What Is Draft Beer? Everything You Need to Know

Draft beer has long been a distinctive part of Vietnam’s culinary culture, offering a refreshing and unpretentious taste. With its low alcohol content and light, easy-to-drink flavor, draft beer appeals to a wide range of consumers. However, many young people today are still unfamiliar with draft beer. Let’s explore everything about this unique beverage with Kamereo in the article below!

What Is Draft Beer?

Draft beer is a unique type of fresh beer in Vietnam, produced through a simple brewing process resulting in a short shelf life of about 20–30 days. Unlike bottled or canned beer, draft beer is not pasteurized, allowing it to retain its fresh and natural taste. It has a pale yellow color, a mild aroma, and a low alcohol content of 3–4%, making it suitable for a broad audience.

Today, draft beer is typically served directly from stainless steel kegs or through taps at beer establishments, offering a fresh drinking experience daily. Besides its taste, draft beer is also popular due to its affordable price. It symbolizes simplicity and conviviality in Vietnamese culinary life, particularly in the northern region.

The Origins of Draft Beer in Vietnam

Beer and brewing technology were introduced to Vietnam by the French in the 19th century. Initially, beer was primarily consumed by the upper class and expatriates. To cater to the local population, small-scale breweries began producing a more affordable fresh beer called draft beer.

Vietnamese draft beer is typically made from rice, sugar, malt, and yeast. The fermentation process is quick, lasting only 2–3 days, resulting in a beer with a slightly sweet, slightly sour taste and moderate carbonation. This flavor profile aligns well with Vietnamese palates and pairs easily with various dishes.

Draft beer quickly gained popularity in northern Vietnam, especially in Hanoi, where beer establishments became a staple of local life.

The Brewing Process of Draft Beer

Draft beer is a simple beverage made from ingredients closely tied to agricultural life. Its production process, while straightforward, requires meticulous attention and expertise.

Steps in Brewing Draft Beer:

1. Preparing Ingredients: Draft beer primarily uses rice as the main ingredient for starch conversion into sugar. Other components include sugar, malt, yeast, and water.
2. Cooking and Filtering: Ingredients are ground and boiled at high temperatures to dissolve the starch. The mash is then filtered to extract the wort.
3. Cooling and Fermentation: The wort is cooled to an appropriate temperature for yeast to be added. The yeast ferments the sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide in a short period, usually 2–3 days.
4. Filtering and Packaging: After fermentation, the beer is filtered to remove sediments, then stored in kegs or containers for distribution.

Draft Beer vs. Fresh Beer

Many people still confuse draft beer with fresh beer, which is understandable as they are served similarly. The table below highlights their differences:

Characteristic	Draft Beer	Fresh Beer
Ingredients	Rice, sugar, malt, yeast	Hops, malt, yeast, water
Fermentation Period	2–3 days	14–20 days
Flavor	Slightly sweet, sour	Malty aroma, slight hop bitterness
Storage	2–4°C	2–4°C
Shelf Life	Short-term	Short-term
Price	Affordable	Higher than draft beer

Kamereo – Your Trusted Alcohol Supplier

For F&B businesses, sourcing quality ingredients is crucial. At Kamereo, we connect with leading brands in Vietnam and globally to bring you the best products.

With around 4,000 products in our catalog, Kamereo ensures your business needs are met daily. All items, especially in the beer and alcohol category, are sourced directly from reliable suppliers or reputable brands. Additionally, Kamereo emphasizes proper documentation to ensure smooth operations.

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Kamereo stands out with its extensive storage facilities in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and nearby farms. This ensures optimal storage conditions and minimizes spoilage during delivery. Our experienced delivery team also helps reduce shipping times significantly.

Currently, Kamereo offers attractive incentives for both new and existing customers. For every order over 400,000 VND, we provide free inner-city delivery. Moreover, customers with a monthly total bill of at least 20 million VND are eligible for cashback of up to 1%.

FAQs About Draft Beer

How is draft beer different from regular beer?

Draft beer is a type of fresh beer popular in various regions of Vietnam, particularly in the North. While it is a type of fresh beer, draft beer differs from globally consumed beer in its use of rice, malt, and sugar and its short fermentation period of 2–3 days.

What does draft beer contain?

Draft beer contains a certain amount of calories, primarily from sugar and alcohol. It also includes small quantities of B vitamins and minerals.

Does drinking draft beer have negative effects?

Excessive consumption of draft beer, like other alcoholic beverages, can harm the body. The alcohol content in draft beer can impair balance, affect liver and brain functions, and contribute to weight gain due to its caloric content.

How many calories are in a glass of draft beer?

The calorie content in draft beer varies depending on the ingredients and brewing process, but a 330ml glass typically contains around 130 calories.

How much does 1 liter of draft beer weigh?

Generally, 1 liter equals 1 kilogram or 1,000 grams. Thus, 1 liter of draft beer weighs approximately 1 kilogram.

What is the alcohol content of draft beer?

The alcohol content of draft beer varies by packaging and brand. For example, Hanoi Draft Beer (330ml bottle) has 5.1% alcohol, the 330ml can has 4.6%, and the 450ml bottle has 4.2%. Meanwhile, Truc Bach Classic Draft Beer has 5.3%, and Viet Ha Draft Beer (1 liter) has 4%.

Conclusion

We hope this article provides you with a comprehensive understanding of draft beer. Despite its lower price compared to other types of beer, its flavor should not be underestimated. Follow Cuisine and Lifestyle for more exciting insights into the world of beer in Vietnam and beyond.