter, for example, proudly proclaimed when she was five, that she was part of the “Tarzan clan” because her parents, our kids, were born in the jungle. I am glad she did not have to go through all the sufferings as we did. In a way, I am glad God shielded our kids from understanding and feeling what misery was. I am glad we made it through together.
For these Jungle People or generation, we made a beer – Lao Jungle. Enjoy and remember our struggles especially the struggle of mothers who gave birth to their children in the jungle. Giving birth to “You” in the jungle was hard!
For a moment in time, the jungle as was home. The jungle was filled with culture. Now, the jungle is a part of our history. From there we went to America.
The Golden Dragon
Our Golden Dragon beer, a Chinese Style Golden Ale, is dedicated to our “Asian Heroes”, Asians who have contributed tremendously to our society in the past and the present or have brought our Asian cultures to the forefront.
There are many Asian Heroes. The list is long, and we will share it on our website. We celebrate our Asian heroes, and we are going to do it very loudly.
The Dragon is a symbol of a powerful energy. The forces that emanate from this form are forces of Health & Strength, Luck & Fortune, and Wealth & Prosperity. When the Dragon chooses and inhibits you, you will in fact become a “hero”.
Let’s celebrate our Asian heroes and let us do it with it with this beer. May our Golden Dragon inspire you. May it find you and may it bind with you for eternity. Cheers!
Pilsner the Ox
Pilsner the Ox, our Asian Style Pilsner, is dedicated to Hmong people. This is the first Hmong beer in the history of Hmong People. We dedicate this beer to Hmong families and friends with “livers made of gold and minds strong as steel”.
A People Without a Country Without a Flag.
On Every Continent, In Every Land.
A Liver of Gold, A Mind of Steel.
Wherever I go, I am Hmong.
As a Ox stands its ground, Hmong people stand by their families and friends no matter what. Then we drink until the end.
The Ox Pilsner is fully flavored but without the bitterness It complements many foods and occasions.
For freshest flavor, store below 40˚ F.