Beers in Thailand

Thailand is hot and humid and drinking beer is one of the best ways to beat the heat.  Thai beers are typically lagers and you can get them easily at grocery stores, convenience stores, supermarkets, pubs/bars/discos, and restaurants. Beer sizes include:

• Small can (330ml).
• Small bottle (330ml).
• Medium can (500ml, available only for certain brands).
• Large bottle (640ml).

As beer warms rapidly in the hot weather, many Thais put ice in their beer. Thai restaurants typically serve you the beer with ice in the glass or in an ice bucket.

Top Beers

Here are some of the most commonly drunk beers.

• Brand: Singha
• Alcohol content: 5% (was 6% before 2007)
• Brewed by: Boon Rawd Brewery

This is probably the most well-known Thai beer as it has been around since the 1930s and has been exported to many countries. It is regarded as a premium beer so it is slightly more expensive (usually about 10 baht more) than the other Thai beers. Nearly all pubs and restaurants stock Singha beer.

The image on the beer label is of the Singha, a powerful mythological lion that is found in ancient Hindu and Thai stories. Incidentally, the word ‘Singha’ in Thai, is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Simha, which means ‘Lion’. Thais do not pronounce the ‘ha’ at the end of the name so they usually call it ‘beer Sing’.

A light version, Singha Light, with 3.5% alcohol content is available as well.

• Brand: Chang
• Alcohol content: 4.2 % to 6.4%
• Brewed by: Thai Beverages

The word ‘Chang’ in Thai means elephant and the image on the beer label depicts two elephants facing each other. It is Thailand’s best selling beer and there are four types of Chang beer available:

• Classic 6.4% ABV
• Draught 5% ABV
• Light 4.2% ABV
• Export 5% ABV

A thing to note is that the fancy name Chang Export does not mean that the beer is produced for export to another country. Chang Export is produced using 100% malt, so technically, it is malt liquor and not beer.

Chang beer may not be as well known abroad as Singha but it is very popular in Thailand. However, you may not find it in the more upmarket establishments. In Chiangmai, it is often marketed aggressively with special price promotions at pubs frequented by youngsters.

• Brand: Leo
• Alcohol content: 5%
• Brewed by: Boon Rawd Brewery

Made by the same guys that brew Singha, Leo is a cheaper alternative to Singha and is usually sold at about the same price as Chang. As it is a ‘budget’ beer, you will seldom see it in the more upmarket establishments but it is very popular outside of the big cities and with the ladies due to its smooth and pleasant taste.

Fun fact: Leo in Thai means lion but the beer label shows a picture of a leopard.

• Brand: Heineken
• Alcohol content: 5.4%
• Brewed by: Thai Asia Pacific Brewery Company Limited

Perhaps the most well-known and distributed beer in the world, Heineken is brewed in Thailand under license by Thai Asia Pacific. It is widely available here and is generally more expensive than the other beers.

Other Beers

Other beers that you might see in your local 7-Eleven or supermarket include:

• Brand: Archa
• Alcohol content: 5.4%
• Brewed by: Thai Beverages

Reviews for this beer are mixed but are generally more on the negative side.

• Brand: Cheers
• Alcohol content: 5.6%
• Brewed by: Thai Asia Pacific Brewery Company Limited

Reviews for this beer are mixed but are generally more on the negative side.

• Brand: Beer Lao
• Alcohol content: 5%
• Brewed by: Lao Brewery Company

The best selling beer in Laos, Beer Lao is brewed in Vientiane, Laos and has a unique taste as it is brewed from local rice and overseas malt.

• Brand: Tiger
• Alcohol content: 5%
• Brewed by: Thai Asia Pacific Brewery Company Limited

A Singaporean beer brewed under license by Thai Asia Pacific, this beer is not as commonly seen as the others but can be found at supermarkets and selected restaurants and pubs.

• Brand: Siamsoto
• Alcohol content: 8.0%
• Brewed by: Siamsoto Brewery

This is actually rice wine and not beer, but is worth a mention here as it is often put together in the same chiller compartment as the other beers, with the result that many have mistakenly bought it for a test drive (I have been guilty of this as well! And at 25 baht for a big bottle, it sure looks like a better deal than the other beers).

Drinking Siamsoto has been likened to drinking rocket fuel – it has a strong flavour that many have described as being foul and repulsive. As such, some drinkers will add mixers, such as soft drinks and fruit juices, to make it more palatable.

Beer Pricing

Leo and Chang are usually sold at the same price point (about 55 baht or SGD 2.20 for a big bottle) while Singha is slightly more expensive (about 65 baht or SGD 2.60). Heineken is the usually the most expensive (at about 85 baht or SGD 3.40).

Hours When Alcohol Sales are Restricted

According to Thai law, alcohol cannot be sold (unless you are buying in wholesale quantities) at retail shops, such as 7-Elevens and supermarkets, between the hours of 2pm and 5pm, then after midnight until 11am the next day. However, you can still drink in public during these hours.

If you are really desperate for a beer during these prohibited hours, the neighbourhood grocery store or the mom and pop stores are usually more than happy to sell it to you.

Days When Alcohol Sales are Restricted

There are certain days of the year when alcohol sales are prohibited. These include election days, Buddhist holidays, and on other days such as the birthdays of HM the King and Queen.

How strictly this law is being enforced varies by place (tourist spots and the rural areas are likely to be more lax) and the day (the law may be more strictly enforced on Buddhist holidays) so do not be surprised if you find pubs and discos closed on these days.