When the mercury climbs past comfort, beer lovers crave something light, bright, and full of zest. Enter the fruit beer - where malt meets mango, hops meet berries, and sour meets sweet. These beers don’t just quench thirst; they carry the spirit of summer itself.
From India’s own kokum- and mango-infused ales to Belgian raspberry lambics and American citrus roses, fruit beers offer a refreshing escape from heavy malts and high bitterness. They’re effervescent, playful, and bursting with flavors that feel tailor-made for a tropical afternoon.
So, if the season’s heat demands a cool companion, here are seven fruit beers that make the perfect summer sip - some brewed in India, others world-class imports worth seeking out.
Style: Wheat ale brewed with mango
ABV: 4.5%
Brewery: Bira 91, India
Why it works: Part of Bira’s Imagined in India series, the Mango Lassi Ale channels India’s favorite summer flavor - ripe mango - into a soft, easy-drinking beer. Officially described as a “Lassi Ale brewed with mango,” it balances gentle fruit sweetness with a creamy wheat base. The result? A dessert-like but refreshing brew that mirrors the comfort of a chilled mango lassi on a hot day.
Best enjoyed: Straight from the fridge, around 6–8 °C, with light kebabs or spicy chaats.
Style: Sour ale with kokum
ABV: 4.5%
Brewery: Bira 91, India
Why it works: The Kokum Sour is a celebration of coastal India. Kokum (Garcinia indica) is a tangy, deep-red fruit used in traditional solkadhi and summer coolers. Bira captures that tartness in a crisp, kettle-soured ale that’s naturally refreshing and lightly acidic - ideal for tropical heat.
Best enjoyed: Well chilled, alongside seafood curries or coconut-based dishes.
Style: Stout with tropical fruit and coffee notes
ABV: 8%
Brewery: Simba Breweries, India
Why it works: While not a fruit-beer in the literal sense, Simba’s Tropical Stout uses roasted malts and fruity yeast esters to evoke natural hints of banana, plum, and dark berries. The tropical nuance adds a lush sweetness that softens its boldness - making it a surprisingly smooth companion for late-summer evenings.
Best enjoyed: Slightly cool (10–12 °C), with smoky grilled meats or chocolate desserts.
Style: Raspberry lambic
ABV: 2.5%
Brewery: Lindemans Brewery, Belgium
Why it works: A world classic, this Belgian lambic is fermented with wild yeasts and macerated with raspberry juice. Its vivid ruby color, sparkling body, and tart-sweet profile make it feel like a natural cooler - perfect for hot afternoons. With just 2.5% ABV, it’s one of the lightest beers around.
Best enjoyed: Very cold, in a tulip glass; pairs beautifully with desserts, salads, or fresh fruit.
Style: Fruited gose (sour wheat with citrus and salt)
ABV: 4.2%
Brewery: Anderson Valley Brewing Company, California
Why it works: A modern twist on the German gose style, this beer adds blood orange to the mix of tart wheat, sea salt, and coriander. The result is crisp, citrusy, and lightly saline - a flavor profile that instantly revives you in humid weather.
Best enjoyed: Ice-cold, with seafood, ceviche, or spicy Indo-Chinese fare.
Style: Wheat beer brewed with fresh watermelon
ABV: 4.5%
Brewery: Jing-A Brewing Co., Beijing
Why it works: This seasonal wheat beer uses real watermelon to lend delicate sweetness and aroma to a light, effervescent base. It’s brewed for Beijing’s scorching summers and its flavor logic works just as well for India’s.
Best enjoyed: Chilled, with summer salads or grilled paneer.
Style: Fruited India Pale Ale
ABV: 6%
Brewery: Arbor Brewing Company India, Bengaluru
Why it works: Guava lends tropical sweetness and perfume to the hop bitterness of an IPA. Arbor’s Guava IPA (available seasonally at its Bengaluru brewpub) balances fruity roundness with a clean, bitter finish - refreshing but bold.
Best enjoyed: Slightly chilled, with spicy grills or tacos.
Fruit beers are more than novelty brews - they’re bottled sunshine. From Bira 91’s homegrown Mango Lassi and Kokum Sour to international favorites like Lindemans Framboise and Anderson Valley Gose, these beers prove that fruit can bring balance, refreshment, and a hint of playfulness to brewing. Light in alcohol but rich in flavor, they turn the sweltering Indian summer into a season worth toasting.
