Thailand's Favorite Beer: A Cultural Drinking Experience

Thailand has a wide variety of beers, from local brands to foreign imports. The local market is dominated by three major companies: Boon Rawd Brewery, Thai Beverage, and Thai Asia Pacific Brewery. Together, they account for the majority of beer sales in the country, with their respective brands of beer constituting the top best-sellers.

The most popular beers in Thailand include Singha, Chang, and Leo. Singha, produced by Boon Rawd Brewery, is the oldest brand in the country and has a strong malty flavour. Chang, made by Thai Beverages, is known for being the strongest beer in Thailand with an ABV of 5% (or higher, according to some sources). Lastly, Leo, also produced by Boon Rawd Brewery, is the best-selling beer in Thailand and is known for its sweet and grainy taste.

Other popular local beers include Archa, Phuket Beer, Federbräu, and Cheers. Foreign beers are also available, though they are less popular due to import duties imposed by the government to protect domestic breweries.

Singha: the first Thai beer, with a strong malty flavour and 5% ABV

Singha is the oldest beer brand in Thailand, first produced in 1933 or 1934. It is also the country's most popular local beer, with a strong reputation and a flavour profile that is considered well above average. The name Singha comes from the mythical lion-like creature depicted on the bottle or can, with 'sing' being the root word for lion in Thai. The logo also features a Garuda, the official emblem of Thailand and its kings, at the bottleneck. This is considered a great honour for the company, as the award of the Garuda can only be received from the king.

Singha is a pale lager with a standard ABV of 5% that has never really changed or been altered. It is made from European hops and 100% premium barley, which gives it a strong malty flavour. It is slightly more expensive than its competitors, costing between 40 and 50 THB in supermarkets and 90 to 150 THB in small bars and restaurants.

The Boon Rawd Brewery, which still produces Singha, was granted the first beer licence in Thailand in 1933. The brewery is one of the giants of the Thai brewing industry, holding around 70% of the market share. Singha's largest competitor is Chang beer, which is made by Thai Beverages.

Chang: the strongest Thai beer, with 5% ABV (but some claim it can be up to 10%)

Chang is the second most popular beer in Thailand, behind Leo. It is also the strongest beer in Thailand, with an ABV of 5%. However, some claim that it can be up to 10% ABV. Chang is made by Thai Beverages, the country's second-largest brewery company. The name Chang means ''elephant' in Thai, and the national symbol of Thailand is an elephant. The Chang logo features two elephants facing each other.

Chang is made with 100% malt barley, and rice is also part of the recipe, which gives the beer its distinctive taste. It is cheaper than its main competitors, Leo and Singha, and is a popular choice among locals, especially football fans. Chang used to be known as the budget Thai beer with an extra kick, but it has undergone a revamp in recent years, including stricter quality control measures and a change in formula to meet acceptable standards.

Chang has several variations, including Chang Light, Chang Draught, and Chang Export, which were eventually consolidated into Chang Classic. The beer is available in cans and bottles and is widely available in bars, restaurants, and convenience stores across Thailand.

Leo: the best-selling Thai beer, with a sweet and grainy taste and 5% ABV

Leo is the top-selling beer in Thailand, with a market share of 53%. It is brewed by Boon Rawd Brewery, the same company that produces Singha, Thailand's oldest beer brand. Leo was first produced in 1999 and has since become one of the most popular beer brands in the country due to its reasonable price and good taste.

Leo is often chosen as a 'middle' option among Thai beers—it is not too strong, yet not too weak, and is neither too expensive nor too cheap. It has a lightly sweet and grainy taste, which is considered more 'drinkable' than other brands by locals. Its smooth, palatable flavour comes from a combination of Thai rice, Australian spring barley, imported German hops, and artesian water used in the brewing process.

Leo beer is widely available in Thailand and can be purchased in supermarkets, small shops, pubs, bars, hotels, and restaurants. A large bottle typically costs around 75-80 baht ($2.50), while a small can is just over half that price in convenience stores.

Archa: the cheapest beer in Thailand, with 5% ABV

Archa is a mass-market, non-premium lager produced by Thai Beverage Plc. (ThaiBev), the second-largest brewery company in Thailand. It was introduced in 2005 and has an ABV of 5%, although some sources state it is 5.4%. Archa is usually cheaper than other beers in Thailand and can be found in any 7-Eleven or other convenience store. It is also available in bars and restaurants.

Archa is brewed from fine-quality malt, rice, and hops, with natural water and selected yeast. It has been described as light and sweet, with some grassy hops and a semi-sweet palate. It is also said to have a smooth, palatable flavour that comes from a combination of Thai rice, Australian spring barley, imported German hops, and artesian water used in the brewing process.

Archa has been described as "nothing to write home about" and "not as good as Singha or Chang". However, it is also said to be "better than some of the crap out there" and "one of the standards on offer". It is considered a "reasonably potent" beer, and its advertising blurb describes it as "a response to the demands from a new generation of beer drinkers preferring smooth beer with a lower alcohol content".

Reviews of Archa are mixed. Some drinkers have noted an ugly metal taste, while others have described it as "dreadful", "bland", and "forgettable". However, some have also called it "not bad for a Thai lager" and "pretty decent for a Thai lager".

Overall, Archa is a cheap and cheerful option for beer drinkers in Thailand, and at 5% ABV, it will certainly get the job done.

Phuket Beer: a fruity lager, popular with young tourists, brewed with German hops and Thai jasmine rice

Phuket Beer is a popular choice among young tourists in Thailand. It is produced in the north of Bangkok and has a fruity taste. It is also one of the first regional beers in Thailand, brewed with German hops and high-quality Thai jasmine rice.

Phuket Beer is unique in that it is the only Thai beer that complies with the German Purity Law, or Reinheitsgebot. This adherence to German brewing standards, along with its European aroma and malty tang, has made it a favourite among expats.

The alcohol content of Phuket Beer is 5% ABV, which is typical for most Thai beers. It received the first gold medal ever for a beer from Thailand at the 2006 Monde Selection Awards.

You can find Phuket Beer at selected convenience stores, bars, and restaurants across the country. It is generally priced similarly to other locally-produced beers, perhaps just slightly above the standard.

If you're looking for a beer that embodies the authentic flavours of Thailand, Phuket Beer, with its unique blend of German and Thai ingredients, is an excellent choice. It offers a taste of the region's culture and history, all while providing a refreshing and award-winning drinking experience.

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