Phuket Days One and Two: Singha, Full Moon Brewery

The five-day trip to Phuket, a new place to me, was relaxing, especially when I had no planning at all before departure.

Singha in a glass

When did I have my first glass of beer upon arrival?

It must be either Singha or Chang beer (everybody drinks either Singha or Chang in Phuket.  As I recalled, just one guy I saw drank Heineken in those five days.  And I found no sign of Carlsberg in the whole trip), during our first dinner in Phuket.  I had quite a poor memory now and I have to work it out from the colour of the beer halfly shown in the above photo.

I made a guess: it should be Singha, as Singha is always listed at the top of the beer list.  Always above Chang.  I don't know why (I guess I know later when I tried both a few days).

So just assume it was Singha.  Frankly speaking, I did not appreciate it as I should in that first time, because I didn't appreciate it against the local hot weather, the way people drink it, and its easy accessibility.

I have not tried Chang until our third day in Phuket.

Full Moon Brewwork

I did some internet research and found out this (the only one) microbrewery in Phuket.  It is located at Jungceylon, a very big shopping mall in Patong ("behind the ship", as it advertises itself).  So the first thing I got to Patong was to check the place out.

Three types of craft beer were available: Phuket Lager, Andaman Dark Ale and Oriental Wheat.  This time, I worked against the order of listing shown on the menu and chose Andaman Dark Ale.  No problem, it came chilly, but the taste was something between porter and bitter: not bitter enough for a ale-drinker like me, and not stout enough as I think a dark ale could do.  Maybe next time, I should try the Phuket Lager.  And I really appreciate the effort paid by the company to brew lager in such a hot place like Phuket.

Eventually, I finished half of the pint of beer (50% discount promotion for a pint: 85THB, and it is even cheaper than a half-pint (110THB as shown on menu)!).  That's enough for a tasting session, I think.

Belgian Beer Cafe

In the same internet research I did, I found out there is one cafe in Patong specialising in Belgian Beer.  What a great news to me.  I did not jot down its address as it was placed in some kind of luxury hotel and I did not think I would take a taxi especially for the place.

BUT you never know in what specific way our Lord loves us.  When I walked out of the long Patong beach back to the Beach Road because of the shower, I found a sign written as "Belgian Beer Cafe" just ahead of us.

I am in love of Kasteel beer recently (especially its beautiful glass) and I tried Kasteel Hoppy (for the first time) and Veronica ordered Kriek by St. Louis.  After a few minutes, I just took off my England shirt and put on my Chang beer vest (just because of it design bettering Singha, not its taste).

After some time, both of us were in Chang beer vests!!

A very cozy atmosphere in the beer cafe: friendly while elegant.  That was the attractiveness of Belgian beer. Such was that wonderful night!

(to be continued)