Craft beers have a special place in the hearts of beer lovers. These are fresher and available in tons of different varieties compared to bottled beers. It’s really fun to experiment with some unique flavors. These beers are special, like clothes from a boutique store instead of those mass produced ones from H&M. Don’t take this the wrong way, we like H&M and there’s nothing wrong with bottled beer, it’s just that there are more reasons to like craft beers. Here are some unique Indian craft beers that are too tempting to resist.
Kickass Craft Beers You Must Try
- Smooth Criminal At Arbor Brew Company
- Belgian Witbier At Doolally
- Dark Stout Rises at The Drunken Botanist
- Toit India Pale Ale At Toit
- Hefeweizen At Effingut
1. Smooth Criminal At Arbor Brew Company
Arbor Brew Company became India’s first American craft brewery when it opened in 2012. Over the years, they managed to strike a chord with the beer lovers in India with hit brews like Bangalore Bliss and Raging Elephant IPA. All these are great, our favorite is Smooth Criminal. Come on, you have to agree that it’s one of the coolest names for a beer. It is apt as well because it goes down very easily while satisfying your taste buds.
Smooth Criminal is brewed with lavender flowers and honey, just thinking about the combination makes us crave it right now. It’s not just sweet and delicious, with 8% alcohol content, this one packs a punch.
Timing: Everyday – From 12 pm to 12:30 am
Address: 8, 3rd Floor, Allied Grande Plaza, Diagonally, Opposite Garuda Mall, Brigade Road, Bangalore.
Rates: ₹215 for a pint (approximate price)Â
Also Read: Most Expensive Beer Brands In India
2. Belgian Witbier At Doolally
It is impossible to talk about Indian craft beers without mentioning Mumbai’s Doolally. I don’t know who came up with this awesome name, but I want this person to name my child. Along with creating kick-ass craft beers, this is a great place to play board games, quizzes and more. Doolally can easily be your happy place, but the main reason for our happiness is its Belgian Witbier.
It is a beautiful brew with hints of different spices and citrusy orange. It has a friendly light orange color and 5% ABV, so you can expect a smooth light buzz. For those who like their beers light and easy on the throat, this one’s for you.
Timing: Everyday – From 9 am to 12 am
Address: Multiple venues in Mumbai – Khar, Kemps Corner, and Veera Desai.
Rates: INR 300 for a pint
Also Read: What Is Craft Beer? Your Ultimate Guide
3. Dark Stout Rises at The Drunken Botanist
We like the clever play on name which takes inspiration from the super hit Batman movie. Just like the film, this beer is exciting and dark. It packs nice rich and thick notes of coffee and coco. With every sip that you down, it will leave a lingering roasted taste on your tongue. Enjoy this dark wonder in the cool ambiance of the Drunken Botanist.
The place does look like a botanist’s lab and it turns into a proper party destination thanks to live music performances and hip DJs. This is why the Drunken Botanist is one of the reasons that makes Gurugram’s nightlife pulsating and fun.
Timing: Everyday – From 12 pm to 1 am
Address: Building No 10, Tower C, Ground Floor, Unit 1B 1C, DLF Cyber City, DLF Phase 2, Sector 24, Gurugram, Haryana 122001.
Rates: INR 425 for 550 ml and INR 1,245 for 1600 ml
Also Read: How To Pair Beer With Food
4. Toit India Pale Ale At Toit
Toit began in 2010, in Bangalore and branched out to delight the craft beer lovers in Mumbai and Pune. They managed to get the food and the ambience right and hit the bullseye when it came to beers. It is really hard to pick a favorite here, but this is exactly what moms who have given birth to more than one kid say. We all know they have a favorite one, they always do. Let’s focus on the beer again. At Toit, we love Toit India Pale Ale the most.
At its heart, it is an English Pale Ale with 4.9% ABV that’s further enhanced with high malt and hop aroma. To make it even more special, there’s also a strong caramel flavor and slight bitterness. If you love the classic English Pale Ale you will want to marry this one.
Timing: Everyday – From 8:30 am to 1:30 am
Address: Multiple venues in India – Sanaswadi, Near Pune. Indiranagar, Bangalore. Nelamangala, Near Bangalore.
Rates: INR 220 for 500 ml
Also Read: Famous Beers Around The World
5. Hefeweizen At Effingut
Lucky for the people in Mumbai, most of the fantastic Indian craft beers are available in this city and Effingut is no expectation. This brewery created a name for itself by offering top notch drinks that are innovative and satisfying. A shining example of this is Hefeweizen. It is a medium body Bavarian wheat beer with the unique flavors of cloves and bananas. You will also find some hints of bubblegum.
This 5% ABV drink is indeed a one of a kind combination that turned out to be a major hit. Every trip to Effingut confuses us because they have so many great options to choose from, but Hefeweizen continues to be a permanent fixture on our table.
Timing: Everyday – From 12 pm to 1:30 am
Address: Multiple locations in Mumbai and Pune – Bandra West, Mumbai. Colaba, Mumbai. Koregaon Park, Pune. Baner, Pune. Kothrud, Pune.
Rates: INR 245 for a small glass, INR 365 for a large glass, and INR 1,245 for pitcher.
Also Read: 6 Beers In Goa To Quench Your Alcoholic Thirst
Summing Up
Everything, no matter how awesome it is, has downsides. You see, craft beers are not available everywhere and because every brewery has its recipe, you won’t get that same taste at a different one. Most of these are also costlier than bottled beers. Even with all this, craft beers deserve all the love they can get! So what are you waiting for, get your fill soon.
FAQs
What Is Considered A Craft Beer?
These beers are made by craft breweries and are produced in smaller quantities as compared to manufacturers like Kingfisher and Budweiser. Craft beers also have much more varied flavors. They are usually created using malted barley and other traditional ingredients along with other items that are not generally used by other manufacturers like flowers and fruits.
What Is The Difference Between Craft Beer And Normal Beer?
Normal beer or bottled beers are mass produced while craft beers are produced in comparatively smaller batches. Craft beers have flavor and they have a freshness that you can taste. They have more variety and they usually cost more than bottled beers.
Are Craft Beers Stronger?
No, they are the same as bottled beers in terms of potency. You can find light, medium, and strong craft beers as well as bottled beers.
Can Craft Beer Be Non-Alcoholic?
Yes, it is possible to make non-alcoholic beverages, but it is hard to find non-alcoholic craft beers in India.
Is Craft Beer Healthier Than Regular Beer?
Yes, it is because they both have different brewing processes. This is why craft beers end up with more antioxidants, phenols, folate, and nitrogen.
Can Craft Beer Get You Drunk?
Oh yes! It is because they still have alcohol content.
Is Craft Beer Popular In India?
Yes, and its popularity is steadily rising every year. Indians are finding craft beers more interesting because these offer flavors that were never available before.
Which Is The No 1 Beer In India?
Beers by Kingfisher have consistently been the most popular and most sold beers in India.
