The Thai Craft Beer Revolution
For decades, Thailand's beer market was a duopoly. Now, a new generation of brewers is changing everything. Here is the story of Thai craft beer.
The Monopoly Years
For most of its modern history, Thailand's beer landscape has been dominated by two companies: Boon Rawd Brewery (makers of Singha and Leo) and Thai Beverage (makers of Chang). Between them, they've controlled over 90 percent of the market for decades. Walk into any convenience store, street food stall, or restaurant in Thailand and you'll see the same three labels: Singha, Chang, and Leo. Maybe a Tiger or a Heineken if the place is fancy.
This isn't an accident. Thailand's alcohol licensing laws have historically made it nearly impossible for small breweries to operate legally. The minimum production requirements and licensing fees were calibrated for industrial-scale operations, effectively locking out anyone who wanted to brew on a smaller scale. For aspiring craft brewers, the options were stark: brew illegally, brew abroad, or don't brew at all.
Brewing in the Shadows
Despite these barriers, a craft beer movement began to take shape in the 2010s. Early pioneers like Chit Beer — often called Thailand's first craft brewery — started brewing in small batches and selling to a growing community of beer enthusiasts. Chit Beer's founder, Wichit Saiklao, famously brewed out of a small operation in Khon Kaen and became a symbol of the fight against restrictive brewing laws.
Other brewers took a different approach. Devanom and Sandport began contract-brewing in countries with more favorable regulations — Cambodia, Vietnam, Australia — and importing their beers back into Thailand. It was a legal workaround, but it added cost and complexity that made it hard to compete on price with the big two.
The Regulatory Shift
Change came slowly, then all at once. Advocacy from organizations like the Thai Craft Beer Association, combined with growing consumer demand and political pressure, began to shift the regulatory landscape. Recent amendments have lowered production minimums and created new licensing categories that make small-scale brewing viable for the first time.
The result has been an explosion of new breweries. Bangkok alone has seen dozens of new craft beer brands launch in the past two years, with styles ranging from classic IPAs and stouts to more experimental brews using Thai ingredients — lemongrass wheat beers, mango sours, and even a well-received tom yum gose.
Breweries to Know
The Thai craft beer scene is still young, but several breweries have already established themselves as leaders:
Chit Beer remains the spiritual godfather of the movement, now operating legally and producing a range of ales that showcase Thai ingredients alongside traditional European styles.
Devanom has grown from a contract-brewing operation into one of Thailand's most respected craft brands, known for its Belgian-style ales and barrel-aged specialties.
Mahanakhon has become a Bangkok staple with its approachable pale ale that serves as many people's gateway to craft beer in Thailand.
Stone Head specializes in bold, hop-forward beers — their IPA is one of the best produced in Southeast Asia.
Happy New Beer takes a playful approach with experimental brews and eye-catching label art that has made it a favorite among younger drinkers.
How We Curate Our Taps
At Bud Brew & Beyond, we rotate our tap selection weekly to showcase the best of what Thai craft breweries are producing. Our goal is to balance familiar styles (a reliable IPA, a crisp lager) with more adventurous options that highlight Thai ingredients and brewing innovation. We work directly with breweries whenever possible, and our bar team can walk you through the current selection, explain the stories behind each beer, and help you find something you'll love — whether you're a craft beer veteran or trying your first IPA.
The Thai craft beer revolution is still in its early chapters. The big breweries aren't going anywhere, and challenges around distribution, pricing, and regulation remain. But the momentum is undeniable. A new generation of Thai brewers is proving that this country's beer culture can be as rich and diverse as its food — and that's something worth raising a glass to.