South-East Asia Destination

By: vanalli

Singapore has Tiger beer, Laos has Beer Lao and Australia has Castlemaine XXXX. Dedicated beer drinkers often arrive in Phuket and aren’t quite sure which tipple to sample. Phuket has a range of beers on offer, including a couple that are locally brewed.

Beer Chang remains one of the most popular beers for foreigners visiting Phuket. You can generally rate a beer’s popularity by the number of tourists wearing T-shirts and vests emblazoned with the brew’s logo. The Beer Chang logo is more seen in Phuket than Ralph Lauren or Calvin Klein. Beer Chang is an average beer that, when consumed in large quantities, can lead to strange dreams and horrendous hangovers.

A less fierce beer is Singha, which is usually a little more expensive than Chang. Singha is the preferred beer of many expats living in Phuket. It has a good, full taste without the brain-wrenching aftereffects of Chang.

For something a bit softer, Leo has a similar taste to Budweiser, although you won’t find Leo in most discos and nightclubs. It can, however, be bought in all 7-Elevens and some beer bars. It tastes pleasant and goes down well with a spicy meal.

If you’re looking to save money on your beer purchases, you might want to try the cheapest of the lot: Archa Beer. Look for the blue cans in 7-Eleven. Archa Beer is almost never sold in bars, pubs or clubs. Even the local taxi drivers don’t appear too keen to drink it. It is certainly an acquired taste and it leaves a heavy feeling in one’s stomach, but there are people in Phuket and the rest of Thailand who swear by this beer.

To get into the holiday spirit, nothing beats a can of Phuket Beer. Not only is the can interesting to look at, but the beer is light and fresh and it’s easy to drink a can or two without thinking about it. Phuket Beer is, however, not commonly sold around the island, although you can find it at some expat restaurants and bars.

The recently opened Phuket Brewery on Chalermprakeat R.9 Rd in Kathu actually brews its own beer: Pearl Beer. Phuket Brewery is a huge place where people can eat and drink, and the home brew alone makes it worth a visit.

Then, of course, you have Heineken, Bud, Corona, Carlsberg, Guinness and a bunch of other imports. They are usually more expensive than the aforementioned beers, but it all comes down to preference.

Good luck, beer lovers.

The author of this article can be found at the website Phuket Vogue, which is full of Phuket travel information.