archluva, mixing coke with beer was popular when I grew up in Kenya. However, it was only the hookers that would drink it;-)
I'll vote for Beer Lao over any of the brands mentioned in the article and I'll vote for Dark Beer Lao over regular, though I enjoy the regular stuff when it's really hot out, or I'm watching my funds since your beer kip goes a lot further with the regular. Sad to see that one of my favorite Isaan joints in NYC doesn't carry Beer Lao anymore, though it would have been hard to pay $6 for a small bottle.

Beerlao is better than most of the other "national" Asian brands.
However, it is never a beer I would go out of my way to purchase. But I live in a city with 15 breweries all making great craft beer with flavor, so I am quite content with my situation.
But...Beerlao is a good one for SE Asia.