Simon

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 again...