Personally, I like beer. Not the typical Bud and Miller stuff. I like craft beer but I usually stick with the bigger brewers like Kona and Red Hook and Blue Moon etc.. This was a little hard to swallow when I first started looking for beer in Thailand.
Thai beer.
These are the main Thai beers in Thailand and will cost around 60 Baht in a 7-11 and 90 Baht in a restaurant.
- Singha ( pronounced “sing”, which means Lion ) is one of the most popular Thai beers and has been brewing since 1933. It is a lager with a 5% ABV, so it is a little stronger than the usual lager. It has a strong malty flavor that is compatible with salty and highly seasoned dishes. I still like this beer because it has a little more flavor than most lagers. It is slightly higher in price than the other three Thai beers.
- Chang ( pronounced “chong” meaning elephant ) is almost as common as Singha beer in Thailand and almost as strong as Singha. This beer is a little more like a traditional lager making it easily paired with seafood and fish. The price is usually lower than Singha, but not by much.
- Leo ( also meaning lion but has a leopard on the logo ). was the best selling brand in 2015 and is usually cheaper than Singha and Chang. Also a lager with 5% ABV. This beer is close to Chang in flavor and regarded to some as the non-premium beer.
- Archa ( meaning horse ) beer, is a 5% ABV cheap can beer. This beer has a strong flavor unlike most lagers.
If you like more variety and flavor in your beer, you can probably see where this is going already. Mostly lagers. Although, compared to my first visit to Thailand, the variety is increasing, so don’t get all worked up yet.
Some imported Asian beers.
These beers will cost a little more than the Thai beers.
- Beerlao lager and Beerlao dark lager. These are actually pretty good beers, with a lot of flavor compared to the Thai beers. The lager is crisp with a hint of floral and the dark lager is more like a bock style beer. This beer is imported from Laos.
- Angkor beer is Cambodia’s best but I have yet to try it. If I see it on my next visit, I will be sure to give it a try.
- Beer Larue is a beer imported from Vietnam and like the last one, I have not tried it yet.
- Tiger beer is another 5% ABV lager that is brewed in Singapore. It has a thin white head with a high carbonation.
- Asahi ( meaning mourning sun )Dry, is a Japanese rice lager at 5% ABV. Not much taste with this one.
More imported beer.
There are many imported beers in Thailand. Most seem to originate from Europe even if they are brewed in Thailand like Heineken and Carlsberg beers.
I have seen many imported brands in stores but most were not beers that I drink very often if at all.
- San Miguel is a pale pilsner and is brewed in the Philippines with a 5% ABV.
- Paulaner, A German Hefeweizen with a 5.5% ABV. Hef (meaning “yeast”) and Weizen (meaning “wheat”). This is a very good beer.
- Warsteiner is a pilsner and is brewed in Germany.
- Kloster is brewed in Thailand under the supervision of Kloster Brauerei in Germany. It has a 5.2% ABV but not much taste and no head. Lacking in the lager field.
A couple that I did try and were two of my favorites. These are similar to a Blue Moon or Shock Top from the US.
- Hoegaarden, brewed in Belgium with a 4.9% ABV. An unfiltered Belgian White, flavored with coriander and orange peel. My wife’s favorite.
- Erdinger Weissbier is another hefeweizen from Germany. This has a 5.3% ABV and is a pretty straight forward wheat beer that goes well with food. I like this one but it is a little harder to find. I will settle for either of these last two, depending on which is available.
Craft Beer in Thailand.
Yes, I said craft beer in Thailand. Allowing small breweries is something I think should have happened a long time ago. The Thai Government has a 300 to 400% tax on brewing and importing beer in Thailand. Singha and Chang have dominated the industry, ( Boon Rawd Brewery has a Royal Warrant ). Although underground brewing is illegal in Thailand, it has taken off in recent years.
These laws have created a new way of getting around the small brewery problems. The brewers set up their breweries just outside the border of Thailand. For instance, Stone Head Beer set up shop on the Cambodian border and they market their beer as the “First Thai Legal Craft Beer”.
Are things getting better for craft beer drinker’s?
Yes, I think things are changing for the better for beer connoisseurs in Thailand. There is a microbrewery that popped up in Phuket that seems to be doing quite well, called Full Moon Brewworks. Their beers are crafted with 100% all natural ingredients. Here are a couple that they brew.
- Chalawan Pale Ale ( Chalawan is an old Thai word meaning “alligator” ), is brewed in Phuket by Full Moon Brew Works Microbrewery and Restaurant. The bite is strong with some mild sour and fruity notes. 4.7% ABV with this one.
- Phuket Lager Beer. This is supposed to be one of the most flavorful of all Thai beers. An island beer with a blend of German pilsner malt and a hint of Thai GABA rice from HM King’s Royal Project. 5% ABV, with a light body and a malty aroma. So if you are looking for beer with flavor, this might be for you. I will definitely be looking for this one on my next trip.
- Oriental Wheat. It has a unique scent that comes from a blend of wheat, oatmeal and malt, spiced with Thai tangerine peels and Chiang Mai coriander seeds. 5% ABV.
- Chatri IPA at 5.2% ABV. “chatri” in Thai often refers to “a man who is respected by other men”. A blend of pilsner hops, rye, Australian hops and specialty hops. A hint of citrus, floral and grapefruit aromas.
There are more beers on tap that are seasonal also. I am unsure if these will become available throughout Thailand but I sure hope so. If not, maybe these alone will warrant a flight down from Bangkok to Phuket.
Some places to get craft/brewed beer in Pattaya.
- Hopf Brew House in Pattaya brews a lager and a wheat beer. Located at 219 Beach Road.
- Mystyle Cafe has around 7 European taps and 40 bottles of American, European and some Thai beers. Located around the corner from Beertopia.
- Beertopia is one of the best craft beer spots in Pattaya. They are 30-60 BAHT cheaper than the competitors in Bangkok. They have around 50 top beers available with new arrivals every couple of weeks. The Bottle Shop is located of 3rd road on Soi 17.
There are several restaurants and bars all over Pattaya that are catching on to the fact that people are craving something other than the typical Thai lager beer. Beertopia alone, has 27 restaurants and events selling their product in Pattaya. 5 locations in SriRacha and Bang Saen. 2 in Chantaburi and 10 in Rayong. I’d say they are making some headway.
Bangkok breweries and craft beer.
Bangkok, being the most visited city on the planet, must have some good crafted beers, yes? They sure do. Here is a short list you can google once you are there.
- Golden Coins Taproom has 12 taps offering their own varieties of craft beer. The owner has his beer brewed in Vietnam and sent in to Bangkok.
- Bottles Of Beer has a very large selection of bottled craft beers and ciders from around the world. You can buy six or more with your friends to get wholesale prices.
- Mash has 16 rotating taps of craft beers along with bottles and a great food menu.
- Brewski is a rooftop bar on the 30th floor of the Radisson Blue Hotel. With 12 rotating taps of craft beer and ciders and over 100 bottles from around the world, you can’t go wrong here.
- Wishbeer Home Bar started of as a delivery service and now has a sit down service as well. You can get some great beer from the 18 rotating taps or you can take home a pick from the over 500 bottles of beers and ciders from around the world.
This is a short list and I am sure it will change as doe’s most things. But this should be a good place for you to start your craft beer adventure in Bangkok.
Beer delivery service.
Yep! That’s what I said. I found 1 beer delivery service. It is located in Bangkok and I mentioned it before.
- Wishbeer Home Delivery is a Bangkok based beer delivery service. They have the best of what the American beer scene has to offer. Anything from Budweiser to Deschutes to Anderson Valley to Rogue and beyond. Kona, Drakes, Widmer, Redhook and the list goes on. And that’s just American beers.
- They have beers from 13 countries in Asia, 21 countries in Europe and America, Canada and Mexico also.
- Wishbeer also has cider, wine, whisky and spirits. They deliver to most locations throughout Thailand. Free delivery over 2,000 BAHT ($61) nationwide.
Now keep in mind that you will be paying a premium for all the craft and imported beer you find in Thailand. Anywhere from $2.50 to $10.00 or more depending on where you buy it. This is not the fault of the suppliers and vendors.
The 300-400% tax on imported beer, the restrictions on small breweries in Thailand and the shipping are the reasons for the higher costs. This may all change as time shows that the Thai people are wanting something other than the Thai lager beers that the big brewers are putting out.
I still remember when America’s favorite beers were Bud, Miller, Coors and Schlitz. Oh boy, those times were so bad! Anyway, demand changes everything over time. You’ll just have to pay up until the change happens.
Happy beer drinking in Thailand!