When thinking of beer, the first countries that come to mind are certainly not Eastern ones. However, even in a place like Thailand, you can taste locally produced beers and be pleasantly surprised. In recent years, a few small craft beer producers have emerged in Thailand, but the scene is still dominated by a few brands widely distributed in the market.
What follows is just a brief overview of Thai beers and an invitation to try them during your next trip to Thailand.
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Culture and history of thai beers
The history of beer in Thailand is relatively young. The first Thai beer arrived on the market only in 1933. Praya Bhirom Bhakdi was the first person to produce beer in this country. The story goes that one day Praya attended a meeting with a German businessman. The latter served Praya a glass of beer, and upon tasting it, Praya immediately recognized its great potential in his country.
He then traveled to Europe to learn the skills of the best master brewers of the old continent, returning to his homeland to found his own brewery. Thus, the first Thai beer still sold today, Singha, was born.
The most Famous thai Beer: Singha
To say beer in Thailand is to say Singha. This is the first and most famous beer brand in the country. The Boor Rawd Brewery Co LTD is the oldest Thai brewery, although it has recently changed its name to Singha Corporation Co. LTD, adopting the name of its flagship product.
This beer is a lager with a full-bodied yet refreshing taste, best enjoyed very cold. It is locally produced with 100% premium European hops and barley, giving it a strong malt flavor. Currently, its alcohol content is 5%, although it was 6% until 2007. The name Singha, pronounced “siiing,” derives from the word “sin-too,” which in Thai means lion. Indeed, the image of an ancient lion distinguishes Singha beer.
Chang: the elephant beer
From the early years of Singha on the market, it wasn’t until 1995 that a worthy competitor appeared. While the market leader identified with the lion, Chang chose the elephant as its label emblem. Since 2003, Chang has been part of ThaiBev CO LTD, a company that produces and distributes other beer and alcoholic beverage brands in Southeast Asia. Chang grew in market popularity thanks to its lower price, about 20% less than Singha.
Today, it represents the best-selling beer in the local market with a market share of about 60%, thus dethroning Singha. Chang is a 5% lager beer, but unlike Singha, it is made with 100% barley malt, and rice is part of the recipe, giving it its characteristic taste.
The leopard beer: Leo
Following Chang’s market entry with its popular price, Singha did not stand idle. Therefore, the same brewery developed a product in the same price range as Chang. This time, the animal chosen for the label is the leopard, shortened to Leo. First produced in 1999, Leo beer has become one of the most popular beer brands in Thailand due to its reasonable price and good taste.
Today, Leo is no longer identified as a cheap beer and is found in high-end bars and restaurants, representing a good market alternative. Compared to the other two major brands, Leo has a slightly sweet and grainy taste. Leo’s ABV is 5%, and the flavor is not as strong.
Other common thai beers
In addition to the top three beer brands, there are more than ten other beers in Thailand. Here are some popular ones:
- Cheers with a sweet taste and is a bit more expensive than the three main brands. With a lighter taste, Cheers Beer is a good choice as an alternative to the top three beers.
- Archa beer is produced by the same factory as Singha. Archa means horse in Thai, and the profile of the horse is right on this product’s label. It is the cheapest beer in Thailand.
- Phuket Beer, born in 2002, Phuket Beer is produced in small batches to become a niche and sought-after product. It has a fruity taste, popular among young tourists in Thailand. Naturally, an animal also graces the label here, specifically a bird: the hornbill.
- U Beer, with a somewhat mysterious image, as was its launch campaign featuring posters with just the logo letter, U Beer is one of the newest brands in Thailand. It has a light and slightly sweet taste that seems to appeal to many young people.
- Federbräu, despite the German name, Federbräu beer is a brand of entirely Thai production. The taste of Federbräu beer is decidedly “German” compared to other brands. Federbräu is more expensive than other Thai beers.
