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Larue Special

Heineken Vietnam
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🌍 Vietnam · Lager · One of 150 Lagers in hopIQ

Heineken Vietnam's 2017 premium extension of the Larue family — the 1909 Da Nang brand originally founded by Frenchman Victor Larue, now under global Heineken quality control. Special sits above the 4.2% Original at 4.6% ABV, dialed for a cleaner balance between hop bitterness and malt sweetness. Central Vietnam's premium local lager.

ABV
4.6%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
SRM
pale gold2
See all Lager alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Crisp and light-bodied.

A trim frame with a clean finish — the beer arrives, pleases, and makes room for another.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Lager.
Malt character
malty
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

#7 of 50The Best Vietnamese Lagers

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Larue Special

Appearance

Larue presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and bright luminosity characteristic of a classic Euro pale lager. The beer displays a delicate white head with modest retention, supported by fine carbonation that creates a gentle effervescence throughout the glass.

pale goldencrystal clearfine carbonationdelicate head

Aroma

The nose is subtle and restrained, leading with light grain and bread crust notes that evoke fresh-baked pastry. Delicate herbal undertones and a whisper of noble hops add complexity without overwhelming the clean, malty character that defines this historic Vietnamese lager.

grain forwardbread crustsubtle hopsclean malt

Taste

The palate opens with a crisp, refreshing entry delivering light malty sweetness balanced by gentle hop bitterness. The mid-palate remains clean and smooth with grainy notes and a touch of herbal character, allowing the beer's approachable nature to shine without demanding intensity.

crispmalty sweetsmoothclean palate

Finish

A dry finish provides a satisfying conclusion with minimal lingering sweetness. The aftertaste is clean and refreshing, leaving the palate ready for the next sip.

dry finishclean aftertasterefreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
75
Taste
78
Appearance
82
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Larue Special

Serve at 4–7°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve well-chilled at 4–6°C. Carbonation and crispness are the main event — cold preserves both.

Stein
Recommended for this style

The sturdy German stein maintains temperature and keeps carbonation intact. Built for long, convivial drinking.

Store cold and drink fresh. Lagers are at their crispest within 3–4 months.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Larue Special

About Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Lager?

Euro Pale Lagers are clean, refreshing lagers with 4–5.5% ABV and IBU 10–25. Soft malt sweetness, light hop bitterness and high carbonation make them supremely drinkable.

Finding a similar Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same clean, light, crisp character as Larue Special will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Lagers in hopIQ

Explore all Lager beers in hopIQ →Browse Vietnam beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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