Cambodian expats have been abuzz about the origins of their much favoured tipple, Anchor.
Since late 2008 there have been several versions of the beer available in Cambodia: one version is the "original brew" and made in Kien Svay, another made by a Cambodian company by the name of HBL and a third, decidedly inferior, version made in Thailand.
Comments on a local expat site chart this most annoying of alcoholic inconveniences:
"Some shops are selling dodgy Anchor Beer made in Thailand and tastes nowhere near as good as the Cambodian made stuff"
"Domestic demand for Anchor exceeds the brewery's ability to supply - thus the excess is being sourced from Thai brewers until they can increase capacity. The Thai stuff is lower quality and you can tell by the can - make sure you buy the stuff marked made in Kandal province..."
"Locally produced beer gets shafted on taxes while the crap smuggled over the border manages to evade a lot of that so I figure there is economic incentive too"
Eventually somebody in the know posted some good news:
"The imported, Thai made, version is no longer in the market and was stopped as a supplier several months ago now"
http://www.expat-advisory.com/forums/topic7595.html
http://www.expat-advisory.com/forums/topic7602.html