The best beers I had at the Beer Market

Let the record show: one person can only drink so much.

Aug 29, 2023

Samata at the Beer Market! / Photo courtesy of my guy Albert

In case you missed it, last weekend saw the first of several big beer events happening in Thailand before the end of the year.

The Beer Market, a flea market-inspired event organized by Prachachon Beer, took over a corner of the labyrinthine Jatujak Market for two days.

Like so many others in Bangkok, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to spend at least a couple of hours during my hard-earned weekend taste-testing beers, buying cans, and riding a buzz that only a ridiculously fun festival like this one can generate.

Naturally, I had thoughts about what appeared to be a massively successful event—including favorite beers from the dozens I managed to sample.

First, a big thank you

Beer geeks being serenaded by live music.

After going out for a long run in the morning, my friend Randy and I navigated Jatujak Market’s internal maze and lumbered into the Beer Market.

Almost immediately, we ran into Mali, one of the organizers of the event. In her infinite kindness, she guided us around the stalls, introduced us to brewers, and pointed out some of her favorite beers and spirits we had to try. Thank you, Mali!

Beyond that, a few things stood out to me.

First and most obvious, Jatujak remains a total mystery to me. Being wedged between the totally legit exotic animal wing and air-conditioned furniture stalls kept the Beer Market relatively hidden from the hoi polloi outside. But I was still surprised that fewer tourists didn’t wander into the event—it was well-marked and easy to find.

Second, local spirit makers are on to something big. Queues for limited-edition releases from the Spirit of Chaiyaphum and others stretched outside the confines of the event. It’s clear that Pita Limjaroenrat’s recommendations have boosted the industry, and that’s amazing to see.

Third, ciders, sato (rice wine), and even craft sodas might be where the scene is going to next. I tried a lovely 5% lychee sato that tasted remarkably similar to a soda. There were also crowds queuing up everywhere for ciders and beer-like cocktails, especially a snake fruit sparkling cocktail called สละโสด (salak sod) from Grayscale Brewing.

Lastly, sour beers are having a moment. For more on that, read on.

SunRise Brewing’s sours

All these beers: excellent.

I won’t lie: I love cats, and cat labels will always capture my attention. In this case, I was greatly rewarded for checking out the feline-speckled cans from SunRise Brewing.

My memory may be failing me here, but I recall the folks I talked to telling me that they make their beer at the United Peoples Brewery in Nonthaburi.

Wherever they’re doing it, they should keep it up.

They had a handful of sour beers on tap and in cans, but my favorite was Welcome to the Jungle, a lemon and mint sour featuring Guns N’ Roses-inspired can art. It was tangy and aromatic, with a tingle from the mint that lingered on the tongue. I purchased a couple of cans, and I look forward to buying more soon.

EDIT: If you want to try SunRise beers, visit The Fat Cow. (Thanks for the hat tip, Manuel!)

Samata’s Sourkult smoothie sour

Samata’s Sourkult should perhaps be the official beer of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. / Photo courtesy of good ol’ Albert again

Yakult, for the uninitiated, is a Japanese probiotic yogurt drink that’s widely popular in Thailand. I can’t say I ever expected to see its flavors converted into a beer, but Samata also tends to experiment, and so here we are.

Their Sourkult was one of the best beers I’ve had in a long time. Fruity, aromatic, and balanced, it had a pleasant mouthfeel, and you didn’t lose much of it to sediment.

I also had Samata’s mango sticky rice smoothie on tap and grabbed a can of their Strawberry Shakes fruited sour to go. Both tasted as delicious you’re imagining.

Before I left their stall, Mali introduced me to the brewer, Supachote, and his brother, who has started his own label called Synonyms. I have a can of his sour IPA in the fridge with my name on it.

Repentless Brewing’s Berry Maniac

Cheesecake in a cup.

Nestled between the SunRise and Max Beer booths, Repentless caught my attention with its heavy metal artwork and the fact you could get a slightly larger sampler for just THB 20. How could I say no?

Berry Maniac promised mixed berry cheesecake flavors, and it certainly delivered. My only regret was not getting a bigger pour. I look forward to trying more of their beers in the future.

Khoy Brewing’s Imperial Guava Ale

The Khoy Brewing setup. Try the guava ale the next time you see it. / Photo courtesy of Khoy Brewing

Before I get to the beer, I have to say: cheeky name. Ask your Isaan friend what khoy means. This is a PG-13 newsletter.

Anyway, Khoy Brewing has been on my radar for a while, and I was excited to see what they had to offer. Their imperial guava ale poured an Ecto Cooler green and tasted just like fresh-poured juice. How it was 8% is beyond me.

96 Brewing’s Honeeey hazy IPA

Creative flavor combinations abound at 96 Brewing.

I went to 96 Brewing’s booth to try the Kwa Kwa cucumber and jasmine pilsner. It was an interesting beer that tasted like you think it does: heavy on the cucumber. I picture it being a fine foil to a spicy pad grapao (stir-fried meat with holy basil).

Before I left their booth, I tried a few other promising beers. Among these, I most enjoyed the Honeeey hazy IPA, a full-bodied hazy that features the unusual combination of honey and Citra hops. The honey gave it a pleasant sweetness that masked the bitterness from the hops, and it had great color.

Many, many others to try at the next Beer Market

Beyond the ones I’ve mentioned above, things get murky. Meaning, I had arms full of cans and a back full of sweat, and I could barely keep up with all the good stuff I tried. I know there was a nice coconut stout, some tasty IPAs from Kim’s Brewing and others, and a lot of beers I didn’t get a chance to try because the lines were so long.

If I’m lucky, maybe I’ll get to try them again in October.

Yes, that’s right. Prachachon Beer announced only recently that there’s another Beer Market happening at Chang Chui on Oct. 7 and 8.

Stay tuned for more details, prepare your livers, and clear your calendars. I expect the next event to be just as enjoyable as this one was for all who attended.