The Beer Thread 2

[Pagey]

Is it actually open yet? Or is this just pre-opening spiel? Last time I looked in Bluport, it didn't even look like any work had been done.

I've not been but according to FB there is a live band playing tonight, 8.30 -10.30 so must be open now.

[caller]

Is it actually open yet? Or is this just pre-opening spiel? Last time I looked in Bluport, it didn't even look like any work had been done.

I've not been but according to FB there is a live band playing tonight, 8.30 -10.30 so must be open now.

I should have come back to answer my own question. Yes, it's open. Still a soft opening so 15% discount. Decent selection of beers, if not perhaps as widespread as it could have been and a small to medium menu. Looks okay, for example, 4 Fullers beers, all 500m bottles for 300 baht. Considering they are about 250 to buy in a supermarket, isn't bad. I have been past a few times and there's always been customers, extends to sitting outside the Mall as well. Curious how the opening hours will work, as that late finish is beyond the Malls normal opening hours.

[Big Boy]

No different to cinema or gym opening hours. Security will mooch around in a similar way I'd imagine.

[caller]

No different to cinema or gym opening hours. Security will mooch around in a similar way I'd imagine.

Okay, I just wondered if the fact they have their own entrance might have made a difference. Loos are just by the shop as well.

[Ratsima]

When visiting the local CJ Mart here in Korat was surprised to see all the Carabao/Tawandaeng beers (known locally as เบียร์เปา - Beer Bao) are heavily discounted at less than 50 baht for the large (490ml?) cans. The IPA is 49 baht while the lovely lager is 44 baht. I hope this doesn't spell the demise of the only innovative large batch commercial brewery in Thailand. I had been thinking that we'd finally get some real choice in reasonably priced beer.

For example, the Heart of Darkness brewery in Saigon has released well over 500 beers. (Not that all of them are simultaneously available.) How much choice do we have with the Thai monopolies?

(Not that I'd ever encourage anyone to consume alcoholic beverages. We're talking economics here.)

[buksida]

Carabao owns CJ, and they're in direct competition with CP/Chang/Singh, which is a good thing. I was told that they're running a promo on their beers for Songkran. Still a shame that the small breweries have to charge so much for their products and availability is limited due to the monopolies' control. The opposition party are trying to make things better but the military and oligarchs that run the place have the final say.

[Ratsima]

Carabao owns CJ, and they're in direct competition with CP/Chang/Singh, which is a good thing. I was told that they're running a promo on their beers for Songkran. Still a shame that the small breweries have to charge so much for their products and availability is limited due to the monopolies' control. The opposition party are trying to make things better but the military and oligarchs that run the place have the final say.

[berlinmichael]

I'm a particular fan of German beer especially out of Bavaria. My favourite is probably HB Original (Hof Brau) out of Munich which I enjoy at Juergen's Cafe and Khao Tao Beach Lodge. Does anyone know where I might be able to buy this wholesale in Hua Hin? TIA

[hhinner]

The Beer Lao IPA is much better IMO ... but double the price.

Thanks. I'll try the carabao if I see it, but won't go out of my way. 60ish baht for 330ml beer lao isn't too bad.

I just tried the Tawandaeng (TD) IPA side by side with the Lao IPA.

The Lao is 5% and the TD is 5.5%

I prefer the flavour of the Lao but the TD isn't bad.

But, the TD seems to have an after taste that I found unpleasant. A bit 'tinny'.

Wouldn't say no to a TD, but would rather have the Lao.

[Ratsima]

I also enjoy the beer Lao IPA. I've always assumed that it is actually a hoppy lager rather than a true ale. On the other hand, Tawandang seems to claim (looking at the can) that their IPA is a true ale. That doesn't really matter, though, as long as you find one you like at a reasonable price. My current preference in local IPAs is the M32 IPA by Mardi Craft. But, it is around twice as much as the Tawandang IPA.

[PeteC]

Heineken to reopen more than 60 closed pubs

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj5lvgyy5y1o

Brewing giant Heineken will reopen 62 pubs that were closed in recent years and invest £39m in refurbishing hundreds of sites across the UK.

The company said the cash injection into its Star Pubs chain will create more than 1,000 new jobs.

The UK pubs industry has been hard hit by closures both during the Covid pandemic and afterwards as cost of living pressures weighed on consumer spending.

Between 2021 and 2023, pubs have shut at a rate of 500 a year, according to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA).

Star plans to renovate more than 600 pubs - around a quarter of the 2,400-strong chain - choosing locations it said reflect how many of its customers have cut back on how often they commute into city centres.

Heineken said: "With working from home more commonplace and people looking to save on travel, major refurbishments will concentrate on transforming tired pubs in suburban areas into premium locals."

The company said that by the end of this year, the UK operation will have reopened 156 pubs since the start of 2023, "reducing the number of closed pubs in its estate to pre-pandemic levels".

During Covid, pubs were forced to close to prevent the spread of the virus. When they were allowed to reopen, they faced a number of restrictions including mandatory table service, limits on the size of groups and a 10pm curfew.

In early 2021, Heineken announced it would cut 8,000 jobs globally. The following year it warned inflation - which measures the pace of price raises - was "off the charts", in particular on commodities such as barley and aluminium.

This was before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022 which lifted the cost of energy, fuel and grains.

The average price of a pint of draught lager reached £4.71 in March, according to the Office for National Statistics, compared to £3.76 in February 2020 before widespread pandemic lockdowns the following month.

Meanwhile, the number of pubs in the UK has fallen from 47,200 in 2019, before Covid, to 45,350 in 2023, data from the BBPA shows. However, pub numbers have been declining for some time, A decade ago there were 52,500 in operation which is 7,150 more than 2023.

Heineken hopes the revamp of its pubs will tempt drinkers and diners back, including using "subtle zoning" to allow customers to enjoy different activities like watching sports and dining "without disturbing each other".

It said it will use dividing screens and distinct changes to lighting, sound systems and furniture styles to "help delineate the zones".

The announcement by Heineken is the latest indication that the British pub industry is seeing signs of growth after major blows from the pandemic and the cost of living crisis.

Last week, major pub chain Greene King said it would open its new £40m brewery by 2027.

Greene King, known for brands such as Abbot Ale, Greene King IPA and Old Speckled Hen, said the move represented a "long-term commitment to British brewing".

The 225-year-old company, which was sold to Hong Kong operator CKA in 2019, owns about 2,700 pubs, restaurants and hotels in the UK.

[Ratsima]

I'm happy to report that my local CJ here in Korat has completely run out of Tawandang IPA in spite of the fact that they received a massive shipment of Carabao and Tawandang beers just before the real Songkran (as opposed to Ung Ing's Songkran). I'm hoping this means that their beer is a success and will continue to offer a real choice in commercial beers for some time to come.

[STEVE G]

^Yes, I've been drinking Carabao beers in my local bar on the last couple of trips to Hua Hin and I prefer it from the other Thai mainstream beers.