Thái Craft Beer Revolution

For decades, the Thai beer market was controlled by a powerful monopoly—Singha, Leo, and Chang—that stifled competition using draconian laws. To bypass these restrictions, craft beer brewers were forced to brew abroad in countries like Cambodia and Vietnam, only to have their imports face heavy taxes that made price competition nearly impossible.

A spark for change came from Colonel Wichit Saiklao. Known as the "Father of Thai Craft Beer," the 48-year-old army officer and computer engineering PhD turned his weekend brewhouse into a sanctuary for innovation. There, he didn’t just serve beer; he taught a generation of Thais how to make it as well. One of his most notable students was Taopiphop "Tao" Limjittrakorn. While Wichit provided the education, Tao became the political engine. In 2017, after being jailed for operating his "Taopiphop Bar Project" and brewing his signature "Hurtster" ale, Tao refused to stay silent. His televised defiance against the 1950 Liquor Law Act resonated with a public tired of rules that favored the well-connected and wealthy.

At this time, Thailand was preparing for the 2019 parliamentary elections and there was a progressive new party—Future Forward—looking for candidates and Tao’s name was mentioned as a likely candidate. Finishing 3rd with 80 seats, Tao became the 2nd youngest member of the legislature. He then turned the ground floor of his pub (Taopiphop Bar Project) into his parliamentary office. Ever since his victory, Tao has been the leading advocate for a Progressive Liquor Bill. The Community Liquor Bill 2025 was a historic win for the movement. 

For Tao and Wichit, the movement was never just about alcohol—it was about economic freedom. By framing craft beer as an issue of equality for small farmers and entrepreneurs, they successfully moved the conversation from the "morality" of drinking to the "right" to innovate. While Wichit remains the spiritual "Godfather" of the craft beer movement, Tao stands as its political champion.