Bangkok's Craft Brew Godfather: A Chat with Khun Chit [S7.E55] (Classic Recast)

Greg interviews the fascinating Wichit Saiklao, godfather of
craft beer in Thailand and founder of Chit Beer, with
podcast friend Scott Coates sitting in for fun. Khun Chit relates
how he first learned about homebrewing while living in the
States, and after returning to Thailand and buying a small house
on the river island of Ko Kret, he decided to give it a try with
a kit he bought on Amazon. Just seven years later, he is a legend
of Thai brewing, not just because of his own popular craft beers
but also because of his brewing school which now has thousands of
graduates. 


Khun Chit explains his approach to Thai law, which in general
prohibits small batch brewing: by focusing on staying under the
radar while campaigning to change the law and spreading his love
of brewing to his 'army' of brewers, he hopes to push Thai
culture in the right direction. He estimates that there are
already tens of thousands of Thai people brewing quietly at home,
a number so large that eventually the Thai government will likely
have to accept as a fact of life. 


Greg, Scott and Khun Chit discuss the community of brewers that
he has fostered and spread around the country, his ignoble first
attempts at brewing, and what drives him forward.


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