Could this be Thailand’s worst beer?
I was browsing the soft-drinks cabinet at my local 7-Eleven when my eyes were suddenly drawn to the beer section where I saw a can of beer I didn’t recognize. The can was the most gloomy-looking drinks container I had ever seen. The name “Archa Beer” leapt up at me like a geriatric chess player.
I decided that I must have happened upon something remarkable. At just 19 baht, Archa is the cheapest beer in 7-Eleven. I bought one can and hurried home. Back in my room, I opened the can, took a sip, swallowed and was met with the odd sensation of a canned beer with an afterkick similar to drinking straight shots of Sangsom.
I’m unsure when this new brand, with its 5.4% of loveliness, made its was into 7-Eleven, but Archa Beer may well be the most vile canned drink on the planet. The beverage was flat within about two minutes and after drinking half a can, I began to feel a buzz in my head just enough to counter the unusual goings-on in my stomach.
Archa Beer was launched in 2004 “to respond to increasing demands from a new generation of beer drinkers who prefer smooth beer with lower alcohol content”. That would explain the flatness of the beer.
I may have missed out on being a part of a generation of beer drinkers who prefer flat beer and so I was left feeling a disappointed that my 19-baht bargain lacked the refreshing traits of other beers on the market.
Try it for yourself and let me know what you think. Archa Beer may have been on the shelf long before I noticed it.
April 9th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Beer Chang has got to be up there with Thailand’s worst.
Can you get beer lao in Phuket?
April 9th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
I first encountered this beer last Thursday after I’ve been staying in Thailand for four years. I couldn’t believe I could have missed that drink from the shelves or the drink menus but well I had to wait for an after-party in a Queen’s park hotel room after we all realised it was too late to buy alcohol from the 7 downstairs and found out THAT in the mini-bar. Overpriced of course. Never too late.
A terrible drink if I may but when nothing else is on offer…
April 9th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
This beer is a sister (or brother) to Chang and comes from the same manufacturer. I understand it’s recognized as being poorer quality but cheaper.
April 10th, 2008 at 3:30 am
Horse beer; this beer can be found at Godzilla Bar, just in front of Super Cheap (Phuket Town) for an amazing 15 baht a jug (almost 1 litre). Like you, I just had to know what a jug of 15 baht beer tasted like. Weak, flat… but not undrinkable. Saying that, I’ve never tried it again.
April 10th, 2008 at 5:21 am
Thanks for the warning. Some Thailand-blog has a rather large review about Thai-beers - forgot which one, but maybe there are worse beers out there …
April 10th, 2008 at 9:04 am
This beer has been around for several years. The first time I saw it was in Carefour in Rama IV. Not worse than the cheap high octane “diesel” brew you can find in this side of the world.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Beer can never be worst
April 10th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
If you want lots of beer reviews see http://beerasia.blogspot.com/
Nope, Archa is not the worst - have you tried “Cheers” Beer? I am planning a beer review on my blog too.. need some more research first… :)
April 10th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Try it for myself? After what you just wrote? No, thanx :-)
April 10th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
I cant believe I’m the only person here that likes it. About 3 months ago I bought 24 for 310 baht (13 baht each!) What’s there to complain about :)
@Chris - They have beer lao and beer lao dark here in Phuket.
April 11th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
This post is againts some TOS ;-p