Thai beers - names, varieties, special features, taste and quality

Thai beer containers differ significantly in volume from ours. They are either 0.33 liters or 0.64. The price of the smallest can starts from 35 – 40 baht and the largest up to 70 baht. Do you know that high temperature contributes to a much faster intoxication of the mind? So during the heat of the sun you should not overdo the number of bottles you drink, as it can lead to serious consequences.

The following is a list of the main local brands and their special features as well as an explanation of how much beer costs in Thailand and the peculiarities of its consumption.

Singha beer in Thailand

Thai Singha beer – it’s no exaggeration to say that it is the first most popular beer. The Thais pronounce its name as Sing bia – “Lion Beer” – because of the stylistic image of a golden lion on the white label. It has been brewed for over 80 years using local barley and German hops. There are two varieties: standard, with a strength of 5%, and Singha Light, with a strength of 3.5%. Judging by the volume of consumption, the beer is pretty decent and really worth a try. Even though its price is a bit higher than the other brands – from 50 baht.

Chang beer in Thailand

Thai beer Chang shares the palm with Lion. The word Chang translates from Thai as “elephant”, which is understandable because its label features two white animals with trunks. It itself is green in color and its shade depends on the variety. The brand is relatively new – about ten years ago. The Danish brewery concern Carlsberg introduced it to the Thai alcoholic beverage market. It is quite strong: the classic has 6.4 volumetric percent alcohol. Chang Draught has 5 percent, and the weakest, Chang light, has 4.2 percent.

Leo beer in Thailand

Thai beer Leo is one of the cheapest. Nevertheless Thais don’t like it too much, that’s why the red label with a spotted leopard and three big letters LEO can be found on the store shelves less often than Elephants or Lions. The strength of this variety is low at 3.5%. It does not have a pronounced taste, with no excessive bitterness or sourness. It is a good “thirst quencher,” although drinking it in the tropical sun may have unfortunate consequences. This is the opinion of doctors.

Tiger beer in Thailand

Thai Tiger beer can be found in many Southeast Asian countries. For example, when traveling in Laos, Vietnam, Burma (Myanmar). Its name reflects the special attitude of Thais to all big wild cats, with which they are forced to coexist for centuries. The brand label is blue, with a picture of a tiger crouching in the wilds at the top and TIGER written in large letters below. It is of Singaporean origin and has been produced since 1932. Those who have tried it note that it is mild and quite refreshing. A slight bitterness is felt only in the aftertaste. In terms of price, it belongs to the middle price segment which is slightly more expensive than LEO, almost the same as Chang, but cheaper than Singha.

Where to buy beer in Thailand and how to drink it

Classic Thai beer is similar in strength to such Russian varieties as Baltika № 6, Porter (from Afanasiye), Russian Imperial Status. If you will consume it not only at dinner, take into account the differences in climate. In a tropical heat, the effects of alcohol can be different in both degree and speed of consequences.

There’s no particular problem getting a hoppy foamy drink anywhere, but it’s most commonly found at Family Mart and 7-Eleven chain stores. Usually the refrigerated trays with it are located at the far end of the hall. Prices for beer in Thailand depend on the place of purchase and quantity. For example, in all large supermarkets, including Big C, Tesco Lotus, it is cheaper by 8-10 baht if you take a bottle of large volume. The savings increase if you buy more than one. You don’t have to count the change and figure out whether it’s better to walk back or take a couple more cans.

The Thais often put pieces of ice in their beer, which keeps it from heating up too quickly. However, this leads to the fact that the noble drink gets diluted and becomes watery and tasteless. You can get out of this situation by buying special ice, which melts longer. It costs a little more than usual and is sold at the same place as the beer itself. For example, in the 7-Eleven supermarkets.

A more reliable way to keep beer cold is to use thermo cups that protect the bottle or can from overheating. Their purchase is justified not only by the greater comfort of consumption (it is less likely that the foggy bottle will fall out of your hands), but also by the fact that it is an excellent Thai souvenir that can be useful both at home and as a gift for friends.