The Best Beer for Hiking Cambodia
By James Roland
The Temples of Angkor: the hottest tourist attraction in Southeast Asia. Each year thousands of folks from around the world fly or bus into Siem Reap, Cambodia to walk amidst crumbling history and endure constant 90-degree weather and high humidity.
Hikers beat the heat with a large glass (or preferably, a half-liter bottle) of the locally brewed Angkor Beer. Easily the most popular beer in Siem Reap, despite a multitude of domestic and imported choices, Angkor Beer stands out with its bright red label and towering bottles. Light and smooth like the best Asian beers,with absolutely no bitter aftertaste, Angkor offers just enough muted flavor to compliment the curry that saturates every meal.
The beer has garnered a taste award from Australia (as it proudly proclaims on the label) but I’d say the award for Best Experience goes to the exotic surrounding as you sip or chug in the environs of its namesake.
Many travelers relax in the patio restaurant of the Green Town Guesthouse, wedged between the east side of the Siem Reap River and Wat Bo Road. The café offers cheap entrées to guests for $2-$3, including the best vegetable curry in town – sweet and tangy without any of the infamous Thai cuisine burn.
But the best place to enjoy Angkor is at Dead Fish restaurant, located on the northwest side of the Old Market District, directly across from the convenient 24-hr American dollar ATM at Canadia Bank. The sign for Dead Fish proudly proclaims, “No serving dog, cat, rat, or worm!” and once inside you’ll discover the sign wasn’t necessary. One of the more westernized restaurants in Siem Reap, Dead Fish offers cleanliness and service with enough third-world ambiance to make the experience an adventure.
Seating can be found on any of the restaurant’s three levels of intricate platforms, all connected with random, narrow staircases. The entire place feels like a tropical Escher drawing. Angkor Beer compliments their fried eel very well, but be careful how much you drink since the platforms have no safety railings.
If you don’t feel like going out, just grab a bottle of Angkor from almost any local vendor. With no better way to cool off after wandering through 2,000-year-old holy temples, even the internet cafes have a drink menu.
Drink Info: Angkor Beer
Can Be Purchased: All over Cambodia or by export to Europe; Japan and USA via e-mail at export@angkorbeer.com.kh
Website: http://www.angkorbeer.com.kh
Price: $1-$3 per 640ml bottle in country
RedFence Rating: 7 (out of 10)
Images used under Creative Commons licenses:
Sign taken in Sihanoukville, Cambodia at Serendipity Beach, care of visualcuriosity.
Bottle care of Jeb Ro.
