Singha
Singha (Thai: สิงห์; RTGS: Sing) is a pale lager beer[1] with 5% alcohol content manufactured in Thailand by the Singha Corporation Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of its parent company, Boon Rawd Brewery. Singha was first brewed in 1933 and is considered the original Thai beer. It is currently available in 53 countries.
 Current Thai Bottle | |
| Type | Beer |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Boon Rawd Brewery |
| Country of origin | Thailand |
| Introduced | 1933 |
| Alcohol by volume | 5.0% |
| Style | Lager |
| Related products | LEO, U BEER, MY BEER, Snowy, Kopper Beer |
| Website | Singha.com |
History
In 1933, founder Praya Bhirombhakdi received a brewing license from the Thai government and the construction of Boon Rawd Brewery began. The production of Singha followed shortly after.
In 1939, the brewery was bestowed with a royal warrant was bestowed on 25 October 1939. Boon Rawd became the only brewery permitted to display the royal Garuda which is a symbol of exceptional services and quality products.
In 1955, the brewery increased its capacity from bottling 6,000 liters per hour to 12,000 liters per hour with additional brewing vessels, storage tanks, and mechanic fillers.
In 1967, the brewery undertook a major expansion, extending their ground from 3.6 acres to 22.8 acres.
In 1971, Boon Rawd began exporting Singha thanks to new filling lines and a steady growth in production and demand. Its first consignment of 1,200 cases was bound for Los Angeles.
In 1988, Boon Rawd opened its second beer production facility in Pathum Thani and replaced mechanical filling lines with automatic ones, doubling its production capacity.
In 1989, Boon Rawd started producing Singha beer in cans, the first brewery to do so in Thailand.
In 1996, Boon Rawd opened its third brewery in Khon Kaen. It was the largest and most technologically advanced facility in Thailand in the 1990s. Boon Rawd then had a major reorganization of their group of companies, establishing the Singha Corporation in 2001 to manage their 150-plus subsidiaries.
In 2011, Singha Beverage opened in Nakhon Pathom and was considered the most energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly brewery in Thailand.
In 2020, Singha launches a biodegradable, plastic-free packaging for their cans, made from recycled wood pulp. Singha also introduces Singha Reserve, a premium lager beer, to the Thai market.
Production
Singha is brewed with 100% premium barley malt, double Saaz hops from Europe, and 100% artesian water. The brew is golden yellow in color, full-bodied and rich in taste, with strong hops character.
Today, Boon Rawd operates 9 factories across Thailand. In addition, these breweries also manufacture LEO, UBEER, MYBEER, Kopper, Snowy, drinking water and other food products.
Packaging
In Thailand and other major markets, Singha is available in bottles (330 ml and 630 ml), cans (330 ml and 490 ml), and on tap.
Logo
Singha’s iconic golden lion was inspired by one of the four great lions in Thai literature, which Thais traditionally believe to be the king of Himmapan Forest. It symbolizes strength, courage, leadership, dignity and endurance. The current icon uses the gold of the Bandhu Rachasri lion - a refined version of the former red lion (seen on the Boonrawd logo on each bottle cap).
The Garuda symbol on the bottle’s neck features Boon Rawd Brewery’s royal approval, received from King Rama VII in 1939. Rare and granted only to companies with a longstanding integrity and commitment to society, the symbol signifies honor & trust behind Boon Rawd as a manufacturer of quality products. Singha remains the only beer brand to display the Royal Garuda.
Singha Reserve
Boon Rawd's master brewer used single premium hops and a longer maturation process to create a full bodied, 5,3% lager beer. Singha Reserve has a distinctly rich flavor with hoppy and floral notes.
Advertising
Sponsorship from Singha has been closely linked with motorsports from the mid 1990s, when the company began its title sponsorship of Francesco Cantando’s Formula 1 Powerboat team. Running up until the end of the 2013 season, this was one of the longest partnerships in the history of the sport.
In 2009, Singha began its close partnership with Red Bull Racing, with its logo being prominently displayed on Red Bull’s cars. This included sponsorship of the Infiniti F1 Team from 2012.
In 2013, Singha began its partnership with Ferrari, including its sponsorship of the Scuderia Ferrari F1 World Championship Team and the AF Corse team in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Presently, Singha is also a title sponsor of the Alfa Romeo Formula One team.
Singha has also been associated with the Premier League from 2010, forming sponsorships with football giants Chelsea and Manchester United, along with Leicester City and Oxford United from 2012 and 2018 respectively.
2014 saw Singha become the first Official Beer of the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship and sponsor the Grand Slam of Darts.
References
- "Our Beer". Singha Corporation Co., Ltd. Retrieved 26 May 2015.