Chang beer boasts 6.4% alcohol and it’s nice and very strong indeed. The can displays two elephants but the colours do look a bit cheap. The beer colour itself is a little bit darker than usual and that most likely explains the beautiful bitterness and extremely strong taste.

The so-called ‘get drunk quick’ factor, coupled with their relatively low prices, has made Chang beer the most popular in native Thailand. If you go to high class bars, you will find people usually frown upon it although they do admit that Chang has become more popular than Singha in the Thai market.

Brewed by Thai Beverage Public Company Limited, Chang sells everywhere from 7-11 to Tesco stores to corner stalls throughout Bangkok. It comes in 2 sizes, 330ml and a massive 660ml that could kick you hard in the arse.

Literally, Chang means elephant in Thai, hence the logo. Whilst it has cultural and historical significance to the Thai population, it can also literally express the sheer power of the beer. At a staggering 6.4%, it is hugely strong and it could be even stronger, depending on which batch it was churned out of the factory that particular day. Try and drink more than a few big-size Changs and you will most likely feel like you’ve just been through a painful stampede.

There are a couple of reasons which could explain why Chang is so popular. It has genuine brand recognition. The eye-catching green logo of 2 elephants facing one another is immediately recognisable to Thais and foreigners alike. The company also has outstanding distribution and the beer is readily available in bars and shops everywhere and often in prime locations.

The combination of low price and abnormally high alcohol content makes it an attractive drink for many Thais. Westerners also seriously appreciate such qualities in immense quantities when holidaying in Thailand. At the end of the day, it is the branding of Chang that makes up for a fantastic part of this remarkable appeal.

For more information, visit www.changbeer.com

If you want to get kicked, visit http://www.beerritz.co.uk/Beers/Thai/Chang/