Did your mind just go “Oo La La La Le O” as you read Kingfisher? Well, we are sure it did. This well-known jingle is iconic and will always be linked to the brand, reflecting its significant impact. Kingfisher has established itself as one of the leading beer brands in India, boasting a rich history and a diverse range of variants that cater to everyone's taste preferences. At unsobered, we thought about taking you on a flight into the world of Kingfisher to explore its history, pricing, and variants.
Kingfisher beer, owned by United Breweries, was launched in 1857, when India’s five breweries (UB) decided to come together in order to change the beer scene in India. They wanted to come up with a beer that is refreshing, light, and most importantly, perfect for India’s hot climate.
This beer was made by the company behind Kingfisher, named United Breweries. United Breweries used European techniques but also added their own twist to create a taste that suited the Indian climate and palate.
Initially, British soldiers were the primary customers of the beverage. After India gained independence, its popularity spread throughout the country. In 1978, Mr. Vijay Mallya officially launched the Kingfisher brand, which quickly became the best-selling beer in India.
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The brand’s logo features a vibrant depiction of a Kingfisher bird in flight, symbolizing key values such as energy, youthfulness, freshness, and freedom. Originally designed as a perched bird, the logo underwent a major redesign to feature the bird soaring, reflecting a sense of dynamism and optimism.
Kingfisher beers are predominantly brewed in India, with production also taking place in Europe (specifically the UK) under license, ensuring that the same beloved recipe delivers a consistent taste worldwide. True to its tagline, “The Real Taste of India,” the brand strives to maintain high-quality flavors that resonate globally.
Known for being an easy-to-drink beer, Kingfisher is a popular choice found at various social gatherings, from lively parties to bustling bars. Despite the advertising restrictions on alcohol in India, Vijay Mallya and his team cleverly leveraged surrogate advertising and innovative marketing strategies to promote the brand effectively.
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Kingfisher Premium, the original beer where all the story began, is a classic crisp, clean-tasting lager. It has about 4.8% alcohol content. This drink is popular and iconic for its refreshing and balanced malt profile.
Kingfisher Strong is a comparatively stronger beer than the premium one. With robust flavor and higher alcohol content (around 7.5%), this variant is completely suitable for those who prefer full-bodied brews.
Kingfisher Ultra is a premium smooth lager that is actually filtered through 6 steps. This process gives it a silky texture with a mild bitterness and around 4.9% alcohol. This variant is popular among people for premium occasions.
Kingfisher Ultra Max is the strongest offering in the Ultra range by Kingfisher. It has around 7.5%-8% alcohol and is known to deliver the intense maltiness balanced with slight bitterness.
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Kingfisher Ultra Witbier is a very unique witbier variety. This is because it is infused with citrus and coriander. These ingredients give the drink a zesty, refreshing flavor with about 4.9% alcohol.
Kingfisher Storm is another strong beer variant and boasts around 8% alcohol. It has a very smooth texture, but at the same time is very powerful.
All the variants are available in cans (500ml), pints (330ml), and bottles (650ml).
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Variants (650 ml) | Mumbai | Delhi | Kolkata | Bengaluru |
Kingfisher Premium | INR 180 | INR 145 | INR 140 | INR 180 |
Kingfisher Ultra | INR 220 | INR 170 | INR 180 | INR 160 |
Kingfisher Strong | INR 190 | INR 180 | INR 160 | INR 190 |
Kingfisher Ultra Max | INR 240 | INR 190 | INR 190 | INR 235 |
Kingfisher Storm | INR 200 | INR 160 | INR 160 | INR 150 |
Kingfisher Ultra Witbier | INR 210 | INR 240 | INR 200 | INR 235 |
The diverse range of alcohol taste and strength profiles offered by Kingfisher, from light lager to strong beers, makes it one of the most versatile beer brands in India. Kingfisher’s history, variants, and brand impact are a testimony to the fact that the brand is known to be India’s most iconic beer brand.