In 2014, the Craft Brewers Association of India was founded, and what a noble cause it has — to promote and advance the brewing revolution in cities throughout India. And this month, there’s something extra special breweing. A few member breweries across India have collectively released their Indie Brews – a selection of fruit based lagers and ales. Here is what you can expect on tap here in Bangalore.
Something’s Brewing And It’s ‘Indie’ Fruit-Infused Beers
Smoked Mango Ale, Arbor Brewing Company
The new Smoked Mango Ale is copper coloured with a nice fluffy head and good carbonation. The aroma is dominated with smoked malt aka bacon with a very faint hint of mango. The flavour is similar with smoky-meets-sweet of the mango, but the medium bodied beer finished slightly bitter thanks to the hops. Overall — the combination is a bit bizarre and perhaps maybe a conflict in flavour to some but a delight to the palate for others. Only one way to find out — give it a try!
Where: Arbor Brewing Company, 8, 3rd Floor, Allied Grande Plaza, diagonally opposite Garuda Mall, Magrath Road
Price: INR 1,200 for two
Contact: +91 8050144477
Timings: Sunday-Thursday from noon-11.30pm, Friday and Saturday from noon-1am
Find them on Facebook here.
Check out their website here.
Orangina, The Biere Club
The Orangina is a light bodied, crispy lager that has hints of orange on the nose with good carbonation. The flavour starts of with orange notes, low hop bitterness and finishes warm and spicy from the black pepper that has been added to this brew. Refreshing and warming, it is a good fit for the rainy weather we have been having here in Bangalore lately.
Where: Find The Biere Club near you here.
Price: INR 1,800 for two
When: Sunday to Thursday, noon-11.30 pm, Friday-Saturday, noon-1am
Contact: +91 7259906666
Find them on Facebook here.
Check out the website here.
Kiwi, Saison, 153 Biere Street
What the Biere Club excels at is fruit-based ales such as Kiwi Saison. Saison’s are French/Belgian farmhouse ales that are easy drinking, fruity and spicy with a nice dry finish. The kiwi fruit adds a slight tartness to this wonderful brew that has almost run out, so one must hurry to try it.
Where: 153, Biere Street, Next to Prestige Ozone, Behind Forum Value Mall, Whitefield
Price: INR 1,600 for two
Contact: +91 9845887454
Timings: Sunday-Thursday, 3pm-11pm and Friday-Saturday, 3pm-midnight
Follow them on Facebook here.
Check out their website here.
The Mosambi Wheat, Toit
They’ve conjured up The Mosambi Wheat and you will have to let this Hefeweizen warm up to get hints of citrus on the nose besides the normal banana profile from the Hefe yeast. Cloudy, straw yellow, this one is unfiltered with moderate head retention. Medium bodied, sweet and fruity with hints of the sweet lime citrus notes initially and ending with the bitterness from the lemon peels. Overall the mosambi is very subtle, too subtle to really stand out. Easy drinking and refreshing no doubt.
Where: 298, 100 Feet Road, Near KFC Restaurant, Indiranagar
When: Sunday-Thursday from noon-11.30pm, Friday and Saturday from noon-1am
Price: INR 1,500 for two
Contact: +91 9019713388
Find them on Facebook here.
Check out their website here.
Pineapple Basil Ale, Brewsky
The Pineapple Basil Ale is testament to the fact that the brewer at Brewsky loves to innovate. Refreshing, easy drinking with the tartness from the pineapple and sweetness from the basil balance out this unique brew. The thought of this beer should send you puckering. Brewsky did also brew a smoked mango ale but has run short on supply.
Where: Brewsky, 4th and 5th Floor,Goenka Chambers, 19th Main Road, Jeewan Griha Colony, 2nd Phase, J P Nagar
Price: INR 1,500 for two
Contact: +91 8880075000
Timings: 11.30am-11.30pm
Follow them on Facebook here.
#LBBTip
Remember to call ahead to see if these beers are on tap as they’re all in limited quantity.
Find more information of the Craft Brewers Association of India here.