I recently returned to Chiang Mai from a summer away and found, to my delight,  that several shops and bars now offer IPA beer. Some of these may have been selling my favorite beverage for some time but I wasn't aware of it. The prices however, are daunting, ranging from a low of about 119 baht (Phuket IPA at Rimping Market), to 330 baht for a premium California IPA, Ballast Point Sculpin at Nampton's House. I've discovered IPAs at Tops, Rimping Markets, Namptons' House on the Chiang Mai-Lamphun Road near the Gymkhana Club,  and a new place, The Beer, on Mahidon Road. Nampton's House bar is a friendly venue that boasts a large offering of IPAs on tap (เบียร์ สด) as well as in bottles, but it's the most expensive choice of the several places I've visited. Also, Nana Bakery, based in Nong Hoi, recently opened a new restaurant/bar in the 89 Plaza called Nana Jungle, that sells a variety of bottled IPAs. There are several good beers to pick from - about 220 baht per bottle.

 

I'm wondering if anyone else out there is an IPA lover and if so, can you suggest some other places to buy or drink IPA beer here in Chiang Mai. Ideally, I would like to eventually locate a distributor, either here or in Bangkok, that would sell to an individual. Maybe if I am willing to buy in large quantities I could get it cheaper.

Thanks,

Dave

Give Me Hops has a large collection of different beers at reasonable prices (if I recall, I don’t often drink at home) and they deliver as well as having a shop - you can find them on Facebook 

 

If if you go to the shop I think you can get a discount for ordering 1,000 baht

 

If you are located south of town try I Hate Mondays, The Yellow Pug and possibly The Villiage

 

The best value IPA type beers by far are available at Tops Supermarket, Central Festival. There are several different British type IPAs/ Bitters,  McEwans, Fullers, Youngs, Bombardier, most available at 169 baht for a 500 mil bottle ( almost a pint).

 

Most of these imported IPAs, mostly from USA it seems, have got silly names and silly prices, and are mostly unproven as they come from so called "Microbreweries" you ve never heard of!

Thank you for your replies. I will check out the Tops market at Central Festival. Those beers with the silly names are the ones I'm after. It's the silly prices I'm trying to avoid. The many microbreweries on the west coast of the U.S. are the ones driving the popularity of IPA. Many of the older established beer producers in the U.S. are suffering revenue loss because these new breweries produce a much tastier beer than Bud, Coors, etc.

 

Based on their FB pages, Give me hops looks like a shop worth visiting as does I hate Mondays. The prices are high but unfortunately, that's to be expected as these are all imported a long distance.

I'm still curious to learn anything I can about distributors. Someone mentioned the "Number One Bar" off Loi Kroh Road as being run by a fellow who imports beer from Bangkok. I plan to visit there at some point.

1 hour ago, AlaskaDave said:

Thank you for your replies. I will check out the Tops market at Central Festival. Those beers with the silly names are the ones I'm after. It's the silly prices I'm trying to avoid. The many microbreweries on the west coast of the U.S. are the ones driving the popularity of IPA. Many of the older established beer producers in the U.S. are suffering revenue loss because these new breweries produce a much tastier beer than Bud, Coors, etc.

 

Based on their FB pages, Give me hops looks like a shop worth visiting as does I hate Mondays. The prices are high but unfortunately, that's to be expected as these are all imported a long distance.

I'm still curious to learn anything I can about distributors. Someone mentioned the "Number One Bar" off Loi Kroh Road as being run by a fellow who imports beer from Bangkok. I plan to visit there at some point.

Sorry, Alaska, Wasnt being negative.....its exactly the same if you go in most local pubs in the UK....there will always be the standard well known beer you know, but then there ll be about a dozen others at a higher price with names like "Wizards Scrotum", or "Angels Wings".....etc etc......no idea what they taste like until you ve shelled out £4 or so for a pint!

@EL159 - No worries. I was smiling when I wrote that.
I just now got back from a tiny shop called Give Me Hops ( aka Hops Mart) and they were open at 9 am and had a big selection of bottled IPAs for less than I've paid elsewhere. I bought 3 bottles; Stone Ruination IPA, Ballast Point Manta Ray, Rogue 7-Hop IPA. These are all "big beers" with ABV 7-9% and based on personal experience, are excellent. About 220 baht per bottle. I bought a Ballast Point Sculpin IPA at Nampton's House the other week and paid 330 baht for it. I won't be buying that beer at Nampton's again. LOL

I love Ballast Point Sculpin IPA! About $12/6-pack in Massachusetts. Oh, wait, I'm in CM now.... Where's Nampton's if I feel like reliving my past?

Nampton's House Bar is on the Chiang Mai-Lamphun Road near the Gymkhana Golf Course. I was paying $17 for a six-pack of Sculpin IPA in Homer, Alaska, last summer. I like it plenty but chose to drink something cheaper most of the time. Click the link below to see its location.

 

https://goo.gl/maps/AnbfXyf9pw62

Thanks for the link to the Wishbeer shop. The prices are in line with what I've been seeing lately. The home delivery is a nice extra though. I'll give them a try at some point.

1 hour ago, AlaskaDave said:

Nampton's House Bar is on the Chiang Mai-Lamphun Road near the Gymkhana Golf Course. I was paying $17 for a six-pack of Sculpin IPA in Homer, Alaska, last summer. I like it plenty but chose to drink something cheaper most of the time. Click the link below to see its location.

 

https://goo.gl/maps/AnbfXyf9pw62

That's not that much more than the $12.99 + tax it costs in San Diego where it comes from.

Well, maybe not but still, $17 for a six-pack? There were plenty of tasty alternatives that cost 11 or 12 bucks, for example, Hop Valley's Alpha Centauri IPA,  a truly awesome Imperial IPA out of Eugene, Oregon. A six-pack of Sculpin at Nampton's would cost over $60 USD at today's exchange rate. Now that's an expensive beer!

Beer Republic used to have a good selection of beers, including IPA's.  When they closed a few months ago there was a sign stating that they would re-open in the old city.  I've not been able to find anything about a new place or plans for a new Beer Republic.  Does anyone have any information?

I love a good IPA though almost impossible to find, let alone afford (regularly) in CM, so i enjoy Singha's latest offerings.

 

Weizen is my favourite, a fresh crisp wheat beer with flavour.  Their new Kopper is a Gaba-rice amber ale and at 4.6% abv is rather tasty compared with competitors 'craft beer' offerings.

 

Both are sold via Rimping though small local outlets may offer better bulk value.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1zh--5FQ3NZL00omAacEaFY9udRU&shorturl=1&ll=18.7523542327469%2C99.01425099000886&z=13

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/everythingbangkokbeers/

That’s a good map of craft beer in Ching Mai - need to remove I’m Happy though - they no longer have my beer any are pretty much closed - I believe the location is for rent / sale

1 hour ago, narkeddiver said:

That’s a good map of craft beer in Ching Mai - need to remove I’m Happy though - they no longer have my beer any are pretty much closed - I believe the location is for rent / sale

It also includes Beer Republic and Beer Box, both gone now.

Thanks for the great map. I've not yet visited all of them but might get around to it over the next few weeks. The only one missing from the map that I have visited is Hops Mart, aka I Love Hops, and although their selection is small, they sell some great IPAs at reasonable prices. It's fairly close to The Yellow Pug and sits just outside and south of the Airport Home Condominiums at N18.75113° E98.95596°

Alaska Dave. Try a company called beervana. They import craft beers into Thailand and sell to many of the bars mentioned in this thread.

 

Thank you. I will check it out.