Brewing Trouble: Insurgent beer heroes push for a new draught of history

Dining Dispatch — A revolution is brewing in Thailand, and men known for such as filling dead rodents with beer are helping bring it to a head.

For decades heavy-handed alcohol regulations have quelled Thailand’s homebrew movement, but the sudsy tides are turning with a frothy-mouthed public thirsting for artisanal beers, and master brewers fomenting and fermenting impressionable minds.

To bring the beer scene into the modern era, it all starts with education. And this week is particularly interesting for craft beer enthusiasts, as a number of opportunities to imbibe and engage with the people behind some of the most regarded brews have cropped up.

Brewdog is branded as a rebellious beer for punks, and in fact once sold a limited edition beer sold inside the body of a dead squirrel. At the moment, its Tactical Nuclear Penguin touts the highest volume of alcohol for a beer in the kingdom at 40 percent. James Watt, half of Brewdog’s founding duo, will visit Bangkok tomorrow night to give beerboys and beergirls a chance to swill some Scottish brew and chat in a casual setting. For free at House of Beer Thong Lor. Just come, enjoy some draught Brewdog Punk IPA and chat with a man who’s known to be a bit kooky.

On Saturday a second master brewer rolls his keg into town. Kjetil Jikiun will drop some knowledge on present or wannabe home brewers, showing beer geeks how to brew a proper tamarind mangosteen stout. He’ll pair his renowned experimental Nøgne Ø brews with an eight-course meal by Chef Yao of the Thai National Cooking Association.  

Ales by Birradamare, a new Italian craft brewery, have recently landed on our shores, so expect to see their Chiara and Rossa brews making the rounds soon. Although Italy keeps a tight squeeze on the wine bottle as its national pastime, its small-time, craft beer scene has been growing and garnering some serious attention.

Better dust off your goggles; it’s going to be a boozy week.



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