ToffeeWeb - Season 2010-11

The Mail Bag

Chang Beer

I stumbled across the libation emblazoned across our shirts in a Tesco in Tottenham of all places. First time I'd seen it so I bought the 4 bottles that were left. I have to say it warmed my cockles to think I was supporting the Thai conglomerate that was supporting Our Boys.

In the interest of furthering scientific research, I also purchased a bottle of Singha (Changs' "Red Shite"!), and, for an independent quality control point of view, Argentina's favourite lager, "Quilme" (I have to say Tesco Tottenham had a wide and interesting stock of ales, and not just yer Cobras and Carlsbergs).

Anyhoo, I remember reading somewhere on this site that Chang was the choice of the great unwashed in Thailand whereas Singha was to be found on the tables of the upwardly mobile. From my limited research (finished last night whilst watching Alan Partridge Mid Morning Matters on Youtube - sponsored by Fosters :o( ) I can say that Chang held it's own against it's Thai opposition. However they both came a poor second to the Argies (not least because Quilme is sold in Litre bottles!)

So, in conclusion, let's give Moyes one more season, and some money in the Summer through selling some, (but not all), of our Crown Jewels. If we continue to tread water then I'm sure both we and he will feel it's time to contact our lawyers. And in the meantime, if you see Chang, buy it, consume it and (as Woody Allen once said) you too can have hot cockles.
Alun Willis, Woking, Surrey Posted 23/03/2011 at 17:28:56

back Return to the Mail Bag

Comments

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

Eric Myles
1 Posted 24/03/2011 at 01:11:58

Chang's appeal to the masses here in Thailand is because it's cheaper and stronger than the competition, 6.4% for the bottled stuff compared to 5% for Singha which is too sweet for my taste.

After 10 years of drinking Chang I'm trying to wean myself off it in a bid to cut down my alcohol consumption (by % rather than volume) but none of the others taste right in comparison.

Keith Edmunds
2 Posted 24/03/2011 at 02:13:33

Here in Melbourne Chang is readily available and I have on occassions partaken as a way of supporting our club.

I don't know if Singha or Quilme are available, but next time I'm in the bottle shop I'll have a look for them and in the interest of further research will report back.

Anyone able to broaden the research with further suggestions?

Michael Tracey
3 Posted 24/03/2011 at 04:13:57

I regularly travel to Udon Thani in North East Thailand from Laos where I live... and yes, Eric is right, Chang is the beer of choice for the majority of locals. I usually buy a case to take back with me to Laos although the local Lao rather cunningly named Beer Lao is a very nice drop as well. COYB!

Tony Cheek
4 Posted 24/03/2011 at 05:31:58

Had a holiday in Thailand a couple of years back, and done some intensive research on Chang, while my pussy of a mate drank Singha.
One thing I found rather strange is that I never got a hangover, despite researching really hard. Is this because one sweats it all out as you go?
If I had drunk half the amount here, I would need a fortnight to get over it.....strange!!

Russell Buckley
5 Posted 24/03/2011 at 06:49:58

Keith,

Singha and Quilme are both available in Brisbane.

But stuff those... Chang is on our jersey and it tastes better.

Jimmy Saville
6 Posted 24/03/2011 at 07:19:50

Tiger beer wins hands down! Nice and chilled.

Chris Bannantyne
7 Posted 24/03/2011 at 07:39:43

Chang isn't bad, got some in my garage as we speak.

Although I am very fond of Duvel

XXXX Bitter is my cheap booze of choice, even though I'm a New South Welshman

Derek Thomas
8 Posted 24/03/2011 at 07:47:07

Me and the rs brother-in-law did extensive research on Bangkok and Ko Samui.

Before we got 'Blind' we did a blind taste test.

"My round, Raymondo, you get the table and I'll get the beers." Thus duly purchased, I transfered them to glasses.

We both times went for the Singha.

I would really like to find Spieght's on draught in Brisbane, can anybody help?

But short of a tardis the is no way ever to get Draught Bass or Double Diamond.

Back in the day when I was easily lead astray by the aforementioned Raymondo, we used to end up doing Pints of DD with Pernod sinkers. Which then gave us a taste for the Wine Lodge.

Sigh.

Allan Barratt
9 Posted 24/03/2011 at 09:12:15

I found Tesco's in Netwon Aycliffe, County Durham selling Chang. the only other place in the North East I've found it was a Thai resturant in Bishop Auckland. So I stocked up & found it a 'canny drop!!'.

Adam Fenlon
10 Posted 24/03/2011 at 09:24:22

Chang seems to always be on special in BWS (Beer, Wine & Spirits) shops in Australia. I think it tastes better in Thailand though (maybe just cause it's fresher).

Tony Waring
11 Posted 24/03/2011 at 09:28:12

To judge from the comments most of you guys are probably a lot younger than this Blue. I can't stand these chemical concoctions. You can't beat Higsons bitter ? and never will because they stopped brewing it years ago ? but I can still see that sparkling pint sitting before me on the table, illuminated by the sun streaming through the window at the Crow's Nest where I was wont to visit post match. Now that's what you call a satisfying pint of nectar...

Come to think of it, those were the Saturdays when we always seemed to win matches with something to spare; or is that just the ale talking?

Peter Laing
12 Posted 24/03/2011 at 09:34:40

You can't beat a piss warm Chang decanted into a flimsy plastic glass at £3.50 a shot accompanied by a sausage roll ? mechanically reclaimed, following a 20 minute wait on the concourse of the Upper Bullens Road.

Dennis Stevens
13 Posted 24/03/2011 at 09:37:55

As somebody who's recently been "celebrating" the 40th anniversary of CAMRA [Campaign for Real Ale], I can only really relate to Tony's post. It's always sad to see the demise of a favourite ale, but then there's always some new micro-brewery bringing out a whole new range of real ales by way of replacement.

Growing up in the Midlands, my taste was for a pint of Mild & Bitter [or 'mixed', as it was termed locally], but now I reside down on the South Coast sightings of Mild are exceedingly rare & so I have reluctantly become a Bitter Blue!

Mike Hughes
14 Posted 24/03/2011 at 09:02:42

I will probably get blasted for being unglamorous here but I'm a working class bloke at heart and ? sorry ? draft or bottled Becks is superior to any of the beers mentioned here (though all beers are superior to the much-touted Budweiser which is tasteless and bland in my humble opinion).

However, I do drink Chang out of "brand loyalty" and never touch Carlsberg. (In Denmark a couple of years ago, I drank wine all night as Tuborg was unavailable as an alternative to Carlsberg.)

My extensive research has consistently concluded these findings and with the sage-like end-of-evening caveats that Phil Neville needs to improve his passing and that, as a team, we need to shoot more often from outside the box instead of trying to pass it in. And Arteta needs to beat the first man from corners and free kicks.

Michael Coffey
15 Posted 24/03/2011 at 09:44:07

I'm with Tony Waring on this one.

Apart from the taste issue, one troubling side effect of the Chang relationship has been the emergence of some poor bloke dressed as an Elephant as team mascot, on equal footing with the venerable Toffee Girl!

Apparently "Chang" is Thai for said animal. But then again, as a thick-skinned, loyal, slow, hard working and respected beast, whose rage is terrible to behold, could this new mascot have been introduced by BK to advertise the virtues we should be admiring in someone else...?

Phil Bellis
16 Posted 24/03/2011 at 09:49:02

Tony
memories...
Brown mixed
Worthington E - first bubbly beer
and my first pint of Double Diamond...2s/6d in the Little House on Smithdown Road
Happy days

Mike Hughes
17 Posted 24/03/2011 at 09:50:36

#11 Tony ? I used to drink Higsons in The Marine in Waterloo when I took my Dad for a couple of pints on a Sunday lunchtime circa 1997-1999. I agree it was the best of the bitters. Both my Dad and Higsons are sadly missed.

Eric Myles
18 Posted 24/03/2011 at 10:09:30

Dennis & Tony, I'm a seasoned bitter drinker myself but, when you're thousands of miles away from a drop of the stuff, you have to make do with the local elephants piss.

Mark Murphy
19 Posted 24/03/2011 at 10:32:51

Mike Hughes #14 ? I lived in Denmark in the 80s and loved the Tuborg.

Since the RS adopted Carlsberg, I quite happily continued my preference to Tuborg (although the Tuborg available here in the UK is a piss poor relation to the Dansk stuff) but imagine my horror when I discovered that Tuborg had been bought by Carlsberg anyway!
Tried Chang ? didn't like it ? so my foreign beer of choice is now Paulaner.

Mark Murphy
20 Posted 24/03/2011 at 10:38:15

Worthington E ? great stuff!

I had one of the big blue and white E beer pumps rigged up to my brakes on my old Viva HB so it lit up when I breaked. The coppers didnt like it though and insisted I should have a red bulb in it which defeated the object so after being stopped numerous times it had to go.

Jimmy Hacking
21 Posted 24/03/2011 at 10:42:30

I've only ever seen Chang in one shop in the Northwest of England: Booths super-posho independent supermarket in Knutsford.

I bought 2 bottles, thought it was excellent.

Lee Mandaracas
22 Posted 24/03/2011 at 10:40:38

I have a beer fridge in my log cabin and the only beer I will keep in there is Chang. I STILL refuse to put Carlsberg (spits to the side in disgust) in there and love it when my RS mates come over for the match and choose to drink Smirnoff Ice rather than lager because all I keep is Chang. lol

I buy it by the case from my local Bookers cash & carry but never seem to see it anywhere else in the Chelmsford area, either shops or bars ? sadly.

Keith Webley
23 Posted 24/03/2011 at 10:52:50

I find it ironic that we're sponsored by a brewery. The Park End redevelopment fiasco confirms that we couldn't organise the proverbial in one!

Mike Hughes
24 Posted 24/03/2011 at 12:16:18

#22 Lee ? Beer fridge? Log cabin?
I've got 6 tins of Skol in the shed.

Dennis Stevens
25 Posted 24/03/2011 at 12:34:59

Indeed, Keith, it is quite ironic when one considers how we were lead away from the Tory brewers at Anfield by the Liberal advocates of abstinence ? how times change.

Mark Hughes
26 Posted 24/03/2011 at 12:25:13

If anyone wants to get their hands on a bottle of Chang, try your local Asian goods store. There is a Thai shop that sells it just off the M53 on the Wirral, near Prenton.

John Hughes
27 Posted 24/03/2011 at 12:39:09

Blimey, Tony (#11), you brought back some nice memories there, the Crow's was a great pub and I could almost taste the Higgies reading your message.

I actually had a pint of "Higsons" bitter in Ma Boyles's about two years ago but on a visit there last month it had disappeared and no-one could remember how they come to stock it. I can only guess it was some sort of commemorative promotion.

I guess the Crow's is still going strong; I live in the Bristol area these days so have to put up with warm, flat stuff they peddle as beer!

Craig Taylor
28 Posted 24/03/2011 at 13:16:51

Stella!

Nick Entwistle
29 Posted 24/03/2011 at 13:34:26

Now for some West London appraisal of the beer in Notting Hill.

Chang is nowhere. Sure you can have a crappy Foster's at about the £3.10 mark, or the preferable HB at £3.90 and everything else in between. But if you want a delicious Paulaner, a pint will set you back about £4.20.

With the upturn in weather though, time to order in those gin and tonics. Lovely.

Tony J Williams
30 Posted 24/03/2011 at 13:39:45

Halleluhah Craig, nothing better than a pint of that old wife beater, mumbo juice Stella Illtwatyer. I often have enforced Stella bans, especially when the missus threatens to leave me if I turn up pissed again.

I actually loved it when Budweisser was at Goodison, rocket fuel in pint form. Those were the 4th-placed days when you had to queue for the beer 15 minutes before half-time and everyone was going mental.

One of the lads had to stop drinking it, as it nearly ended up in divorce. Loved it.

Colin Ryan
31 Posted 24/03/2011 at 14:17:33

Anyone know if i can get Chang in Dublin...wouldnt mind trying it out but have never seen it anywhere over here.

Eugene Ruane
32 Posted 24/03/2011 at 13:41:50

Alun, I hate (ie: love) to be a pedant, but if the Woody Allen cockles line you refer to, is from from 'Love And Death', it's actually 'nothing like hot cockles'

Sonja: "He kissed me".

Boris: "Any place I should know about?"

Sonja: "He warmed the cockles of my heart"
.
Boris: "That's just great. Nothing like hot cockles"

So not really a positive 'cockles spin' as he's gutted at having his heart broken'

It's as if Sonja is his Kenwright..erm...type stuff.

Guy Wilkinson
33 Posted 24/03/2011 at 14:48:39

Carlsberg, provided funding for the institute that worked on the German H-bomb during WW2.

Coincidentally Carlsberg used the swastika as part of their beer branding in the early twentieth century.

Coincidental to this thread, Carlsberg also used life-sized statues of elephants as their symbol at the factory.

Gerry Morrison
34 Posted 24/03/2011 at 15:18:44

Chang showed up in my local supermarket here in Los Angeles last year. Can't tell you how excited I was, until I took it home and tasted it. I suppose there is a market for it somewhere, but it will never replace beer.

Tony J Williams
35 Posted 24/03/2011 at 15:25:16

Must add that one of the lads I go the game with hates Chang so much that he drinks bitter now at half-time... and he detests bitter.

I suffer it but it tastes rank.

Christopher McCullough
36 Posted 24/03/2011 at 15:30:56

Reading this thread, it becomes clear that EFC does not give shit about fans' taste.

I look forward to the day when the royal blue jersies are emblazoned by the word 'Buckfast'. The noise level at Goodison and the Evertonian divorce rate will rise, concomitantly.

Sean McCarthy
37 Posted 24/03/2011 at 15:28:01

Don't you just love international breaks!!

Chris Keightley
38 Posted 24/03/2011 at 16:01:56

Give me a bottle of diamond white in a brown carrier bag anytime come on you dwunk!!!!!

Brian Waring
39 Posted 24/03/2011 at 17:07:03

It tastes like a keg has been connected up to the urinals at the ground, and then pulled off!

Peter Stone
40 Posted 24/03/2011 at 17:02:50

If anybody finds themselves in Cannes and needs a Chang, then this is the only place I have found that sells it in the South of France: http://www.sugartgalerie.fr

Enjoy!

Dennis Stevens
41 Posted 24/03/2011 at 17:11:19

Guy, that doesn't surprise me at all. I've long been convinced that A Hitler must have developed a liking for the reds during his sojourn in the city ? hence all those red flags!

David Hallwood
42 Posted 24/03/2011 at 18:13:49

This is one of the many, many things wrong with our marketing department. Agreed Chang tastes shite, but so does Fosters and it dosn't stop it from being drunk by the vat load.

I've only ever seen Chang at the match and Tescos, so why doesn't the club come to an agreement with Chang to raise the profile so that it's in every pub, club, supermarket and offy in Merseyside and North Wales, and for a small % the club will promote it.

OK it won't bring in millions but with what we bring into the club may contribute to keeping our up-and-coming players like Anichebe... On second thoughts.

Kenn Crawford
43 Posted 24/03/2011 at 18:13:54

Living in Australia, I drink anything other than the puerile chemically induced liquid that they sell as beer here. They serve it so cold that it hides its taste ? that's if it has one. My favourite beer when I was living in the Wirral was a pint of Younger's Tartan Bitter mmmmm but over here it's anything imported ? Becks, Stella, Carling, Grolsch. Damn, don't feel like going to work now !!!

Andy Crooks
44 Posted 24/03/2011 at 19:29:17

Craig Taylor, absolutely spot on. Here's a bit of advice (I may know fuck all about football but, right now, we are on my specialist subject): If you are going on the piss and fear for the next day, fear not. Before you go out, put a bottle of Stella in the fridge. Forget the paracetamol and water shit.

In the morning, brace yourself and drink the Stella like water. Get it down in no more than five gulps. For about a minute you will feel that you have seriously erred. Then a strangely comforting feeling will come over you and you will feel that all is well with the world. If you should vomit during this process, it is essential that you start again asap.

Peter Stone
45 Posted 24/03/2011 at 17:02:50

If anybody finds themselves in Cannes and needs a Chang, then this is the only place I have found that sells it in the South of France: http://www.sugartgalerie.fr

Enjoy!

John Meredith
46 Posted 24/03/2011 at 19:41:20

I lived in Thailand

Chang were forced two years back to put an alcohol percentage on the bottle. Previously it contained none and could be anything from 6% to 12% alcohol depending on what they felt like brewing on the day. It says 6.4% but they still use the same laidback brewing methods.

Moreover, Chang in Thailand also contains amphetamines for those of you who enjoy buzzing unwittingly.

The UK/European version of Chang complies to all official brewing standards, therefore it tastes totally different, and in my opinion like piss water.

Alex Kociuba
47 Posted 24/03/2011 at 20:22:04

"Chang in Thailand also contains amphetamines"?!

Sounds like an urban legend.

Thomas Williams
48 Posted 24/03/2011 at 23:25:47

Was given a free bottle in a pub in Chicago when Everton were over a couple of years ago, tasted like piss to be honest.

Craig Tomasinski
49 Posted 24/03/2011 at 23:50:15

I am an Aussie to enjoy my Carlton beers. Been on the Carlton Drys of late. I have not tried Chang but have seen it in the local Dan Murphys.

Best beers are the German ones. Love a good Lowenbrau, Augustiner or Becks. Can drink loads of the stuff and not get a hangover. Although I am a little biased about the Augustiner as I met my missus in the Augustiner beer garden.

Eric Myles
50 Posted 25/03/2011 at 08:48:12

Alex #47, it's more than an urban legend, it's complete elephant shit.

And, at the time John is talking about, NO beer in Thailand had the alcohol content on it.

The reason Chang has elephants on it is because it used to be brewed by Carlsberg.

James Reade
51 Posted 25/03/2011 at 12:41:55

If like Mike #14 you wish to avoid lining Carlsberg's pockets, and therefore indirectly funding the RS, then here is a list (apart from the obvious beer bearing their name) to avoid:

Aldaris (Latvia)
?vyturis (Lithuania)
Utenos (Lithuania)
Semper Ardens
Kuche Kuche (Malawi)
San Miguel (UK)
Mythos (Greece)
Wusu (Northwest China)
Elephant
Special brew
Tuborg (Regional)
Tetley (UK)
Halida Beer (Vietnam)
Holsten (Germany)
Astra (Germany)
Lav (Serbia)
Feldschlösschen (Switzerland)
Cardinal Lager (Switzerland)
Baltika (Russia)
Pripps (Sweden)
Carnegie Porter (Sweden)
Falcon (Sweden)
Karhu (Finland)
Koff (Finland)
Ringnes (Norway)
Frydenlund (Norway)
Dahls (Norway)
Arendals (Norway)
Nordlands (Norway)
Tou (Norway)
Okocim (Poland)
Bosman (Poland)
Piast (Poland)
Kasztelan (Poland)
Harna? (Poland)
Pan (Croatia)
Pirinsko and Shumensko (Bulgaria)
Saku (Estonia)
Splügen and Bock 1877 (Italy)
Ramlösa (Sweden)
Troy and Venüs (Turkey).
Saxon Beer (Gluten-free beer)
Jacobsen
Vole (Turkey).
Behnoush (Iran)
Kronenbourg (France)
Lvivske (Ukraine)
Slavutych (Ukraine)
Arsenal (Ukraine)
Khmilne (Ukraine)

Ironically Chang was also on this list until 2005 as it was a joint venture between Carlsberg and ThaiBev, but thankfully Carlsberg pulled out in 2005!

Alternatively, if you're really thirsty........

Noel Lynam
52 Posted 25/03/2011 at 13:59:19

Colin Ryan @ 31

Try Oddbinns in Blackrock - they sometimes stock it.

Les Martin
53 Posted 25/03/2011 at 17:10:13

Everton, the People's Club; Chang, the people's beer, in Thailand anyway, along with Leo it's what the rural folk drink, and very robust it is too, not for the faint-hearted and if you are lilly-livered... well stick to that sterile John Smith keg shite.

As for those in need of enlightenment, a lot has been mentioned about beer but if you venture into the heart of Cheshire or find yourself in Harkers in Chester on a race day, may I suggest you try Weetwood's Cheshire Cat bitter, probably the best bitter in the world... Oh how I envy the first timer. And forget the races as you will never leave the bar...

Chris Leyland
54 Posted 25/03/2011 at 23:00:37

Chang plentiful in Tesco in Formby and Southport and online for home delivery in two sizes:

Chang Beer 640 mL
Rest of World Beers shelf ? £2.09

Chang 330 mL
Rest of World Beers shelf ? £1.46

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment to the MailBag, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and MailBag submissions across the site.