Ice Cold in Asia

Andrew Catchpole visits the Boon Rawd brewery in Bangkok, birthplace of the successful Thai lager – Singha

Bangkok takes pride in the soubriquet of consistently hottest city in the world.

Walking the traffic-choked streets, as the mercury nudges 35ºC, with the afternoon humidity rising like a runaway sauna, it’s difficult to disagree.

This is one very steamy town indeed.

It’s the kind of place where even die-hard real ale buffs may be heard croaking out the otherwise unthinkable words to a tuk tuk driver “take me to a place where they serve ice-cold lager, please.” Fortunately, back in the 1930s, a certain Thai nobleman, Pyrya Bhirom Bhakdi, happened to agree. And so one of Asia’s best loved – and best tasting – beers was born.

With the enthusiastic backing of King Rama VII, Pyrya and his son Prachuap – the first Thai to gain a brewmaster diploma from Munich’s Doemens Institute – built the original Boon Rawd brewery in downtown Bangkok in 1934 and created the recipe for Singha, Thailand’s first ever lager.

Big on hoppy, malty aromas and flavours, this 6% ABV beer was aimed at breaking the then total domination of imported beers and also at pairing well with spicy, chilli-infused Thai cuisine. Named Singha, or Lion, after the king of the jungle, it proved a big hit. Even Thailand’s revered king visited and gave the brewery his blessing as part of his encouragement to the Thai people to take pride in home grown products.

In the early days Singha gained 90 per cent of the national market, readily slaking the thirst of farang (foreigners) and locals alike and today remains the m.....

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By Andrew Catchpole

Section : International Focus

Page number : 20