The Thai craft beer scene has marked a major milestone, hosting the nation’s first-ever Thailand International Beer Awards (TIBA 2025) with the awards programme keen to elevate the quality and recognition of Thai craft beer on the global stage.

The winners were announced at the “Raise a Glass 2025: Craft Beer Gala Night and TIBA Ceremony,” held on June 21 at the Best Western Chatuchak in Bangkok.

The celebration, organized by the Craft Beer Association of Thailand, brought together brewers, industry stakeholders, and enthusiasts from across the country to honour the best in brewing. Now recognized as the largest commercial beer competition in Thailand, the event saw a total of 111 beers entered for consideration. Judging was conducted using the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) guidelines, and only legally registered beers were eligible, ensuring the highest standards of quality and transparency.

Across the 10 competition categories a total of 75 medals were awarded: 15 Gold, 43 Silver, and 17 Bronze. Medals were based on pre-determined scoring benchmarks with the results highlighted the growth in quality and creativity within the local industry.

Several breweries had a particularly successful night, demonstrating their brewing prowess across multiple categories. The big winners included:

• Vana Brewing who took home an impressive haul of two Gold medals for its Crispy Boy Pilsner and Hommali Jasmine Rice Lager, alongside two Silver and one Bronze.
• Wizard Brewery who also secured two Gold medals for their Wizard Love Is Wheat Beer and the Zilalom Im-Stout, a collaboration with Chonburi’s Zilalom Brewing. They also took home a Silver and two Bronzes.
• Call Me Papa Brewhouse took home the most medals overall, seven, earning a Gold for its Dynaboost IPA, five Silvers and a Bronze across various styles including their flagship IPA’s.

Judging followed the global BJCP Beerstyle Guidelines with medals awarded to brews that reached pre-determined quality standards [Photo: Craft Beer Trade Association of Thailand]

Panelists discussed the recent developments in draft excise tax and alcohol control laws. These discussions are particularly timely, following recent government action that saw Thailand lift major restrictions on brewing and allow keg sales from smaller producers. The panel agreed that while still evolving, these changes represent a “crucial first step” toward enabling legal, sustainable growth.

This, combined with other moves like the decision to ease holiday alcohol restrictions to promote tourism, signals an evolving landscape for the industry, with the panel underscoring the importance of continued policy support for building a strong craft beer ecosystem.

The TIBA Organizing Committee declared “TIBA 2025 is a new milestone that reflects the rapid growth and international potential of Thailand’s craft beer industry—in quality, creativity, and global recognition”.

The Thai Craft Beer Trade Association has confirmed its commitment to making the beer competition an annual event, hoping it will continue to be a driving force for the industry’s sustainable development.