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ORAL HISTORY

An Bui

Mekong and The Answer

An Bui is the Chief Beer Officer at Mekong and Chief Beer Operator at The Answer Brewpub in Richmond, VA. An spent the first part of his life in Vietnam, where he lived with his family of eleven in a small town a couple of hours south of Saigon. He remembers helping his family with farming duties, collecting wood, cooking, and cleaning at home. An’s parents sent him and his two older brothers to the United States after the end of the Vietnam War in the mid-1980s. A group of families in Richmond sponsored An and his brothers in the U.S. After An’s parents immigrated to Richmond, the family opened Mekong. Despite a challenging first few years, Mekong has become a staple in Richmond’s food scene and beer community. While looking for drink pairings, An had an idea to start serving Belgian beers that catered to local beer drinkers and complemented Vietnamese dishes. Mekong’s beer offerings eventually expanded to a draft line. With the growth of Richmond’s brewery scene after 2012, An decided to open The Answer Brewpub, right next door to Mekong. An takes pride in the multi-generational beer community that has developed at Mekong and now The Answer.