Singha

Continuing my current fixation on Asian beers I have cast my eye to Thailand who are famous for lady-boys, having a really relaxed police force and green curry but, again, not exceptionally famous for the production of the sweet amber/brown/ruby/black nectar we call beer. Singha is my first experience of an Asian beer not from Japan, China or India. With that in mind, less thinking! More drinking!

On the nose it is rather pleasant and has a slightly fruity yeast aroma that bubbles out of the vivacious froth that is lively without lingering too long. The first taste is as smooth as silk with hints of raspberry and sweet French toast in the background. This is another chugging beer, though it's hard to find a self-professed lager that is NOT a chugging beer, but it's definitely got a bit of character to it. The smoothness helps it remain deliciously refreshing all the way through and it's easy to see why Singha has made it all the way to our shores.

It's hard for any lager to be exceptional because they don't lend themselves very well to having a great depth of flavour but I believe that you can find a beer for everyone and for most it will be a lager. I like to think that there's a lager out there that can match taste and subtlety and complexity with the big boys... I haven't found it yet but the Thai people have done themselves proud with this.

Food suggestion: Chips! Home made, double friend, skin on, rough sea salt, maybe a relish or a sweet pickle to dip those bad boys in. It may be a boring choice to you but that just shows me that you don't know how to make chips.

Drink this if you like: Baltika, Tsingtao and Asahi are very similar beasts but you'll feel at home with this if you just drink something simple like Stella or Heineken.