Simba Beer

History

The Bhatia family has been in the liquor business since 1948 - so Prabhtej Singh Bhatia grew up around the industry. But when he returned to India after studying in the UK, he saw a gap that his family's legacy couldn't fill: there was no craft beer in India that was made here, at scale, in the craft tradition.

He began construction of the Durg brewery in 2012, investing significantly before a single bottle of Simba had been sold. To learn the mechanics of running a serious brewery - quality control, consistency, logistics - he entered a contract manufacturing arrangement with SAB Miller for two years, producing their beers while mastering the process. By 2016, the contract ended, and Simba was the only beer being made at the Durg plant.

Simba Strong launched first in Chhattisgarh in May 2016. The Wit (wheat beer) and Stout followed shortly after - and it was the Stout that made industry observers take notice. Simba Stout became India's first bottled stout, a category no one had attempted at national distribution scale. Its success proved that Indian consumers were ready for bolder, more experimental styles.

Ishwaraj Singh Bhatia joined as co-founder and COO, and the brand expanded rapidly - reaching Goa and Delhi by 2017, and subsequently Maharashtra, Karnataka, Assam, and beyond. In 2018, Simba partnered with the Bollywood film Simmba (featuring Ranveer Singh) for a high-visibility campaign. By 2025, the brand had crossed an annual revenue of ₹355 crore and won Silver and Bronze at the World Beer Awards 2025.

Signature Products

Simba's core portfolio covers four main styles - which is more diverse than almost any other Indian craft beer brand available at retail:

Simba Wit is the flagship - a Belgian-style wheat beer with citrus, coriander, and lemongrass notes. Hazy golden, light-bodied, and very refreshing. This is Simba's most popular product.

Simba Lager is a clean, crisp pale lager brewed for everyday drinking - approachable and well-made.

Simba Stout is the historic one - India's first bottled stout, a dark, sessionable beer with roasted malt character, coffee and chocolate notes, and a surprisingly light body for its style.

Simba Strong is the high-ABV option in the range, built for drinkers who want more punch.

What Makes This Brand Unique

Simba stands out for a few genuinely distinct reasons.

It is brewed at its own dedicated facility. Unlike brands that rely on contract brewing or licensing, Simba owns and operates its brewery in Durg, Chhattisgarh. This gives the brand control over quality, batch size, and consistency in a way that contract brands cannot match.

It uses fresh river water. Simba sources water from a nearby river rather than underground water sources - an uncommon and more resource-intensive choice, but one the founders committed to for flavour and environmental reasons.

It introduced the bottled stout to India. Simba Stout occupies a category it essentially created: a dark, flavourful beer available in bottles at mainstream retail. That kind of market-making contribution earns the brand genuine credibility.

It is small-batch by design. Despite growing to national scale, Simba maintains the practice of brewing in smaller batches - prioritising consistency of taste and ingredient quality over volume maximisation.

Flavor Philosophy

Simba's approach is straightforward: use the best ingredients, source globally where needed, and don't cut corners for the sake of scale. The founders describe themselves as "beer lovers brewing for beer lovers" - people who drink what they make and make what they'd want to drink. That philosophy shows up in the range: a Wit that genuinely uses lemongrass and coriander, a Stout that has real roasted character, a Lager that doesn't taste watered down.

Popular Bottles

- Simba Wit (Belgian Wheat Beer) - 330ml / 650ml

- Simba Lager - 330ml / 650ml

- Simba Stout - 330ml / 650ml

- Simba Strong - 330ml / 650ml

Who This Brand Appeals To

Simba appeals to drinkers who want Indian craft beer but also want to know it was made here, by people who care. The Wit is a great entry point for newcomers - it's light, aromatic, and easy to enjoy. The Stout appeals to more adventurous drinkers ready to try something dark and complex. The Lager suits those who want a familiar style done well. Simba is also particularly popular in North and Central India, where it built its distribution base before the bigger metros.

Responsible Drinking Note

Always enjoy alcohol responsibly and only if you are of legal drinking age in your region. Occasional Drinker encourages mindful and informed consumption.