Pondicherry is best known for its pristine beaches, vibrant promenades, Instagram-worthy cafes, and picturesque streetscapes. While there are plenty of famous cafes here, Pondicherry has an underrated brewing scene. However, things are changing, and if there’s one microbrewery putting the beach town on the brewing map of India, it has to be Catamaran Brewing Company. Here’s all you need to know about Pondicherry’s first microbrewery!
How Catamaran Brewing Company Came To Be
The brewery was inaugurated in September 2021 and initially it was only known amongst the youngsters who visited Pondicherry. Over the years, the brewery has managed to garner more and more footfalls as curious brewing enthusiasts visit the establishment in large numbers today. This is also because the brewery has something to offer to every age group, making the experience inclusive for all.
Ranga and Durga Prasad founded the microbrewery in 2021, however the journey began quite before 2021. Prasad was working at a Fortune 100 company when he began exploring the world of home-brewing. Eventually, he fell in love with this craft during his time at Blackstar Brewing in Austin, Texas. His passion for brewing led him back to India, where he decided to set base in Pondicherry.
Catamaran Brewing Company’s Offerings
Catamaran started by serving four different beer varieties – namely, Indian Summer, Chingari Cider, Vox Populi, and Pondypils. Indian Summer is a Belgian-style wheat beer while Cingari Cider is a low body, sweet and tart apple cider. Vox Populi is a crisp dark lager with hints of caramel and toffee while Pondypils is a light bodied Pilsner with a sweet and malty character.
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After a thunderous response to these varieties, the brewery introduced two new styles – Hopsunami and Heyhefe. While Hopsunami is an Indian pale ale with earthy and grassy notes, Heyhefe is a medium-bodied hefeweizen. A striking feature of the latter is that it is a medium-bodied beverage with hints of wheat, clove, and banana, as well as bubble gum at the end! Now that is what we call an explosion of flavors!
The brewery has experimented with plenty of floral and aromatic brews and has succeeded each time. For summer, the brewery has earlier produced Mango Cider from Alphonso Mangoes, Pomelo Seltzer from pomelo fruits, as well as Siragasamba Rice Lager from a traditional rice species. The list just doesn’t end there – the brewery has been super creative when it comes to integrating Indian flavors into their craft beer. Guava Cider, Jamun Pale Ale, Black Rice Lager, and Hibiscus Sour Ale are a few of their innovations.
The Brewing Philosophy Of Catamaran Brewing Company
At the heart of their brewing philosophy lies a commitment to their craft, championed by Head Brewer Suryakant Singh. The team goes beyond the ordinary and combines premium imported malts and hops with locally sourced ingredients. This not only crafts a premium tasting craft beer, but also highlights the rich, coastal flavor of Pondicherry and the surrounding regions.
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Their craft beer uses exotic flavors extracted from local fruits, wheat, spices, roots, and edible flowers. Their aim is to produce world-class craft beer by highlighting local flavors through their offerings.
Also, did you know that they allow you to take their brews back home in their zero cost bottles. You can also opt for their sleek and stainless steel reusable bottles – with unlimited refills. This is a great sustainable initiative by the brand as it reduces the need for single-use packaging. Talk about a craft beer experience that is green and clean!
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Catamaran: A Place For Fun Nights And Good Food
If you think that the brewery is good only for its craft beer, you might have to think again. The brewery is known for hosting some of the most exciting events every now and then. Be it live karaoke parties, movie screenings, or frequent happy hour parties, there are events almost every week. Not just that, but they also host special events such as the Burger & Beer Festival that was organized in March 2025. This festival featured some of the juiciest burgers made in-house and served with their signature brews.
The list doesn’t end there – the brewery also has special offers and events on days like International Women’s Day, Holi, and Valentines Day. If you are a cricket fan and love to watch the sport surrounded by cricket enthusiasts, then you must visit the establishment during cricket tournaments like the Indian Premier League. Exciting offers, delicious food, and a lively atmosphere makes cricket viewing even more enjoyable at Catamaran.
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Summing Up
Catamaran Brewing Company is Pondicherry’s first microbrewery that is putting the coastal beach town on the craft brewing map of India. With its decadent aromatic and fruity brews, the brewery is taking innovative brewing to a whole new level. So, the next time you’re in Pondicherry, make sure to visit the brewery!
