Craft beer is a serious thing.
Generally made in small, independent breweries and uniquely formulated to appeal to different and discerning taste buds, craft beer is a drinking experience right from the recipe stage down to the tasting. And perhaps carrying over to tomorrow’s hangover.
Chang this ain’t.
While America and continental Europe have been doin’ their craft thang for decades now, Thailand has been characteristically slow off the mark.
Until now.
Over the past couple of years, craft beer bars have been popping up all over Bangkok stuffed to the brim with imported bottles and caskets for our delectation while regional distributors and local breweries in spots like Phuket and Koh Samui are all contributing to the craft beer revolution.
Sukhumvit – drinking beacon that it is – has provided a natural home to many of these bars which grow in popularity and repeat customers by the day.
If you fancy leaving the Singha behind for a night, check out these bad boys to get your taste buds tingling…
Mikkeller
Ekkamai
Mikkeller is really where Bangkok’s love with craft beer all began back in 2014 where a group of guys with a passion for beer sought to change the Asian scene.
With 30 rotating taps, an additional 4 in the garden and a host of bottles, Mikkeller is at the forefront of the craft beer scene in Bangkok. They have regular events and ‘tap takeovers’ – as I write this piece, it’s the turn of the Japanese brewer, Baird Beer – and have now opened a restaurant onsite with tasting and paired menus.
What’s On Sukhumvit top tap picks:
- Santa’s Little Helper BA Cognac (Mikkeller)
- Yeastus Christus (To Øl)
Craft
Asok
Essentially just a big beer garden on Soi 23, Craft has got it going on. With 40 rotating taps, countless bottles, regular events, live music and food trucks, it’s no wonder the garden is perennially packed out with a diverse crowd of beer lovers.
As well as regular appearances from local hero Daniel Thaiger, there’s also Kitchen 23 serving up New York eats and bites onsite to match your brew with. Craft have now opened up an equally popular sister bar in Silom too.
What’s On Sukhumvit top tap picks:
- Espresso Stout (Hitachino Nest)
- Arrogant Bastard Ale (Stone Brewing Co)
House of Beers (HOBS)
Thonglor
Seemingly opening up new branches across the city at a pace of knots, HOBS has two great branches always packed to the rafters in Thonglor – in the Rain Hill development on Sukhumvit 47 and on Soi Thonglor. The focus here is on Belgian products, with a number of Trappist beers in the inventory, among other popular bottles from across the world.
The other high point of HOBS is definitely the food – a distinctly French, German and Belgian menu. Check out the frites!
What’s On Sukhumvit bottle picks:
- Original Munchner Hell (Paulaner)
- Blue (Chimay)
Wishbeer Home Bar
Ekkamai
Boasting the largest stock in Thailand, Wishbeer’s inventory of over 500 beers and ciders is a force to be reckoned with. It’s also just a lovely place to kick back with a beer, equipped as they are with a garden, cafe, weekend food trucks and a beautiful exposed brick interior.
Found in The Lofts Ekkamai, Wishbeer host regular events – the most recent being the BrewDog tap takeover – and rotate their taps and stock. They also offer same day delivery to your home – be sure to check out their online store.
What’s On Sukhumvit top bottle picks:
- Meine Hopfenweisse – Tap 5 (Schneider Weisse)
- Delirium Tremens (Brouwerij Huyghe)
Brew Beers & Ciders
Nana and Thonglor
Brew have got over 200 beers and ciders in their kegs and fridges and they also exclusively stock a number of microbreweries’ products too. They also serve up delicious Thai and European meals and bar snacks from their own kitchen. If that’s not enough Epicurean indulgence for you, why not have a cigar with your tipple?
They’ve got branches in Seenspace, Thonglor and on Soi 11 in Nana.
What’s On Sukhumvit top bottle picks:
- 5am Saint (BrewDog)
- Mc Chouffe (Chouffe)
Other Crafty Spots…
Craft beer doesn’t stop at the specialist bars above on Sukhumvit though – there are a number of establishments with a few interesting bottles in the fridge or a few drops left in a keg. Ignore the juice-laden cocktails and frothy coffees and opt for a Pilsner instead!
Places with craft beer stock on Sukhumvit include:
- Castlebar, Ekkamai
- The Alchemist, Nana
- All 6 to 12, Phrom Phong
- Badmotel, Thonglor
- Captain’s Pub, Asok
- Dean & Deluca, Phrom Phong
There’s only one thing for it… I’m off for a bevvy.
Chin chin!
Are you a craft beer fan? Where’s your top spot for a tipple on Sukhumvit?
Featured image is from Mikkeller’s Facebook page
