Best Thai Beer Guide: From Chang to Craft

Thailand's beer market has been dominated for decades by three brands: Singha (pronounced 'Sing'), Chang, and Leo. Singha — brewed by Boon Rawd Brewery since 1933 — is Thailand's original premium lager and still the most respected: a clean, malt-forward 5% ABV beer that remains the benchmark for Thai lager. Chang ('elephant' in Thai) was launched in 1995 by ThaiBev and rapidly captured market share through lower pricing; it is 5% ABV and slightly sweeter, ubiquitous at food stalls and cheap restaurants. Leo is ThaiBev's budget brand — 5% ABV, very light, and the cheapest of the mainstream trio. Beer Lao, technically Laotian, has a loyal following in northern Thailand near the Lao border and is often available as an import.

Thailand's craft beer scene has exploded since around 2015, though restrictive brewing laws (minimum production volumes that price out small brewers) mean most Thai craft beer is contract-brewed overseas and imported. Chitbeer, Sandport, and Devanom are among the best-known Thai craft labels with ranges including IPAs, stouts, and wheat beers. Bangkok's craft beer bars — Mikkeller Bangkok (on Ekkamai), Hop Scotch (Thonglor), and Hair of the Dog (Sukhumvit) — serve extensive tap selections. Chiang Mai has a growing craft scene around Nimman Road. Phuket's Surin Beach has Beach Republic and several bars with imported craft selections. Pricing: mainstream beers cost ฿40–80 in convenience stores and ฿70–120 in basic restaurants. Craft beers in Bangkok bars start at ฿180–250 per 330ml pour. The single cheapest drinking option in Thailand remains the familiar Leo 640ml 'big bottle' from 7-Eleven at around ฿65.