Indian Craft Beer Is Having a Moment — Here Is Where to Start

For most of India's beer-drinking history, the choice was simple: Kingfisher or Kingfisher Strong. Perhaps a Tuborg if you were feeling international. The idea of Indian-made beer with real character, diverse styles, and small-batch quality was almost non-existent.

That has changed dramatically in the last decade.

India now has a genuine, growing, and genuinely exciting craft beer scene — one that does not just imitate Western trends but is developing its own identity. If you have been drinking the same lager for years and feel ready for something different, this is the guide for you.

What Is Craft Beer, Actually?

"Craft beer" is a term that gets used a lot without being defined clearly. At its most basic, craft beer refers to beer made by independent, smaller breweries that prioritise quality, flavour, and brewing craft over pure volume and cost efficiency.

What distinguishes a craft beer from a mass-market beer is not always a single factor. It is usually a combination of:

Smaller batch sizes — which allows for more attention to each brew Higher quality ingredients — often including speciality malts, hops, or adjuncts like fruit, spices, or wheat More diverse styles — wheat beers, stouts, IPAs, and seasonal specials alongside standard lagers An independent brewing philosophy — focused on flavour first rather than lowest-cost production

In India, craft beer means something more specific: it means the wave of small-to-medium independent breweries that emerged between 2015 and the present, most of which were built by founders who genuinely loved beer and wanted to change what Indian drinkers could access.

Why India's Craft Beer Scene Matters

Before 2015, if you wanted a beer with genuine flavour complexity in India, your options were:

1. Expensive imported beers in premium hotels and bars
2. A few imported bottles in specialty stores at three times the market rate
3. Settling for what was available

The emergence of brands like Bira 91 (2015), Simba (2016), and White Rhino (2016) changed this. They proved that Indian breweries could produce beers with international quality standards at accessible price points, and that Indian consumers actively wanted something different.

Today, India's craft beer market is estimated to be growing at double-digit rates year on year, and the brands leading that charge are genuinely world-class by any measure.

The Indian Craft Beer Brands Worth Knowing

Bira 91 — The Pioneer

Bira 91 is the brand that started the mainstream craft beer conversation in India. Founded in Delhi in 2015 by Ankur Jain, Bira began by brewing its beers in Belgium with European ingredients, then expanded to domestic breweries as demand scaled. The brand's colourful, modern aesthetic and commitment to flavourful brewing made it an instant hit with urban, younger drinkers.

Bira's philosophy is simple: beer should taste of something. Their range reflects this.

Where to start with Bira 91:

Bira 91 White — This is the beer that made Bira's reputation. A Belgian witbier brewed with orange peel and coriander, it is hazy, fruity, mildly spiced, and completely unlike any Indian mass-market beer. If you have never tried a wheat beer, start here. It is gently approachable and genuinely surprising in the best way. ABV~4.7%.

Bira 91 Blonde — For those who prefer a lager format but want more character than a Kingfisher, the Blonde is the answer. Clean, slightly hoppy, with a faint citrus quality. ABV ~4.9%.

Bira 91 Boom — For those ready for higher ABV with craft quality. Richer and more refined than most Indian strong lagers. ABV ~6.6%.

Simba — India's Bold Brewing Story

Simba Beer is arguably the most ambitious story in Indian craft brewing. Founded in Raipur, Chhattisgarh in 2016 by brothers Ishwaraj and Prabhtej Bhatia, Simba built its own brewery from the ground up — no contract brewing, no shortcuts. By 2023 it had captured approximately 40% of India's premium and craft beer segment.

What makes Simba remarkable is not just its commercial success but the sheer breadth of styles it has mastered for the Indian market. Simba makes India's first commercially bottled stout. That alone deserves recognition.

Where to start with Simba:

Simba Lager — The most accessible entry point. A clean, slightly hop-forward craft lager that delivers noticeably more freshness and character than mass-market options. ABV ~5%.

Simba Wit — A Belgian witbier with a distinctive lemongrass character alongside the classic citrus and coriander notes. India-specific flavour thinking applied to a European style. ABV ~5%.

Simba Stout — India's first commercially bottled stout. Dark, roasted, coffee and chocolate forward. This is the craft adventure beer for drinkers ready to step completely outside the lager world. ABV ~7%.

White Rhino — Brewing with Himalayan Heart

White Rhino brings something the other Indian craft brands do not: a genuine geographic identity rooted in the Himalayan foothills of Uttarakhand. Founded in 2016 and brewed with clean mountain water, the brand has built a quiet but growing reputation for quality and range.

White Rhino is also one of the only Indian craft brands commercially brewing an IPA — India Pale Ale, a hop-forward style that is a significant flavour departure from anything in the mainstream market.

Where to start with White Rhino:

White Rhino Indian Craft Lager — A clean, well-crafted lager with a slightly fuller malt backbone than mass-market options. The Himalayan water gives it a mineral finish that feels distinctive. ABV ~5%.

White Rhino Hefeweizen — A German-style wheat beer with banana, clove, and citrus notes. More aromatic and complex than a pale lager, but approachable and refreshing. ABV ~4.8%.

How to Navigate Craft Beer Styles — A Quick Map

If you are new to craft beer, this simple map will help you understand where different styles sit on a spectrum from easiest-to-enjoy to most-challenging:

Indian Craft Beer vs Imported Beer — Is It Worth Paying More?

A question worth addressing: if you are stepping up from mainstream lagers, should you pay for Indian craft beers or imported options like Heineken?

The honest answer: Indian craft beer offers significantly better value at comparable or lower price points than imports, with the added benefit of freshness (shorter distribution chains from Indian breweries mean your beer is newer when it reaches you).

A bottle of Heineken Lager in India typically costs ₹150–₹220. A Simba Lager or Bira 91 Blonde in a comparable range delivers similar or superior flavour for ₹120–₹180.

More importantly: wheat beers like Bira 91 White and Simba Wit have no imported equivalent at comparable prices. If you want those styles, Indian craft is not just competitive — it is often the only accessible option.

The Brewpub Option — Beyond Bottles

Many of India's metropolitan cities now have brewpubs — restaurants that brew their own beer on-site. These are worth seeking out because they offer:

1. Fresh beer at peak quality (no distribution delay)
2. Experimental and seasonal styles not available in bottles
3. A complete introduction to the brewing process

Cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Pune, Hyderabad, and Goa have particularly vibrant brewpub scenes. Asking your server for a tasting paddle (multiple small glasses of different beers) is an excellent strategy for exploring styles without committing to a full pint of something unfamiliar.

Common Craft Beer Questions Answered

"Craft beer is too expensive — is it worth it?" A 330ml craft beer at ₹150–₹180 is more expensive than a Kingfisher. But it is also a more interesting drink, often lower in alcohol, and typically consumed more slowly. The value is different, not absent.

"Do craft beers go off faster?" Yes. Wheat beers especially are best consumed fresh. Always check the bottling date if you can see it. Avoid any bottle that looks like it has been sitting in a hot stockroom for months.

"I tried a craft IPA and hated it. Does that mean I will hate all craft beer?" Not at all. IPAs are hop-forward and quite bitter — they are an acquired taste even for experienced craft beer drinkers. Start with a wheat beer or craft lager instead. The styles are dramatically different.

Your Craft Beer Starting Pack for India

If you want a single, structured introduction to what Indian craft beer can be, here is a four-beer discovery set to try over two sessions:

Session 1 — Familiar but Better: → Bira 91 Blonde (lager format, more character) → Simba Lager (craft lager, fresh and clean)

Session 2 — Something Different: → Bira 91 White (wheat beer, fruity and aromatic) → White Rhino Hefeweizen (German wheat beer, banana and clove)

These four beers will give you a genuine cross-section of Indian craft brewing — and if you enjoy all four, the Simba Stout awaits as your next adventure.

Responsible Drinking Note

Craft beer exploration is one of the most enjoyable ways to discover the world of alcohol. The key is to explore at your own pace, in small quantities, with food, and with curiosity rather than competition.

Craft beers vary in ABV from around 4.7% (Bira 91 White) to 7% (Simba Stout). The stout in particular is stronger than it may initially seem — drink it slowly and savour the flavour.

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