Singha vs Leo

I am a lager drinker.

Waffling old ale and bitter drinkers look down on me, I know.

They think I have no taste.

I think they are cold (in terms of physical temperature). And deluded.

Lager is perfect in the Thai climate. The lofty opinions of warm stale bitter drinkers don't wash in Thailand, where humidity and ice cold lager fit so perfectly well together.

There is no better combination.

And Thai lager is pretty darn good. 

I had no knowledge of Thai lager before Thailand. I was an ardent Friday and Saturday night Stella Artois man..... I have to say, these days, I would have trouble cosying up to my old mate Stella, my taste buds would be missing Thai lager.

When I first arrived in Thailand, it was all about the 'Singha'. I drank a fair bit of it, it was nice. As time progressed, I gradually ventured onto other Thai lager brands... I went for a bit of Chang (Thai version of Tennants Super) didn't last long, too much for me. I tried some Thai brewed Heineken, which is pretty darn good, and then onto Leo, a cheap Thai lager you see often ...

Whenever I ask my father in law if he wants a beer, he ALWAYS insists I buy Heineken for him. When I bring back some Singha / Leo for myself, he turns his nose up...  Strange... Something to do with looking down on your own perhaps? I suppose the English have done the same thing for years....

My drinking habits have changed dramatically since moving to Thailand, and for the better. Instead of the Friday and Saturday night binge, I drink far less, but 'little' and dare I say it, 'often'. But there is no pressure to drink here. Some weeks I will drink 3 days in a row, 2 or 3 small beers at a time, and only more if I'm really celebrating. Some weeks I won't drink a drop.

A bit different from the 8-9 pints every Friday and Saturday night.

Anyway............. Enough of my denial... The point of all this is what exactly?

I owe one Mr Mike a prize for guessing correctly the answer to the quiz.

Mike is a man who knows Thailand, so the answer will be interesting. It will determine forever the question that has been asked by generations of farang who have visited and lived in Thailand:

Which is better, Leo, or Singha.?

What'll it be Mike?

Comments

[Wotchit321]

You are right on two things.
1. Cold lager is ideal for hot climates.
2. You're right to ask what other people think as you do have no taste. :p

[AdventureRob]

I am a bitter and ale drinker. But I have to agree lager makes sense in such a hot country.

However Singha gives me bad hangovers, never had a problem with Leo or Chang, both of which are much superior in taste as well to Singha.

[Lloyd]

When will the poms realise that ANY beer tastes better cold, larger, ale or bitter!!

Leo

[Martyn]

Leo shades it for me. It's cheaper than Singha and tastes that little bit better. I drink bitter in the UK but mainly because the tastier lagers are way too expensive.

[Mike]

Ben, Singha for me.

That said I seem to be drinking a lot less lately.

I think I am bored with Thai lager, I tried Heineken which I like in Europe but it doesn't taste the same here!

I actually prefer UK "real ale" or red wine. Neither of which travel well to LOS!

[Ben Shingleton]

Well there it is, Singha is the King of Thai lager, as crowned by Mr Mike. Hard luck Leo fans. I myself tend to buy far more Leo these days, I love the little coke-sized cans that you can knock back with a couple of gulps, and at 25 baht a pop you can have a real party. Like you Mike, if any red wine enters the vicinity it gets done within 30 minutes, usually followed by a Leo fest...

[Andy]

Though I am far from being a beer specialist, I normally go for Singha. Heineken I can drink here in Europe easier and cheaper, and since I don't drink to get drunk Chang has a bit too much alcohol for me. I tasted Leo once and it was OK for me as well, but should make a double-blind test to be actually sure which is better taste for me...

[Captain P]

"My drinking habits have changed dramatically since moving to Thailand". No. Your drinking habits have changed since getting MARRIED. At least you can claim your love of the booze is hereditary. Nuff said.

[Stephen C]

I'll have to say that i much prefer Singha. In fact, Leo for me even comes behind Chang in list of preferences.
Leo is all right if I plan on downing quite a bit as i don't find it that strong.

Ben talks about Heineken, but where i live in Suphanburi the only place you can find Heineken is in 7-11 and the supermarkets. None of the normal mom and pop shops or restaurants seem to stock it.

[Ben Shingleton]

Ah Stephen, I found a mom and pop Heineken stockist. On Highway 340, about 200 yards before you turn left for Don Chedi, there is a series of little restaurants / takeaways, and there is one that has a guy with a little tiny handlebar moustache, who cooks up food on some large aluminum type stove - IN THERE! He always has heineken! (well, everytime I've been anyway)

.... if you manage to find the place after that description, you bloody deserve 2!

Andy - like it, double blind testing is the way, the one that makes you double blind first wins surely.

Chok dee.

[Talen]

I have to go with Singha followed closely by beer Lao and the occasional Heineken.

In Mukdahan the local shop has the huge bottles of Singha and Heineken which makes me a very happy albeit drunk camper.

[Ben Shingleton]

I'm very interested in the beer lao, not had a chance to try yet, but heard many people sing its praises....

[Stephen C]

Beer Lao is one of fave beers.
Even though i prefer hooch of the stronger type, weak in alcohol content, Beer Lao still wins my kudos just cause of its more than smooth taste.

Since it's brewed in Laos (Beer Lao is the biggest Laotian company) it can be enjoyed cheaply. A big jar in most places of Laos can be had for no more than 50 baht. Great stuff. Im off there soon, so maybe ill bring you back a can.

[Ben Shingleton]

Hey Steve, that's very kind of you. Squeeze a can or two in the rucksack if you can. I'm going to get a crate of it from Macro as well I reckon. I can't get them individually, so what the heck. Maybe I'll drink all of it in one night and try and write a post. Now that should be an interesting experiment.....Will probably have to write some sort of disclaimer beforehand though...

[Jamie Monk]

Chang all the way. I can't stand the Thai Heineken, Singha has an odd taste, Leo tastes like dishwater. Can get Beer Lao in Phuket here and there, and that is a cut above all the Thai beers.