Big Man Beer

What's in a name? I dunno, who does? Is Big Man Beer big? For big men? Can it make you big? In a country of quite small men I find that unlikely. Maybe they don't drink enough? So, what's so big about Big Man Beer? Well, whatever the thinking behind the brand, Big Man Beer is getting a wee bit bigger. There's something of a microbrewery boom going on in Saigon. I've seen four different outfits open up within the past six months alone. Big Man Beer is a bit older, but seems to be spreading at a faster rate than the others. I stop by Cat Trang restaurant at 232 Pasteur Street in District 3 to see how big Big Man Beer really is.

I hit the 17,000VD bia den (black beer). It arrives with a fabulous crown of froth. Yum. It's black, it's cold, hoppy and light. They're about all the adjectives I can manage I'm afraid. But, it's really rather good. Up there with the excellent Hoa Vien and the Nguyen Du Krauthaus. The added bonus of quaffing at Cat Trang restaurant is the menu.

Unfortunately I'd just eaten and had no room for some of the more interesting creations, but on a return trip I could be tempted by fake weasel, stewed salamander with citronella, minced sand lizard with rice pancake, swan blood pudding or from the 'Special Menu', steamed tortoise with ginger (blood & gall to be served) or wild grilled Phan Thiet lizard. Any of which would make for a memorable dinner. Just out of interest, are lizards from the coastal town of Phan Thiet particularly well known, like say Orkney lamb or Kobe beef? Here's the business card and directions for Cat Trang resto and the bill.

Comments

[OMIH]

Wild life restaurants...man...not good. I don't know the ins and outs of what you should eat and what you shouldn't but I know when I go to places with menus like this with friends who work as volunteers for environmental causes there is a lot of tutting all round.

Hmm...I'll email the afforementioned friends and ask them for a what's okay and what's not and I'll try and post it here.

[idlehouse]

pretty clever name I think. In VNese, "adult" = "nguoi lon", which literally translates to "big person." So VNese people can understand the terms as "adult beer," while foreigners who tend to be bigger than the VNese can be flattered that they have reached a place just for them :)

[Kimson]

Well, last time I was in Phan Thiet, there was an old lady selling lizards (alive, ready to be roasted upon request) for about 300 VND a pop. We bought one, but it was for a prank on my uncle so I can't tell you if their tasty or famous.

[Adam in Mui Ne]

I live in Phan Thiet. Locals certainly eat them. There's really only one kind for eating that are quite large and have a lot of meat. They are quite tastey but they seem like more of a home cooked food rather than something you'd go to a restaurant for. I've never heard there was anything special about Phan Thiet Lizards though.

[Knut Albert]

I took the liberty of quoting your blog and linking to it. Most impressive - keep up the good work!

Knut Albert in Norway

[Jake]

I tried this place today. It has changed a lot since you posted this review. They no longer offer Big Man Beer, or even an English menu!

There was a picture of a cobra on the road sign, but I wasn't able to identify anything exotic on the menu. Their selection of beer was limited to Heineken, 333, Tiger, and "Spy" which I opted for wanting to try something new. Much to my dismay, I discovered it was a wine cooler :(

[Teddy]

One of the reporters I work with just tried to copy a lot of this three-year blog post for a review for Big Man Beer -- now available in Hanoi... -- even the phrase: "They're about all the adjectives I can manage I'm afraid."

*sigh*

Journalism has not progressed in your absence.

[Graham]

Link Teddy, link dammit...