Breweries Archives - Pale Ale Travel

What is the Legal Drinking Age in Cambodia? [2024]

January 3, 2024January 3, 2024Cambodia, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

I had a bit of a whirlwind few weeks in Cambodia when I was living in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam and was required to make semi-regular visa trips to Phnom Penh (and sometimes just the Cambodian border) to apply for a new visa and re-enter. Sometimes, I’d make a several-week trip out of it and post up in the country’s capital, Phnom Penh, for relaxation, gluttony, and cultural exploration.

What I found was a country with a surprisingly cosmopolitan alcohol and gastronomic landscape, boasting everything from countless live music and billiards bars blasting classic rock hits to throwback colonial lounges and bustling rooftop bars to Shanghainese speakeasies and international craft beer haunts. And that’s just the beginning. Cambodian casinos (well…they are actually owned by the Chinese), beach bars, and cigar bars are also at your fingertips.

As a popular destination for newly minted high school graduates on gap years, backpackers of all ages and creeds, university students from surrounding Asian countries, and other thrill seekers who enjoy a pint or two (or a bucket), a common question that pops up is “What is the legal drinking age in Cambodia?”

Here’s everything you need to know about the legal drinking age in Cambodia, along with other important alcohol laws in Cambodia.

What You Need to Know About Japan’s Legal Drinking Age

December 13, 2023February 22, 2024Asia, Japan, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

During my three months based in Osaka, Japan, I drank a lot of alcohol. No, really. I drank a lot. And that is coming from an existence that already sees a non-zero sum of alcohol consumed somewhat regularly. I attribute this increased consumption to the fact that Japanese dining is complemented perfectly with an ice-cold draft beer (nama beeru) or Chuhai (shochu highball), warm or cold sake, or even a dry red or slightly sweet white wine (the ultimate pairing with sushi).

Japan’s drinking culture is unlike anywhere else in the world – for better or worse. It’s not just the varieties of quality alcohol that you can find in Japan, it’s the vibrancy and depth of the venues to drink it at.

From drinking casual beers and Chuhais while sitting under a bridge along the Yodogawa River (one of my personal favorite memories) to raucous, brash, crowded nightclubs in Osaka and Tokyo, all the way to back alley izakayas and yakitori joints, high-end Japanese whiskey bars, and assorted “nomihoudai” (all you can drink) bars scattered across the country (and everything in between), Japan has it all when it comes to drinking culture, nightlife, and alcohol. If you want a draft beer at Yoshinoya, one of Japan’s most popular gyudon fast food restaurants, you can imbibe as well.

To ensure that you don’t miss out on one of the most robust and unique drinking (and dining) cultures in the world, you might be asking yourself, “What is the legal drinking age in Japan?”

Read on to find out how old you need to be to legally drink alcohol in Japan along with other important Japanese alcohol laws to know.

The Legal Drinking Age in Taiwan Explained

December 7, 2023December 7, 2023Taiwan, Travel BigBody Leave a Comment

Consistently named as one of the best places to live for expats and one of the most underrated travel destinations, Taiwan is a vibrant, convenient, culturally rich, and downright fun island that should definitely be on your radar. Contributing to its unique eclectic soul and draw is a burgeoning (and now thriving) alcohol and nightlife scene that is not only affordable but domestically and internationally driven.

You’ll find everything from quirky craft beer and whiskey bars nestled in back alleys of popular university areas to bass-thumping nightclubs and upscale rooftop lounges, all the way to lively stir-fry restaurants (rechao – 熱炒) with dedicated ‘beer girls’, all-you-can-drink whiskey-green tea karaoke lounges, LGBTQ+ friendly bars (in Ximending), and British pubs for weekly quizzes, pool leagues, and more.

I first took a dawgz trip to Taiwan when I was 21 years old (while living in Hong Kong) and wasn’t sure of what the alcohol restrictions were or if I should even worry at all. It is still one of the most memorable (from what I can remember) trips of my life. I then moved to Taiwan for three-plus years in 2015. Three formative years – rife with love, bian dangs (Taiwanese homestyle food on the go), post-work night market strolls, and of course, booze (of all types, brands, and sizes).

If you’re traveling (or considering moving) to Taiwan and don’t want to miss out on any of it, you may be wondering, “What is the legal drinking age?”

Below, I’ll dive into Taiwan’s legal drinking age along with important drinking laws and tips that you should know before traveling to the island known as ‘Formosa’ (Taiwan’s main island).

The Complete Guide to Craft Beer in Saigon

July 27, 2020December 3, 2023Asia, Beer & Breweries, Vietnam BigBody 5 Comments

Strap in. In this guide we are talking about all things craft beer in Saigon. Craft beer culture in Saigon is booming. No one will ever go thirsty here. I guarantee it. From a Belgian brewery serving up wheat beers in a 1.5 liter drum, to a slick gastropub with more than 100 craft beers to choose from, all the way to a popular craft beer haunt on the infamous Bui Vien Street, consider this your ultimate guide to craft beer in Saigon!

I consumed far more beer than I’m proud to admit in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (although I guess I just admitted it), so that you know where to go next time you are fiending for an IPA, sour, lager, or all of the above.

Delay no more! Below is a list of my favorite bars and breweries for craft beer in Saigon.

Power of the Pivovar: 2 Breweries to Eat & Drink at in Bratislava

January 29, 2020August 19, 2020Beer & Breweries, Europe, Slovakia BigBody 2 Comments

A generic name for “brewery” in several Slavic languages, a pivovar is so much more than that (in my book). Not only are pivovars incredible spots to drink your fill of Bratislava’s finest lagers (and countless other beers) but they are also great spots to load up on traditional Slovakian dishes and experience a lively pub-atmosphere.

Below are three of my favorite pivovars to eat and drink at in Bratislava, Slovakia!

Craft Beer Pub Crawl Saigon

December 3, 2019December 3, 2023Asia, Beer & Breweries, Vietnam BigBody Leave a Comment

I thought this would be a relevant article as I had several buddies visit Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) wanting to do a craft beer pub crawl. So, I’ve been on several self-guided craft beer tours and pub crawls in Saigon and decided to compile some insights. The great thing about District 1 in Saigon is that a majority of the best craft beer bars, pubs, and breweries are all concentrated within walking distance of one another, making for a great pub crawl atmosphere and route.

The below craft beer bars can be “crawled” in any order, however, I’m structuring this guide to well…help give you some structure, as it might be lacking after several of Saigon’s best beers. Plus, Vietnam’s craft beer scene is absolutely huge and growing, so it can be overwhelming to navigate Yelp, TripAdvisor, and other review platforms.

Oh, and Vietnam’s coffee scene isn’t too bad either (it’s incredible).

Consider this your ultimate Saigon craft beer tour guide! Let’s get started. Keep in mind that the following craft beer bars, breweries, and haunts are located within District 1. And, I’ve omitted several great breweries and bars in District 1 due to the fact that they don’t exactly jive with a short, concentrated route.

5 Breweries to Check Out in Ho Chi Minh City

November 27, 2019March 3, 2024Asia, Beer & Breweries, Vietnam BigBody Leave a Comment

If there’s three things I need to survive on a desert island, it’s beer, meat, and cheese. I’m not a craft beer expert by any means, but I do drink a good amount of beer and try to make it a priority to visit as many breweries as possible wherever I am. Ho Chi Minh has no shortage of breweries, and honestly, it’s probably the best city I’ve ever lived in (or been) in Asia for beer. To this day, some of my absolute favorite beers are ones I tried (and drank regularly) at some of Saigon’s most popular breweries.

In this post, I’m going to walk you through 5 breweries in Ho Chi Minh I think are worth checking out. Not just for drinks and food, but the atmosphere as well. As you can tell from my website and blog’s name, I do prefer IPAs and pale ales, but still do make a concerted effort to try different types of beer. After all… Good beer is good beer.

Keep in mind that all of the below breweries generally have weekly events going on (ex. Beer tastings, happy hours, tours, etc…), so I recommend checking out their website or Facebook page for upcoming events and specials.

Do let me know your favorite breweries and beers to drink in Saigon below in the comments! I’d love to hear from you.