Beer Lao

Beer Lao is the best-known beer brand associated with Laos and the flagship product of the Lao Brewery Company (LBC), based in Vientiane. The name is used for a range of beers rather than a single permanent recipe. Its principal lager, Beer Lao Original, is widely consumed throughout Laos and has become a familiar part of the country’s restaurants, bars, festivals, sporting events, and everyday social life. The brand is also exported to a broad group of markets in Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania. The beer’s identity is built around the use of locally grown Lao jasmine rice alongside imported brewing materials. The malt is sourced from France and Belgium, while hops and yeast are imported from Germany. This combination gives the brand a distinct local foundation without implying that every ingredient is domestically produced. Beer Lao Original is a 5% alcohol-by-volume lager traditionally sold in 330-millilitre cans and bottles and 640-millilitre bottles. Draft service is commonly known in Laos as bia sot, or “fresh beer.” LBC expanded the Beer Lao family during the 2000s and 2010s. Beerlao Light, introduced in 2005 with a lower alcohol level of 2.9%, was later discontinued. Beerlao Dark, also introduced in 2005, offered a stronger 6.5% alternative. Beerlao Gold followed in 2010 and was distinguished by the use of khao kai noy rice, which the company associated with a particular aroma and less sticky mouthfeel. Beerlao White and Beerlao IPA were added in 2018 and 2019, extending the portfolio into white lager and India pale ale styles. LBC also launched Lanexang, a separate 5% lager brand, in 2008. Beer Lao has been positioned as an accessible but quality-led national lager. Its branding emphasizes Lao culture, local ingredients, conviviality, and pride rather than presenting the product solely as an imported-style premium beer. The brand has had unusually high visibility in Laos: it has sponsored national sporting activities, served as an official sponsor of the 2009 Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane, and supported promotional programs including a widely circulated calendar and a Beer Lao beauty pageant. These activities helped make the brand a prominent cultural and commercial symbol. The company has claimed a dominant share of the Lao beer market, including a 99% share claim reported for 2008. That figure is a company claim and may not describe the brand’s current position, particularly after the entry and growth of competing imported brands such as Tiger. Nevertheless, Beer Lao remains strongly identified with the domestic market. The brand has also received international quality recognition from Monde Selection, including gold awards in 2006 and 2010 and a silver award in 2003. In October 2024, LBC reported exporting more than 10 million litres of Beer Lao globally and generating more than US$10 million in export revenue. The export figure is a company-reported contemporary performance claim rather than a complete independently audited financial profile.

Beer Lao is the generic name for a family of beers made by the Lao Brewery Company in Vientiane. The brand developed into a national symbol because it became deeply integrated with Lao social life and was available across the country’s restaurants, bars, shops, and public celebrations. International descriptions have emphasized its exceptional visibility in Laos and its role as one of the country’s most recognizable consumer brands. The brewing profile combines local and imported inputs. Lao jasmine rice provides the principal local point of distinction, while malt comes from France and Belgium and hops and yeast from Germany. The core Beer Lao Original lager has an alcohol content of 5% by volume. It is commonly packaged in 330-millilitre cans and bottles and 640-millilitre bottles. In some Lao venues it is served on draft, a format locally referred to as bia sot, meaning fresh beer. LBC began broadening the portfolio in 2005. Beerlao Light was introduced at 2.9% alcohol by volume, while Beerlao Dark provided a stronger 6.5% alternative; the Light product was subsequently discontinued. The same period also saw LBC produce a local Carlsberg beer, indicating a wider relationship with international brewing expertise, although Carlsberg is a separate brand from Beer Lao. In April 2008, LBC launched Lanexang, a separate 5% lager named after the historic Lao kingdom whose name means “Million Elephants.” Beerlao Gold arrived in 2010. Its distinguishing ingredient was identified as khao kai noy rice, which was associated with a pronounced aroma and a less sticky texture. Later product development moved into additional contemporary styles: Beerlao White, described as a white lager, and Beerlao IPA were launched in 2018 and 2019 respectively. The brand’s market role extends beyond its products. LBC reported a 99% share of the Lao beer market in 2008, although that figure was a company claim and competition subsequently increased, including through the arrival of Singapore’s Tiger beer. Beer Lao has maintained high promotional visibility through sports sponsorship and national marketing. It was an official sponsor of the 2009 Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane and has been associated with sporting events, an annual calendar, and a Beer Lao beauty pageant. Beer Lao also developed an international distribution footprint. It has been reported in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Ireland, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, France, Thailand, Denmark, Hong Kong, Macau, Switzerland, mainland China, Singapore, and the Netherlands. It is also sold at Lao border duty-free locations, particularly crossings with Thailand. Monde Selection recognized the brand with a silver quality award in 2003 and gold quality awards in 2006 and 2010. In October 2024, LBC reported global Beer Lao exports of more than 10 million litres and export revenue exceeding US$10 million.

1. 2024Reported export expansion

   LBC reported exporting more than 10 million litres of Beer Lao worldwide and generating more than US$10 million in export revenue.

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2. 2019Beerlao IPA launched

   LBC added an India pale ale style to the Beer Lao portfolio.

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3. 2018Beerlao White launched

   LBC expanded the Beer Lao family with a white lager.

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4. 2010Beerlao Gold introduced

   Beerlao Gold was introduced with khao kai noy rice as its distinguishing ingredient.

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5. 2010Second Monde Selection gold quality award

   Beer Lao received another gold quality award from Monde Selection.

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6. 2008Lanexang introduced

   LBC launched Lanexang, a separate 5% lager brand named after a historic Lao kingdom.

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7. 2006Monde Selection gold quality award

   Beer Lao received a gold quality award from Monde Selection.

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8. 2005Light and Dark variants launched

   LBC introduced Beerlao Light at 2.9% alcohol by volume and Beerlao Dark at 6.5% alcohol by volume. Beerlao Light was later discontinued.

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9. 2003Monde Selection silver quality award

   Beer Lao received a silver quality award from Monde Selection.

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A nationally iconic, quality-oriented Lao lager brand using local rice and cultural symbolism while offering accessible mainstream and specialty beer variants.

• Beer Lao OriginalLager

  The core Beer Lao product is a 5% alcohol-by-volume lager brewed using locally grown Lao jasmine rice together with imported malt, hops, and yeast. It is sold in 330-millilitre cans and bottles and 640-millilitre bottles. The product is distributed throughout Laos and is also available in selected overseas restaurants, bars, and retail channels. Draft service is commonly called bia sot in Laos.

• Beerlao DarkDark lager2005

  Beerlao Dark is a stronger member of the Beer Lao family, reported at 6.5% alcohol by volume. It was introduced in 2005 as a darker alternative to the flagship lager and is packaged in 330-millilitre bottles.

• Beerlao LightLow-alcohol lager2005

  Beerlao Light was a lower-alcohol variant introduced in 2005 at 2.9% alcohol by volume. The product formed part of LBC’s early portfolio expansion but has since been discontinued.

• Beerlao GoldSpecialty lager2010

  Beerlao Gold was introduced in 2010 and distinguished itself through the use of khao kai noy rice. The ingredient was associated with a particular aroma and a less sticky texture, giving the brand a specialty product linked to Lao agricultural identity.

• Beerlao WhiteWhite lager2018

  Beerlao White is a white lager added to the Beer Lao range during the 2018 product expansion. It broadened the portfolio beyond the traditional pale lager and dark lager formats.

• Beerlao IPAIndia pale ale2019

  Beerlao IPA is an India pale ale-style product launched in 2019. Its introduction represented a move into a more internationally recognizable craft-influenced beer style while retaining the Beer Lao brand name.

• 2009Southeast Asian Games sponsorship

  Laos

  Beer Lao served as an official sponsor of the Southeast Asian Games held in Vientiane from 9 to 18 December 2009, strengthening its association with national sports and public events.

  Outcome. Expanded national visibility through association with a major regional sporting event.

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• Sports-event marketing

  Laos

  Beer Lao has been described as a major marketer in Laos and has supported sports events across the country.

  Outcome. Reinforced the brand’s position as a highly visible national consumer brand.

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• Beer Lao calendar and beauty pageant promotion

  Laos

  The brand has issued a popular annual calendar featuring winners of the Beer Lao beauty pageant, combining promotional merchandising with a recurring national marketing property.

  Outcome. Maintained year-round consumer visibility beyond point-of-sale advertising.

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• 2019Enter white lager and IPA stylesProduct launch

  Changing beer preferences and international style conventions created an opportunity to broaden the established lager portfolio.

  What changed. LBC added Beerlao White and Beerlao IPA during the 2018–2019 expansion period.

  Aftermath. Beer Lao gained products representing both white lager and India pale ale styles in addition to its traditional offerings.

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• 2010Introduce Beerlao GoldProduct launch

  LBC developed a specialty variant capable of differentiating itself through a distinctly Lao rice ingredient.

  What changed. It introduced Beerlao Gold using khao kai noy rice, promoted as contributing aroma and a less sticky texture.

  Aftermath. The product extended the brand’s use of local agricultural identity into premium or specialty positioning.

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• 2008Launch the Lanexang lager brandProduct launch

  LBC expanded beyond its principal Beer Lao identity while drawing on an important historical symbol associated with Laos.

  What changed. It launched Lanexang, a 5% lager named after the historic Lao kingdom whose name means “Million Elephants.”

  Aftermath. The brand reportedly gained popularity among local drinkers, although it remained relatively difficult to find.

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• 2005Broaden the portfolio with Light and Dark beersProduct launch

  LBC sought to offer alternatives to the core Beer Lao lager, including a lower-alcohol beer and a stronger dark variant.

  What changed. It launched Beerlao Light at 2.9% alcohol by volume and Beerlao Dark at 6.5% alcohol by volume.

  Aftermath. Beerlao Dark remained part of the reported range, while Beerlao Light was later discontinued.

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• 2024Beer Lao exports exceed 10 million litres

  The Lao Brewery Company reported that exports of Beer Lao exceeded 10 million litres in October 2024, with reported export revenue above US$10 million.

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• 2019Beerlao White and Beerlao IPA expand the product range

  LBC added Beerlao IPA after introducing Beerlao White, broadening the brand beyond its core lager products.

  Product launchProduct generation
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• 2009Beer Lao sponsors the 2009 Southeast Asian Games

  Beer Lao was an official sponsor of the Southeast Asian Games held in Vientiane from 9 to 18 December 2009.

  Campaign
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1. Beerlao