Comments on: Kathy asks about – Ba Muoi Ba Beer http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/kathy-ask-about-ba-muoi-ba-beer Saigon Kids and Alumni of American Community School Saigon (1955 - 1975) - Kind Words Go A Long Way Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:43:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jim McCann http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/kathy-ask-about-ba-muoi-ba-beer/comment-page-1#comment-108300 Jim McCann Wed, 21 Sep 2011 19:32:34 +0000 http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/?p=134#comment-108300 I remember that the deposit on the bottles of "33" was more than the cost of the beer itself. The 24 empties were worth about 12-16 bucks! I bought a case in Long Thanh (near Bearcat) in 1968. I left the empties for some of the locals and they could not have been happier. I remember that the deposit on the bottles of “33″ was more than the cost of the beer itself. The 24 empties were worth about 12-16 bucks! I bought a case in Long Thanh (near Bearcat) in 1968. I left the empties for some of the locals and they could not have been happier.

]]> By: Admin http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/kathy-ask-about-ba-muoi-ba-beer/comment-page-1#comment-55140 Admin Sat, 21 May 2011 02:23:36 +0000 http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/?p=134#comment-55140 Tuck - Yes, we were in Vietnam prior to 1965. I'm surprised there was ANY Ba Moui Ba left by the time you arrived in '65 as WE surely must have drank every drop there was in the country by '61 when I departed Vietnam. I'm CERTAIN there was never formaldehyde used in the brewing process of the *legally brewed* Ba Moui Ba, as the father of one of the French kids in our Saigon Kids group was the manager of the plant which manufactured and distributed Ba Moui Ba in Saigon. However, in the process of researching the *formaldehyde myth* I did learn there were many *unconfirmed* reports of *illegal* (bootleg) Ba Moui Ba being made and sold in Vietnam during the period of '65 to '75 which may have been processed with formaldehyde, as well as, several other substances known only to the makers of the *bootleg* beer. One report allegedly stemming from documents confiscated from the Viet Cong indicates some Viet Cong groups allegedly made bootleg Ba Moui Ba *laced* with various toxic ingredients and sold it to the U.S. Military (and our Allies). Allegedly they bottled the bootleg beer by re-using empty Ba Moui Ba, Tiger, La Rue, etc. bottles. Then *salted* shipments of *legally* made beer with the bootleg toxin laced beer. Fact or Myth? I doubt we'll ever know. Bob Tuck – Yes, we were in Vietnam prior to 1965. I’m surprised there was ANY Ba Moui Ba left by the time you arrived in ’65 as WE surely must have drank every drop there was in the country by ’61 when I departed Vietnam. I’m CERTAIN there was never formaldehyde used in the brewing process of the *legally brewed* Ba Moui Ba, as the father of one of the French kids in our Saigon Kids group was the manager of the plant which manufactured and distributed Ba Moui Ba in Saigon. However, in the process of researching the *formaldehyde myth* I did learn there were many *unconfirmed* reports of *illegal* (bootleg) Ba Moui Ba being made and sold in Vietnam during the period of ’65 to ’75 which may have been processed with formaldehyde, as well as, several other substances known only to the makers of the *bootleg* beer. One report allegedly stemming from documents confiscated from the Viet Cong indicates some Viet Cong groups allegedly made bootleg Ba Moui Ba *laced* with various toxic ingredients and sold it to the U.S. Military (and our Allies). Allegedly they bottled the bootleg beer by re-using empty Ba Moui Ba, Tiger, La Rue, etc. bottles. Then *salted* shipments of *legally* made beer with the bootleg toxin laced beer. Fact or Myth? I doubt we’ll ever know.

Bob

]]> By: William Tucker (Tuck) http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/kathy-ask-about-ba-muoi-ba-beer/comment-page-1#comment-55131 William Tucker (Tuck) Sat, 21 May 2011 01:27:29 +0000 http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/?p=134#comment-55131 Frank, Ken & Admin....you must have been in 'Nam prior to '65/66' cause I'm pretty sure I drank all they could brew during those years...and are you absolutely certain they didn't use formaldehyde in the brewing process of Ba Moui Ba? I'm being treated in the Mental Health Dept. @ the VA, and have been telling them it must have been the formaldehyde in the Ba Moui Ba. What else could it have been. MACV-SOG sin-loi Frank, Ken & Admin….you must have been in ‘Nam prior to ’65/66′ cause I’m pretty sure I drank all they could brew during those years…and are you absolutely certain they didn’t use formaldehyde in the brewing process of Ba Moui Ba? I’m being treated in the Mental Health Dept. @ the VA, and have been telling them it must have been the formaldehyde in the Ba Moui Ba. What else could it have been.
MACV-SOG sin-loi

]]> By: Admin http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/kathy-ask-about-ba-muoi-ba-beer/comment-page-1#comment-5026 Admin Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:07:57 +0000 http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/?p=134#comment-5026 Greg - depending on the year and condition of the labels, they may have considerable value in the collector market. Do some searching on Google (and other search engines), you may be pleasantly surprised. Bob Greg – depending on the year and condition of the labels, they may have considerable value in the collector market. Do some searching on Google (and other search engines), you may be pleasantly surprised.

Bob

]]> By: Greg Moore http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/kathy-ask-about-ba-muoi-ba-beer/comment-page-1#comment-4984 Greg Moore Thu, 07 Jan 2010 02:28:03 +0000 http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/?p=134#comment-4984 This post got me to thinking, after a little searching I found a scrapbook with a set of "33" Export beer lables. Now that isn't something you see everyday. ;) This post got me to thinking, after a little searching I found a scrapbook with a set of “33″ Export beer lables. Now that isn’t something you see everyday. ;)

]]> By: Admin http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/kathy-ask-about-ba-muoi-ba-beer/comment-page-1#comment-4840 Admin Sun, 27 Dec 2009 01:18:47 +0000 http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/?p=134#comment-4840 LOL - Frank ... nah, I think we drank the 'cheap' beer in the - to become - expensive bottles. I told ya to save the dang bottles!! ... ha ha ha ... Geez, if we still had half the empties from the Ba Muoi Ba you drank - we'd both be multi-millionaires today!!! I suppose it just goes to show ya, if ya save your trash long enough it will eventually become very, very valuable - LOL - :) LOL – Frank … nah, I think we drank the ‘cheap’ beer in the – to become – expensive bottles. I told ya to save the dang bottles!! … ha ha ha … Geez, if we still had half the empties from the Ba Muoi Ba you drank – we’d both be multi-millionaires today!!! I suppose it just goes to show ya, if ya save your trash long enough it will eventually become very, very valuable – LOL – :)

]]> By: frank http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/kathy-ask-about-ba-muoi-ba-beer/comment-page-1#comment-4838 frank Sat, 26 Dec 2009 22:59:10 +0000 http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/?p=134#comment-4838 So I guess Bob, we drank some pretty expensive beer in our day! lol So I guess Bob, we drank some pretty expensive beer in our day! lol

]]> By: Admin http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/kathy-ask-about-ba-muoi-ba-beer/comment-page-1#comment-4824 Admin Sat, 26 Dec 2009 04:09:21 +0000 http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/?p=134#comment-4824 33 Export (Ba Muoi Ba) beer history and name: It was first brewered by Heineken France in 1893. It was given Label "33" around the turn of the century (1900). It was first bottled as beer for French dominions (export beer) in special size 33 cl bottles. Hence the name - "33" Export Blonde. Other bottles not for export were 65 cl, most of the time. As the first 33 cl bottle the name stuck in the dominions, then later in France. Production was moved to Viet-nam. Heineken joint ventured with other companies for brewing, bottling and distribution facilities in French dominions - such as Viet-nam. Alcohol Volume is 4.8%. The variance in taste in different localities is because of the water, source of hops, malt and other ingredients. During the early years "33" Export made in Saigon was made with German hops and malt; and, German technology. The label was changed in 1975 to "333". It was entered into the American market in 1994. About the same time equipment was upgraded to modern German manufacturing equipment to increase production, along with a change to Australian hops, and the addition of Australian malt to enchance the character and quality. 333 Premium Beer (as it is now called) is popular in Viet-nam and widely accepted in the USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Australia. Note: 1950s/60s (and prior years) "33" Export (Ba Muoi Ba) and La Rue (tiger) beer bottles in good condition are selling in the 'collector' markets for about $80.00 USD and upward. These are the old brown glass bottles that had the label/printing painted directly on the bottles - before the 'glued on' paper labels. 33 Export (Ba Muoi Ba) beer history and name:

It was first brewered by Heineken France in 1893. It was given Label “33″ around the turn of the century (1900). It was first bottled as beer for French dominions (export beer) in special size 33 cl bottles. Hence the name – “33″ Export Blonde. Other bottles not for export were 65 cl, most of the time. As the first 33 cl bottle the name stuck in the dominions, then later in France. Production was moved to Viet-nam. Heineken joint ventured with other companies for brewing, bottling and distribution facilities in French dominions – such as Viet-nam. Alcohol Volume is 4.8%. The variance in taste in different localities is because of the water, source of hops, malt and other ingredients. During the early years “33″ Export made in Saigon was made with German hops and malt; and, German technology. The label was changed in 1975 to “333″. It was entered into the American market in 1994. About the same time equipment was upgraded to modern German manufacturing equipment to increase production, along with a change to Australian hops, and the addition of Australian malt to enchance the character and quality. 333 Premium Beer (as it is now called) is popular in Viet-nam and widely accepted in the USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Australia.

Note: 1950s/60s (and prior years) “33″ Export (Ba Muoi Ba) and La Rue (tiger) beer bottles in good condition are selling in the ‘collector’ markets for about $80.00 USD and upward. These are the old brown glass bottles that had the label/printing painted directly on the bottles – before the ‘glued on’ paper labels.

]]> By: Bruce Thomas http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/kathy-ask-about-ba-muoi-ba-beer/comment-page-1#comment-4823 Bruce Thomas Sat, 26 Dec 2009 01:29:49 +0000 http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/?p=134#comment-4823 Could it be that "33" is related to 0.33, referring to the popular (in Europe) beer serving of 1/3 liter? That's about 11.2 ounces (nearly 12 ounces). Could it be that “33″ is related to 0.33, referring to the popular (in Europe) beer serving of 1/3 liter? That’s about 11.2 ounces (nearly 12 ounces).

]]> By: fresnolarry http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/kathy-ask-about-ba-muoi-ba-beer/comment-page-1#comment-4808 fresnolarry Fri, 25 Dec 2009 08:21:22 +0000 http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/?p=134#comment-4808 I did a lot of beer drinking in Viet Nam. BA Moui BA being much of it, as well as "Beer La Rue". Both being Vietnamese beers. Beer La Rue has an obvious French sounding name. (i'd only guess "street beer") as beer means beer, and Rue means street in French. Many Gi's called Bier La Rue "tiger piss" because of the tiger on the label. Maybe the tiger was a mascot, as Budwieser has the Clydesdale horses as theirs. Beer La Rue was about a 20 ouncer, with the tiger (mentioned above) on the label. Ba moui ba was how one pronounces 33. 33 export obviously intended by the brewer to sell locally as well as exported. I know ba moui ba could be found in Cambodia in 1966. Therefore exported. The 33 bottle was actually 12 oz, clear glass, and "Beer La Rue" (with the tiger on the lable) in both clear and brown bottles. I did a lot of beer drinking in Viet Nam. BA Moui BA being much of it, as well as “Beer La Rue”. Both being Vietnamese beers. Beer La Rue has an obvious French sounding name. (i’d only guess “street beer”) as beer means beer, and Rue means street in French. Many Gi’s called Bier La Rue “tiger piss” because of the tiger on the label. Maybe the tiger was a mascot, as Budwieser has the Clydesdale horses as theirs.

Beer La Rue was about a 20 ouncer, with the tiger (mentioned above) on the label. Ba moui ba was how one pronounces 33. 33 export obviously intended by the brewer to sell locally as well as exported. I know ba moui ba could be found in Cambodia in 1966. Therefore exported. The 33 bottle was actually 12 oz, clear glass, and “Beer La Rue” (with the tiger on the lable) in both clear and brown bottles.

]]> By: frank stoddard http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/kathy-ask-about-ba-muoi-ba-beer/comment-page-1#comment-367 frank stoddard Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:14:34 +0000 http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/?p=134#comment-367 Your parents were not the only ones! Ha!! And I'll bet you did not try very hard! Yea, my Dad wanted me to get a good Catholic education and become successful! Fooled him!! Yea! Ugly American! That is so funny!!! Gosh, did we start the war?///??? By the way Bob, for all your listerers (is that spelled right?) If they will send me their Name and Address, I'll send them three CD's that I made. For a lack of a better name..I call them ERA #1, #2, #3. (I keep updating them. Never satisfied!!!) I'm a history and old music nut!! I think you'll find them interesting. Frank yea, I'll mail everyone who wants one...a set! You'll not be sorry!! BaMuoiBa@wildblue.net Your parents were not the only ones! Ha!! And I’ll bet you did not try very hard! Yea, my Dad wanted me to get a good Catholic education and become successful! Fooled him!!
Yea! Ugly American! That is so funny!!! Gosh, did we start the war?///???
By the way Bob, for all your listerers (is that spelled right?) If they will send me their Name and Address, I’ll send them three CD’s that I made. For a lack of a better name..I call them ERA #1, #2, #3. (I keep updating them. Never satisfied!!!) I’m a history and old music nut!! I think you’ll find them interesting. Frank
yea, I’ll mail everyone who wants one…a set! You’ll not be sorry!!
BaMuoiBa@wildblue.net

]]> By: Admin http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/kathy-ask-about-ba-muoi-ba-beer/comment-page-1#comment-366 Admin Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:46:52 +0000 http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/?p=134#comment-366 Frank said: "Gotta go out and name my horse!! (maybe it is not a horse…I think at this point it is a mule…maybe I’ll call him Jack." Frank, Walter named his 'mule' ... Old Rivers ... then wrote a song about his dead mule and made $$$millions$$$ LOL :) Frank said: "I do remember, that French-American relations were at an all time low." Maybe yours were, but mine were not! My French-American relations were EXCELLENT! Oh la la ... were they ever!! (right, Mimi? *wink*) ... lol ---------------------------------- Geezz Frank ... if you would've been looking at the 'buttons' instead of the foxy French gal walking by ... you might have noticed the LARGE RED one was the FIRE ALARM ... particularly since it had the international symbol for FIRE on it!! ... ha ha ha ... :) Gee Frank all the French people I've ever known have been very kind, warm, loving, helpful, humorous, happy, compassionate people ... but, then of course I never broke a lovely French girl's heart by 'standing her up' for a date either; nor, did I run around Paris setting of fire alarms in the French museums!! Dang Frank, I didn't even know it was possilbe to get 'band' from the Cercle Sportiff!!! Does the "Ugly American" come to mind, Frank. LOL Recommended reading for Frank: "How To Win French Friends and Influence French People" ... ha ha ha :) ---------------- Yes, Frank I thought of you often up there in Washington in the Catholic ALL Boys Boarding School ... while I was partying away down in Scottsdale, AZ. at a COED Private Boarding School ... LOL ... the Coors beer we smuggled in from Colorado was always a hit at the weekend parties in AZ ... lol ... I tried to get you address from my parents so I could invite you down to AZ for a visit (and a welcoming party .. lol), but my parents said you were a bad influence on me, and that it was best I didn't associate with you ... ha ha ha :) ROFL Rock on ... Mr. French Ambassador Frank!!! :) Bob Frank said: “Gotta go out and name my horse!! (maybe it is not a horse…I think at this point it is a mule…maybe I’ll call him Jack.”

Frank, Walter named his ‘mule’ … Old Rivers … then wrote a song about his dead mule and made $$$millions$$$

LOL :)

Frank said: “I do remember, that French-American relations were at an all time low.”

Maybe yours were, but mine were not! My French-American relations were EXCELLENT! Oh la la … were they ever!! (right, Mimi? *wink*) … lol

———————————-
Geezz Frank … if you would’ve been looking at the ‘buttons’ instead of the foxy French gal walking by … you might have noticed the LARGE RED one was the FIRE ALARM … particularly since it had the international symbol for FIRE on it!! … ha ha ha … :)

Gee Frank all the French people I’ve ever known have been very kind, warm, loving, helpful, humorous, happy, compassionate people … but, then of course I never broke a lovely French girl’s heart by ‘standing her up’ for a date either; nor, did I run around Paris setting of fire alarms in the French museums!! Dang Frank, I didn’t even know it was possilbe to get ‘band’ from the Cercle Sportiff!!!

Does the “Ugly American” come to mind, Frank. LOL
Recommended reading for Frank: “How To Win French Friends and Influence French People” … ha ha ha :)

—————-
Yes, Frank I thought of you often up there in Washington in the Catholic ALL Boys Boarding School … while I was partying away down in Scottsdale, AZ. at a COED Private Boarding School … LOL … the Coors beer we smuggled in from Colorado was always a hit at the weekend parties in AZ … lol … I tried to get you address from my parents so I could invite you down to AZ for a visit (and a welcoming party .. lol), but my parents said you were a bad influence on me, and that it was best I didn’t associate with you … ha ha ha :) ROFL

Rock on … Mr. French Ambassador Frank!!!

:)

Bob

]]> By: frank stoddard http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/kathy-ask-about-ba-muoi-ba-beer/comment-page-1#comment-365 frank stoddard Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:40:18 +0000 http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/?p=134#comment-365 Interesting how this Blog is bringing back memories!! Just recalled... I snuck out of my house later that evening.. but did not get to the party until it was about over! I won’t mention who my date was…. but she would not talk to me. She was not happy!! A few weeks later, when I could legally leave my house…there was a teenage party at the top of the Metropole Hotel. She showed up with Pete C.. So much for me. Oh well! I got over it! Yes, it is true about the French! They really get Pis__ed! A few years ago when I was in the Louve Museum and accidentally hit the “fire alarm” talk about pi__ed”..no sence of humor!! (I thought it was the button for the elavador!! Anyone could make the same mistake!)lol Oh and by the way…My Father was raised as a strict Catholic. He did not know that someday it would be called “child abuse”. HA! Gosh, did he mean well!! Interesting how this Blog is bringing back memories!! Just recalled…
I snuck out of my house later that evening.. but did not get to the party until it was about over! I won’t mention who my date was…. but she would not talk to me. She was not happy!! A few weeks later, when I could legally leave my house…there was a teenage party at the top of the Metropole Hotel. She showed up with Pete C.. So much for me. Oh well! I got over it!
Yes, it is true about the French! They really get Pis__ed! A few years ago when I was in the Louve Museum and accidentally hit the “fire alarm” talk about pi__ed”..no sence of humor!! (I thought it was the button for the elavador!! Anyone could make the same mistake!)lol
Oh and by the way…My Father was raised as a strict Catholic. He did not know that someday it would be called “child abuse”. HA! Gosh, did he mean well!!

]]> By: frank stoddard http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/kathy-ask-about-ba-muoi-ba-beer/comment-page-1#comment-364 frank stoddard Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:57:06 +0000 http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/?p=134#comment-364 Boy, do I have stories about you!! (Yea, blame Roy!) But I can not go into that now. Gotta go out and name my horse!! (maybe it is not a horse...I think at this point it is a mule...maybe I'll call him Jack. Actually, representing America stuff!! My worse time was when I got kicked out of the “Cerc” for three weeks. The letter informing my Dad of such... went through the French Embassy over to the American Embassy and down through USOM to his office. Gosh, I think that was the night that I stood-up a French girl for a date!! I do remember, that French-American relations were at an all time low. Boy, do I have stories about you!! (Yea, blame Roy!) But I can not go into that now. Gotta go out and name my horse!! (maybe it is not a horse…I think at this point it is a mule…maybe I’ll call him Jack.

Actually, representing America stuff!! My worse time was when I got kicked out of the “Cerc” for three weeks. The letter informing my Dad of such… went through the French Embassy over to the American Embassy and down through USOM to his office. Gosh, I think that was the night that I stood-up a French girl for a date!! I do remember, that French-American relations were at an all time low.

]]> By: Admin http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/kathy-ask-about-ba-muoi-ba-beer/comment-page-1#comment-363 Admin Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:36:50 +0000 http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/?p=134#comment-363 Now Frank, how could I lead you astray? Everyone knows I was a 'shining example of American youth representing the United States of America in a foreign country" ... as I was constantly reminded by my parents and the State Dept. ... LOL ... ahhhh the joys of being a 'DIP Kid' ... lol ... when everything and anything you do is "a reflection on the United States of America" ... in the eyes of the State Dept. anyway ... lol ... I was almost affraid to use the bathroom for fear I might embarass the United States of America in a foreign country ... LOL ... I won't even go into the time Roy raided his dad's liquor cabinet then 'forced' me to partake of the spoils with him ... after which I had to walk into a State Dept Reception my parents were having at our house for some dignitaries ... lol ... boy, did I work that crowd fast with the meet and greets ... as my proud parents introduced me around the room to all the foreign dignitaries as a fine upstanding example of American youth. LOL ... little did they know the true state of my condition ... LOL. Of course if I'd gotten busted, I was going to blame it all on you Frank ... for enticing Roy to raid the liquor cabinet in the first place ... ha ha ha :) Bob Now Frank, how could I lead you astray? Everyone knows I was a ‘shining example of American youth representing the United States of America in a foreign country” … as I was constantly reminded by my parents and the State Dept. … LOL … ahhhh the joys of being a ‘DIP Kid’ … lol … when everything and anything you do is “a reflection on the United States of America” … in the eyes of the State Dept. anyway … lol … I was almost affraid to use the bathroom for fear I might embarass the United States of America in a foreign country … LOL … I won’t even go into the time Roy raided his dad’s liquor cabinet then ‘forced’ me to partake of the spoils with him … after which I had to walk into a State Dept Reception my parents were having at our house for some dignitaries … lol … boy, did I work that crowd fast with the meet and greets … as my proud parents introduced me around the room to all the foreign dignitaries as a fine upstanding example of American youth. LOL … little did they know the true state of my condition … LOL.

Of course if I’d gotten busted, I was going to blame it all on you Frank … for enticing Roy to raid the liquor cabinet in the first place … ha ha ha :)

Bob

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