Phra Aphai Mani
Mardi Craft Brewing Co.

This came from a random Phuket 7-11 in January 2026. Transported back to Australia and drunk in April 2026 as the final bottle of my Thai collection.

An excellent-looking pour. The beer is a slightly hazy, bright lemony-yellow, topped by a thick, moussy white head with impressive staying power. A lively swirl of bubbles rises steadily up the glass, giving it a fresh and energetic look.

The nose is bold and inviting, offering big, creamy notes of coriander and clove, followed by a hint of citrus peel. It promises a classic, spice-forward wheat beer experience.

The palate initially follows the promise of the nose, with coriander hitting big upfront and cloves arriving toward the back of the swallow. Underneath, subtle notes of citrus peel and lemongrass provide a nice foundation. However, the aftertaste is long and leans heavily into a cloying sweetness. This is a bit of a letdown for the style; instead of the crisp, thirst-quenching finish you’d expect from a great wheat beer, the sweetness begins to overwhelm the spices by the midpoint of the glass. The cloves take a backseat, and the coriander starts to feel syrupy rather than spicy.

The texture is a highlight. It feels smooth, silky, and quite luxurious on the tongue, which is exactly what you want from a well-made wheat beer. The carbonation is suitably restrained, supporting that velvety feel.

This is an "almost" beer. While the appearance, aroma, and body are spot on, the flavour profile eventually falters. The sweetness is dialled just a bit too high, and without a crisp bitterness or a sharp carbonic bite to cut through it, the beer becomes a bit of a chore to finish. It starts with a great spice-loaded hit but ends up feeling unbalanced.

Cheers!
#818