Beer in Bangkok

[richard_smith237]

There are numerous places to partake in Bangkok.... 

 

What I'd like to do is have a thread where we can list places to enjoy a beer - without the usual over opinionated - that beer sucks, that place is rubbish, thats not proper craft beer etc... comments... I'd like to keep this informative and include the following:

 

- Craft beer at decent prices (Every place I see craft beer its at 200B for 33cl which seems extortionate)

- Well Priced normal beer (Singha / Asahi / Heineken etc) - this could be beer buffets etc or places where a Tower can be purchased for <600 baht etc.

 

 

Starting Off: 

 

A place on Ekkamai called 'Once' which does a 3 hr beer buffet (Singha for 290 baht / Asahi for 350 baht / Guinness for 490 baht) - Note - the drinks are poured into a tower (Asahi ball tower) - the Guinness turns really ropey after a short time - but the other beer is certainly good value. 

 

W-District is also good when the weather is OK - I think its something like 750 baht for a Tower of Asahi.

 

Shakariki 432 do a 50baht per beer / highball for the first hour 1 hr. Or a buffet for 600 baht for 2 hours (Beer / Highball / Sake).

[BuddyDean]

Mom pop is the way to go..friendlier, safer, colder, and yes cheaper...pull up a stool, all are welcome, enjoy.  Import taxes are extortionate...so is rent near the tourist traps.  Maybe try the Train Wreck Market at Thai Cult Center, but the usual refrigeration problems...decent prices.

[Thainess]

Alcohol is bad for you! That's why I never touch it. If you need alcohol to relax and enjoy yourself, I feel sorry for you.

[smutcakes]

2 hours ago, Thainess said:

Alcohol is bad for you! That's why I never touch it. If you need alcohol to relax and enjoy yourself, I feel sorry for you.

Go away you troll.

[AlexRRR]

My experience with imported beer there is stay away form it...its rather watery, if it aint in a bottle im not buying it...

[rott]

5 hours ago, Thainess said:

Alcohol is bad for you! That's why I never touch it. If you need alcohol to relax and enjoy yourself, I feel sorry for you.

If you can not contribute a sensible post please do not post.

You are probably sitting there telling yourself what a clever, witty, wind-up merchant you are. Sorry but you are a predictable, repetitive, tiresome bore. Time you were banned.

[richard_smith237]

22 hours ago, Thainess said:

Alcohol is bad for you! That's why I never touch it. If you need alcohol to relax and enjoy yourself, I feel sorry for you.

 

 

Life must be a real blast !!!... Troll somewhere else... this thread is not for sad depressing puritans... 

 

[richard_smith237]

Anyone with some good Craft Beer places that aren't extortionately priced ?

[Bang Bang]

Wishbeer Suk Soi 67, large selection, decent food, a bit loud to have a multiplayer conversation.

Edited November 24, 2017 by Bang Bang

[richard_smith237]

8 minutes ago, Bang Bang said:

Wishbeer Suk Soi 67, large selection, decent food, a bit loud to have a multiplayer conversation.

What are the prices like ?

 

200 baht or more for a 33cl glass of beer at some of the other Craft Beer places I've been to is way too much IMO.

 

A Place called 'Three BearRs' was quite pricey for one of its 3 Craft beers at about 260 baht per 33cl glass so I only ever visited once, but the beer was excellent..... In finding the link to embed in this thread I now see they are advertising 190++ baht for Pint of Hunter IPA (until the end of Nov) so this place may be worth a re-visit. 

[Bang Bang]

3 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

What are the prices like ?

Honestly, I don't know because I went only once with a group, paid my contribution and someone else settled. But here's their FB page. You could give them a call for prices. Btw, they seem to have some kind of craft beer fest on currently.

 

https://www.facebook.com/wishbeer/

[buick]

i've had craft beers on sukhumvit soi 23, i think it is called Craft (it is outdoors).  there is a mexican place and a whiskey/cigar bar there also.  i haven't focused on 33cl prices.  but most of the 50cl's that i've had are in the 300++ range (maybe 280++).  i like the food there also.  but it isn't cheap (the food and the beer).  i've seen quite a few advertisements for craft beer around bangkok and none have looked attractive from a pricing standpoint.   

[ExpatOilWorker]

JUSMAG at Sathorn: https://bangkokbeerguru.com/city/bangkok/listing/jusmag-bar-aderholt-annex

 

[lamyai3]

Craft beers are extortionate here unfortunately due to the taxes. 

 

There are actually some very decent Thai craft beers, you can find bottles in Villa Market etc for about 150 baht for a 330ml bottle. The ones brewed by Stonehead are very tasty and include some cool local varieties like coconut cream ale and lemongrass beer. Chalawan beer is also good from Phuket. 

[smokie36]

2 hours ago, lamyai3 said:

Craft beers are extortionate here unfortunately due to the taxes. 

 

There are actually some very decent Thai craft beers, you can find bottles in Villa Market etc for about 150 baht for a 330ml bottle. The ones brewed by Stonehead are very tasty and include some cool local varieties like coconut cream ale and lemongrass beer. Chalawan beer is also good from Phuket. 

 

This is as good as it gets in Bangkok right now.

 

There are no decently priced craft beers anywhere.

[Coconut007]

16 hours ago, buick said:

i've had craft beers on sukhumvit soi 23, i think it is called Craft (it is outdoors).  there is a mexican place and a whiskey/cigar bar there also.  i haven't focused on 33cl prices.  but most of the 50cl's that i've had are in the 300++ range (maybe 280++).  i like the food there also.  but it isn't cheap (the food and the beer).  i've seen quite a few advertisements for craft beer around bangkok and none have looked attractive from a pricing standpoint.   

Man I would rather drink water than pay this <deleted>**ed up prices... Even if my net worth would be $5+ million

 

Better to take flight to Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland etc and enjoy 0.5l craft beers for under 60THB in some cool bars

Edited November 25, 2017 by Coconut007

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

The craft beer situation in Bangkok and Thailand is frustrating, to put it kindly. Good beers are made here by locals but they are hit with huge taxes. Most craft beers run skyward from 200+ baht for a 330 ml. The imported ones even more inflated. Here in Vietnam, an imported Belgian  (Heverlee), for example, is 150 baht a pint in a Saigon D1 bar. 

 

A friend who lives far out Lat Phrao is able to buy an imported craft beer at a tiny local bar for a bit over 200. So it isn't just the downtown bars that gouge. Everyone has to due to the heavy-handedness of the regulator (translation: two big beer families). 

[InMyShadow]

Man I would rather drink water than pay this **ed up prices... Even if my net worth would be $5+ million  

Better to take flight to Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland etc and enjoy 0.5l craft beers for under 60THB in some cool bars

 

and  

and some insanely hot women! that's what I'm doing but escape for the winter

 

 

 

[rhodie]

This place is in Regent Orchid Suk 101. Cheaper, but not much atmosphere. Only open a few weeks. Not sure how long they will last.

[InMyShadow]

This place is in Regent Orchid Suk 101. Cheaper, but not much atmosphere. Only open a few weeks. Not sure how long they will last.

101 is not exactly a place where farang live because they enjoy the finer things in life.
maybe thais will be there customers, who knows

[rak sa_ngop]

Not sure what the exact story is but I thought most Thai craft beers have to be brewed outside Thailand and imported with high taxes paid. This is because they are not brewed in sufficient quantity to qualify for a Thai brewery license.

 

Places like Tawandang (Tawan Deng?) do brew on the premises but I suppose they brew in sufficient quantity to qualify. The place is huge and packed out with Thai families for the show and food.

 

 

[rhodie]

8 hours ago, InMyShadow said:

101 is not exactly a place where farang live because they enjoy the finer things in life.
maybe thais will be there customers, who knows

Well you had better tell all of them on 101 to move then. Not sure where you live, but you are clearly out of touch. With the advent of Airbnb, not to mention all the expats, there are plenty around.

[InMyShadow]

Well you had better tell all of them on 101 to move then. Not sure where you live, but you are clearly out of touch. With the advent of Airbnb, not to mention all the expats, there are plenty around.

Nonsense. expats live on the outskirts for cheap rent you live there and you know it.

talk to me when the Marriott opens up there but we will all be 6ft under in 50 years [emoji23]

[rhodie]

1 minute ago, InMyShadow said:

Nonsense. expats live on the outskirts for cheap rent you live there and you know it.

talk to me when the Marriott opens up there but we will all be 6ft under in 50 years

Ooops sorry I spoke your highness!

[BuddyDean]

Here is my take.  I drink premium beers, when I am home for 40 THB a bottle.....not paying 200 here nor there.

 

I despise the duo, and think they suck...at any price.

 

I think Heineken and Tiger are steps above C and L, and I think most would agree.  No they aren't craft, but then again..so many of the crafts are pretty disgusting and sure as heck wouldn't want to drink a six.   Many have simply tried to recreate an Anchor Steam or Sierra....and have only done a good job of matching the price...not the quality.  

 

Heineken and Tiger are brewed in BKK area, and are probably more closer in taste to the ones from the other side of the globe than Marlboros.

 

3 large Heineken's for 201 THB....TIGERS 2 FOIR 116..A HAIR more than the duo, but way better.

 

I support them, because they are sustainable here and even though the duo leverages bars not to sell them or even at some Tescos....if business picks up just a little, we will force the duo to act a little better.  And what I see the beer snobs do here in CM is after a few craftees, the stock up on L on the way home...so what is the point.  Like going to McDonalds on The way home from a French restaurant so you can finally eat...albeit a hundred bucks less in Your wallet.

 

And doesn't anyone like to buy a lady a beer?  Geez...so 2 x 200?  Escort service much less, and probably less likely to taste like vinegar.

Edited November 25, 2017 by BuddyDean

[berybert]

Craft beer is basically for wanna be hipsters, Anything to do with hipsters puts the price up.

Leo, Tiger in the pubs or a can of Cheers blue if in 7/11  

I do my bit for Thai culture.

[richard_smith237]

15 minutes ago, berybert said:

Craft beer is basically for wanna be hipsters, Anything to do with hipsters puts the price up.

Leo, Tiger in the pubs or a can of Cheers blue if in 7/11  

I do my bit for Thai culture.

 

Craft beer, or whatever its called... A nice IPA or Ale is something I enjoy in the UK, its beer's equivalent of a tasty pub meat-pie and chips and makes a refreshing change from plastic ham-Cheese toasty's from S&P (if that analogy makes any sense at all). 

 

A good beer is lovely...  its enjoyable and a lovely refreshing change from the watery larger we see everywhere....  I don't care what it is or where it's brewed, I also don't care for this developing 'hipster image'... I'd just like to find a place where I can sit in comfort with friends and enjoy some good beer and not have the experience tarnished by the prices. 

 

I haven't managed to go fully 'farang native' yet and sit on the steps of a 7-11 with a can of cheers larger. 

 

 

Another 'beer place' which makes for a pleasant afternoon out with family & friends is Chit-Beer on Koh-Kret... its a trek from central Bangkok (about 1 hr).

 

 

 

 

[lamyai3]

On 11/25/2017 at 2:13 PM, rak sa_ngop said:

Not sure what the exact story is but I thought most Thai craft beers have to be brewed outside Thailand and imported with high taxes paid. This is because they are not brewed in sufficient quantity to qualify for a Thai brewery license.

Yes, Stonehead for instance is a Thai brewer but the beer is brewed over the border in Cambodia and imported. This is true of Phuket beer and some other small operations too.

[lamyai3]

6 hours ago, berybert said:

Craft beer is basically for wanna be hipsters, Anything to do with hipsters puts the price up.

Leo, Tiger in the pubs or a can of Cheers blue if in 7/11  

I do my bit for Thai culture.

Aside from the fact that that the above beers are really not very good, to claim to be doing your bit for Thai culture is a bit dubious - these beers are produced by a couple of mega corporations that have the entire market sewn up and have completely disabled competition. There's some very creative and enterprising Thais who make excellent beer, sadly they don't stand a chance.

 

It's worth mentioning that in other countries craft beers are often no more expensive than regular beers, so this is entirely a case of unfair taxation allowing a monopoly to strangle any competition at birth. 

[BuddyDean]

4 hours ago, lamyai3 said:

Aside from the fact that that the above beers are really not very good, to claim to be doing your bit for Thai culture is a bit dubious - these beers are produced by a couple of mega corporations that have the entire market sewn up and have completely disabled competition. There's some very creative and enterprising Thais who make excellent beer, sadly they don't stand a chance.

 

It's worth mentioning that in other countries craft beers are often no more expensive than regular beers, so this is entirely a case of unfair taxation allowing a monopoly to strangle any competition at birth. 

Tiger nor Cheers are part of the duo...so sorry to bring truth to your sensationalism.