Remember how a couple of years ago, the concept of flavored beers only existed outside of India? We were just stuck with the general and the boring malt flavors. Some of us who didn’t even like the taste of beer were stuck with these limited options. Now that breweries have found their market, Mumbai is now filled with a ton of great places that offer well-crafted beers with a flavourful twist.
Breweries used the base of craft beers to showcase their brewing talents. It is the fact that craft beers are produced in small batches, that has helped brewers to experiment with a multitude of flavors and styles that could possibly be infused in beer. Here are some of the best flavors that are available in Mumbai.
Best Craft Beer Flavors in Mumbai To Try
- Earl Grey and Darjeeling Tea Beer, The Bombay Canteen
- Coffee Beer, Doolally
- Mocha Stout, Gateway Taproom
- Mango Beer, The White Owl
- White Zen, Gateway Brewing Co.
- Irish Craic, Drifters Brewing Company
- Rauch Bier, Doolally
1. Tea Flavored Beer, The Bombay Canteen
If you are a tea fanatic or enjoy spending your Sunday afternoons with some soothing tea, then this flavor could be your next favorite thing. The Bombay Canteen presents two flavors – Earl Grey and Darjeeling tea-infused beer that aims to put you in the most delightfully appeased mood. It’s called the Darling-jee that contains 5% ABV in the pale-looking ale. This concoction has notes of orange and citrus, that start with sweet and tend towards slight bitterness.
Address: Unit-1, Process House, S.B. Road, Kamala Mills, Near Radio Mirchi Office Lower, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013
Cost: INR 275-295 for a pint
2. Coffee Beer, Doolally
Calling all coffee lovers to come check out this flavor from Doolally’s. This beer called the Coffee Porter, is made with carefully selected coffee beans that are freshly roasted and incorporated into the beer. The top notes include coffee beans, cocoa nibs, and vanilla, that end with base notes of smoke and malt. Don’t stop at a venti, upgrade to a bottomless goblet, because it’s never going to be enough.
Address: Multilink House, 3rd Road, Khar, Ram Krishna Nagar, Khar West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400052
Cost: INR 550 for 1 liter
Also Read: Mead Vs Beer: What’s The Difference?
3. Mocha Stout, Gateway Taproom
You can never go wrong with chocolate. The Gateway Brewery has successfully managed to come up with the right mix of coffee and chocolate and present us with this blissful concoction.
This beer style comes from the collaboration between Independence Brewing Co. and Gateway Taproom, where they take Kaapi Stout and blend it with IBC’s chocolate stout, called Ixcacao. The kaapi provides a balanced coffee aroma, while Ixcacao adds bourbon vanilla essence to it. This blend is bittersweet to taste and contains 5% ABV.
Address: Ground Godrej Unit No. 3, G Block Road, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400051
Cost: INR 385 for a pint
4. Mango Lassi Beer, Bira 91
Two things you can’t go wrong with in India, the refreshing lassi to keep you cool, and the delicious national fruit of India, mangoes. The combination of these two ingredients of summer combined with some classic beer, what else is even needed on a hot summer day?
This beer is a milkshake-style alcoholic beverage of 4.5% ABV. It’s not as bitter to taste, so if you’re not a beer person, this one would be a good point to start.
Address: Available in retail stores across the city
Cost: INR 140 for a pint
Also Read: The New Cool: Around The world In Craft Beers
5. White Zen, Gateway Brewing Co.
Gateway Brewing Co. has done it again! White Zen is a German-style beer that is infused with clove and banana. White Zen is a wordplay on how this beer is pronounced in Germany, which is Hefeweizen. Gateway Brewery also mentions that this beer signifies the state of zen, meaning at ease and undisturbed. The smoothness of the banana hints at ease while consuming this beer. It contains 5% ABV, with fruit, spice, malt, and bitter aroma as its main notes.
Address: Available across various locations in Mumbai and online at www.gatewaybrewery.com
Cost: INR 265 for a glass
6. Irish Craic, Drifters Brewing Company
Also known as the Irish Red Ale, this flavor is named after the characteristics and color of the malt. It’s got all the Irish-esque flavors infused in one drink. It leans toward a more silky caramel, with toffee-like sweetness. Doesn’t that remind you of Harry Potter’s famous Butterbeer? This one gets very close to the original butterbeer flavor. So just put some whipped cream on top, and transport yourself into the wintry town of Hogsmeade.
Address: Available in various outlets across the city as well as at driftersbrews.com
Cost: INR 575 for 1 liter
7. Rauch Bier, Doolally
Tastes like smokey bacon? Can’t be good, can it? Hold on, don’t skip over this. We have included this one for a reason. It is not only a unique flavor for Indians, this one is the only savory option on the list. This flavor from Doolally is often described to be whiskey-ish, bacon-like, and smoky to taste. It’s made from smoked malt over an open flame. The beer contains 5% ABV and tastes like someone burnt the whiskey. It’s good, though.
Address: C18-21 Dalia Industrial Estate Near, Fun Republic Road, Off New Link Rd, Veera Desai Industrial Estate, Andheri West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400053
Cost: INR 550 for 1 liter
Also Read: ‘Beer’ Das – Vir Das Launches His Own Range Of Craft Beer: FAAAKIT!
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1. Breakfast Cereal Stout, Goa Brewing Company
Ah, the sweet and basic taste of breakfast cereal seems like wishful thinking as a flavor for beer, but the brewers have decided to give it a shot. This beer is much lighter on the taste buds and mainly contains an oaty feel. It also highlights some milky notes as well as hints of chocolate for a sweet and smooth taste. If you’re not looking for anything heavy, this one could be an optimum choice. The ABV lies below 5% for this one.
Address: Goa Brewing Company is located in Goa, but the beer is available online.
Cost: INR 280 per pint
2. Kokum Gose, Susegado
Kokum sorbet is a goan specialty that is served along with the main course, but can also be enjoyed as a solitary drink. Susegado decided that no one deserves to be alone. Providing beer as a worthy companion, they have created a flavor that beats all the odds. The kokum infused into the beer adds a notorious salty taste that still circles the sweetness and bitterness of the original base. It’s fruity, it’s tarty, it’s salty, it’s amazing.
Address: Susegado is located in Goa, but the beer is available online.
Cost: INR 150 for a pint
Also Read: 7 International Beers Available In India That Are Worth A Try
Summing Up
It’s time to put cocktails and flavored liqueurs on the back burner and enjoy the variety of flavors beer has come to offer. Why not try all the flavors? Who knows, you might just find your next favorite drink.
If you’re a wild beer explorer, also check out other flavors offered by these breweries. Keep in mind that some flavors can be seasonal or one-time specials. So rush! You don’t want to miss these.
FAQs
How Many Types Of Craft Beer Are There?
There are about 100 types and flavors of craft beers currently available all over the world. Most of the breweries experiment with different flavors and provide seasonal options throughout the year.
How Do You Flavour Craft Beer?
There are various ways to infuse flavor in craft beer. The most common is the addition of flavor before the brewing process so it perfectly combines with the style of beer.
Why Is Beer Called Craft?
This is beer made by craft breweries. These beers are produced in small batches and sometimes contain experimental flavors. Craft breweries are small-scale or home breweries that focus on the art of brewing rather than meeting commercial needs.
What Is The Main Flavor Of Beer?
Beer is made with cereal or grain as the base alcohol and contains hops. It is usually malty and bitter to taste. It is also sometimes considered to have an acidic taste to it.
Is Craft Beer Tasty?
Due to added flavors, craft beers are much tastier and easier to drink. Some of the craft beers are much lighter and smoother to consume as well. If you’re a first-timer, you can experiment first with craft beers before moving to stronger beer options.
Is Bira A Craft Beer?
Bira 91 is a craft beer company that is managed by B9 Beverages Pvt. Ltd. They provide a variety of flavors and styles of beer. Their most popular flavors are mango, berry, kokum sour, and brown ale.
