About Optimistic Capital

Optimistic Capital is an alternative investment fund that uses an owner-operator approach. It invests capital while actively participating in the management and growth of its portfolio companies. The firm is committed to long-term value creation, focusing on building sustainable, market-leading brands.

The post Optimistic Capital Launches India’s First Microbreweries-Focused 200 Crore Fund first appeared on Brewer World-Everything about beer is here.

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The Deep Dive Beer Fest is thoughtfully curated to showcase a variety of handpicked craft beers. It is a discovery platform for craft beer enthusiasts, giving them access to beers from multiple breweries. The beers will be available in 120ml beer samplers which gives beer lovers an opportunity to try a repertoire of styles on each day.

Fest Highlights

• 9 Collaboration Brews between Breweries from all over the country (launched at the Dive)
• More than 50 craft beers by 25+ craft breweries
• Each day of the fest will showcase 15+ beers exclusively available only on that day.
• Guided Beer Tastings on each day. Limited Slots! Sign up now!
• Merchandise from all breweries!
• Special food menu designed by Great State Dive

Guided Beer Tastings

• All About IPAs by Karthik, Bangalore
• Rice Beers by Chinsi, Bombay Duck Brewing, Bombay
• Lager Appreciation by Oliver, OI, Pune

Curated by Pune-based craft brewery Great State Aleworks, Deep Dive is a one-of-a-kind showcase of craft beers by Indian breweries, a platform to discover brands, styles and meet with fellow craft beer enthusiasts. On each day of the fest, you will see a whole new showcase of beers – a different offering on each day!

Participating Breweries at Deep Dive 3.0

2 Down Beer Co.

24K Kraft Brewzz

Alchemy

Apiary

Arbor Brewing Co.

Arko

Blr. Brewing Co.

Bombay Duck Brewing

Brewantee

Catamaran Brewing Co.

Common House

Crafters

Doolally

Drifters

Effingut

Fort City

Gateway Brewing Co.

Gobby Brewing

Great State Aleworks

Igloo Craft Beers

Kimaya Brewing Company

LongBoat Brewery

Lost River Brewing

Mannheim Craft Brewery

Oi Brewing Co.

Susegado

The Beer Chronicles

Toit

Windmills

Yavasura

Venue

Great State Dive – Rooftop, Power Plaza, Lane No. 7, Ashok Chakra Society, Meera Nagar, Koregaon Park, Pune, Maharashtra 411001, India

About Great State Aleworks

Great State Aleworks, a specialized craft brewery in Pune. The brewery is known for experimenting with local ingredients, seasonal produce and wild styles along with collaborating with breweries from all over the world. From the get-go, the team focused on building experiences for craft beer lovers, with Open House Nights at the brewery, Tap Takeovers at bars, chef dinners with local chefs and participating in numerous festivals. The latest feather in the cap is Great State Dive, a 60-seater rooftop bar in the heart of Koregaon Park, Pune.

The post Great State Aleworks’ Deep Dive Beer Fest Is Back With 9 Interstate Collaborations first appeared on Brewer World-Everything about beer is here.

The post Great State Aleworks’ Deep Dive Beer Fest Is Back With 9 Interstate Collaborations appeared first on Brewer World-Everything about beer is here.

Vir Das, India’s biggest and globally the biggest Indian comedian is now all set to soar our spirits even higher. This time alongside his comedy bits on stage, one will now be able to enjoy a light and crisp beer called Faaaakit, which is being brewed and distributed by one of India’s most innovative craft breweries – Great State Aleworks.

The team along with Vir, spent over a year to find the perfect blend of flavours before the final brew was locked in. The marriage between stand up comedy and a good time over a beer go hand in hand, making this a perfect collaboration and a perfect step into an entrepreneurial journey for Vir. Currently the beer will be available across Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad. In terms of a flavour profile, the beer is a clean, crisp and easy drinking beer with low bitterness and a fruity and dry finish.

 

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Vir said in a statement, “Our motto was to spread happiness. And after a maybe stressful day you might want to literally say FaaaakIt and have a can of beer to unwind yourself. Also we wanted the beer to be for everyone, far often brands tend to alienate beer drinkers like the younger demographics or even women, and we wanted this to be for everyone. The team at Great State Aleworks and I spent a good deal of time finding a flavour profile that can be enjoyed by all”.

The post Vir Das Launches His Own Craft Beer first appeared on Brewer World-Everything about beer is here.

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Founders Nevil Timbadia, Saumya Khona and Bhakti Mehta have put together a fresh line up with top breweries across the state, specially brewed exclusive batches of collaborative brews. Moreover, Tapped Spirit Zone has a cocktail bar from some of the best and coolest spirit brands, off-the-menu dishes by some of the city’s favourite chefs and restaurants, live music with a jazz vibe and Tapped Bazaar for amazing retail brands.

What’s pouring at Tapped?

This edition will feature nine breweries/ meaderies that include Bombay Duck Brewing, Moonshine Meadery, Drifters, Oi Brewing Co., Igloo Brew Works, 2 Down Beer Co., Great State Aleworks, BrewDog and Kimaya Brewing. The Tapped Cocktail Bar will have your favourite spirits like Stranger & Sons gin, Pumori Gin, Segredo Aldeia Rum, Woodburns Whiskey and Greater Than Gin pouring cocktails. With over 60 craft beers on tap, this fest is definitely a beer lover’s paradise!

This edition brings Tapped limited edition food from the city’s top restaurants and chefs. Burgers, tacos, pizzas, sandwiches, kebabs, rolls, icecreams, tarts, croissants, sushi, dimsums, appams, mezze & more  from Sage & Saffron, Subko, Duco, Seefah, Souffle, Foo, Nara, Queen Margerita’s Pizzeria, Saransh Goila’s Bambai Meal Rolls, Recca, Peko Peko, Hoppumm, Noto, Mag Street, Woodside Burger Shop, RocketMan pizza.

The music line-up features Groove Machine All Stars featuring Gino Banks, Mark Hartsuch, Mohini Dey, Rhythm Shaw, Rahul Wadhwani with Eden Alexander. Easy Sessions featuring Aarya, Anika & Silly Psy Beans. Big Funk Ensemble featuring Shreya Bhattacharya, Lydia, Avishek Dey, Clement Rooney, Darshan Doshi and Amandeep Singh.

The Marketplace this year has curated top brands like Soft Spot Food vegan cheese, The Lair Man – grooming, Honest Foods Butter, Naagin hot sauce, Pickles, Fashion brands among many others.

So bring that craft beer thirst and an appetite for endless revelry, Tapped will make sure you go home completely quenched.

When: Sunday, 17th April, 2022

Time: 12 PM to 10 PM

Entry: Starting INR 499/- (per person)

Tickets Available On:  BookMyShow

Where: Mahalakshmi Race Course, Mumbai

The post The Ninth Edition Of Tapped Is All Set To Pour At The Turf! first appeared on Brewer World-Everything about beer is here.

The post The Ninth Edition Of Tapped Is All Set To Pour At The Turf! appeared first on Brewer World-Everything about beer is here.

A marked change has occurred in how Indians view beer in recent years. The beer we drink today has changed from being a drink that was primarily reserved for the upper classes to being viewed as a perfect social drink. The low alcohol content of beer is causing it to replace hard liquor as Indians of all ages and statuses choose it as their primary alcoholic beverage. Cashing in on the demand, many new brands have been popping up to serve the Indians with fresh and varieties of Craft Beer. The new kid in the block is Oi Brewing Company in Pune.

The Team Behind Oi

In 1976, a twenty-year-old Dr. Subash Cipy founded a Nano venture called Cipy, which grew into a 200-crore company, with a meagre capital of Rs. 10,000 in a small tin shed in India. In 2001, after visiting a craft brewery in Germany, Dr. Cipy’s first stint with craft beers began. He then established India’s first organic brewery, Oi Brewing Company, in Shirwal, Pune in 2021. It has the highest production capacity among microbreweries.

In his second innings as a businessman, Cipy was joined by his family Ritu Cipy, Roshan Cipy, and brewer Oliver Schauf. The fervour for craft beers of Cipy led to the launch of the brewery. Combining Cipy’s business expertise and Oliver Schauf’s brewing expertise, Oi produces beers that are tastier, healthier, and more refreshing.

In the business world for four decades, Cipy’s commitment to doing the right thing makes it the company’s business ethic. Oi is a family owned business. Each keg or growler features the refreshing freshness of an organic beer, that tastes great and is free of toxins. Every beer is crafted according to a unique recipe crafted by brewers and will continue to be brewed according to Oi’s unfailing commitment to quality, taste and consistency.

What’s In the Name?

Oi is a short name that’s easy to call out and remember. The word ‘Oi’ has the qualities of both a call for attention and a greeting. Similarly, they brew quality craft beer for everyone at the brewery. Oi is another way to indicate ‘Organic Ingredients!’.

Brew Master

Oliver Schauf, Oi’s Brew Master, is India’s first craft brewer. Olivier is a German who moved to India to brew European craft beer using Indian ingredients. Some of the best beers are brewed by him and his handpicked team. He has 23 years of professional brewing and distillation experience. Oliver is the man who introduced craft beer in Greenland.

The Brewing Unit

Equipment is the heart of any brewery and it needs to be reliable and efficient. Be it a brewpub or production facility, the brewhouse is the foundation of the business and needs to work flawlessly. Oi Brewing Company is capable of producing 5,00,000 litres of beer per annum. Their brewhouse consists of a mash kettle, lauter tun and two whirlpool kettles, which allows for a 2.5 hour brew cycle and 8 brews per day. Alongside the brewhouse, Oi has a combination of 10HL and 30HL fermenters which are used depending upon the batch sizes.

Oi Brewing Co. also features an in-house smoking drum for preparing smoked malts for beer styles such as Rauchbier. The drum can accommodate up to 100 kilos of malt and smoking it takes about 3 hours.

Sustainability

Grains and hops are typically grown with pesticides and toxic fertilisers, which generally damage the environment. They have gone green right from the beginning. The Brewery uses only organic ingredients and it has now brewed India’s first organic lager beer. Brewing organic beer is part of their ongoing effort to reduce the ecological footprint.

At the brewery, Solar energy is used to produce sustainable brews. Wastewater from the brewery is used for agriculture and spent grain is used for fodder. Every beer they brew is full of good vibrations, and you’ll be blown away by their light and crisp flavour.

Oi Beers

Oi Wit

Oi Wit is a hazy, fruity, straw-coloured Belgian wheat beer, brewed with organically-grown Maharashtrian wheat, organic malt, hops and spicy Mizoram wild orange.

Oi Lager

Oi Lager is a light-bodied, mildly bitter German style lager, made with traditional slow and cold methods. The lager is true to the Reinheitsgebot (Beer Purity Law) of 1516 that allows only malt, hops, yeast and water.

Oi IPA

The Oi IPA is an orange coloured, fragrant, fruity New England IPA, generously infused with fresh Guava and American hops.

Oi Smoke

Oi Smoke is a malty, smoked lager beer inspired by the famous Rauchbiers of Bamberg. The beer is produced using the organic malts smoked on their own malt smoking device.

Oi Cider

Oi Cider is a light, refreshing, fruity, semi-dry sparkling wine made entirely from Kashmiri apples. No sugars are added in this Cider.

Oi Seltzer

The Oi Seltzer is a colourless, sparkling, low carb Seltzer that is fermented from natural juices. It is purified and decolorized through a special filtration process, and naturally flavoured with lemon/mango.

The post BW Exclusive: It’s All Organic At Oi! first appeared on Brewer World-Everything about beer is here.

The post BW Exclusive: It’s All Organic At Oi! appeared first on Brewer World-Everything about beer is here.

Great State Aleworks, a Pune-based specialised craft brewery known for collaborations, launches its first ever beer festival showcasing over 45 beers by more than 16 breweries across a span of 3 days. On each day, a specially curated mix of 15 beers and styles will be available on tap.

The Deep Dive Beer Fest is thoughtfully curated to showcase a variety of handpicked craft beers. It is a discovery platform for craft beer enthusiasts, giving them access to beers from multiple breweries. The beers will be available in 330ml pints and also in 120ml beer samplers which gives beer lovers an opportunity to try a repertoire of styles on each day.

 “Our idea behind Deep Dive was to curate a festival with one core objective: craft beer discovery! Creating a well curated beer menu for each day, giving good beers from local breweries a platform to showcase their beers and giving the craft beer enthusiast a chance to sample all these beers through tasting flights.” – Nakul Bhonsle, Founder of Great State Aleworks.

Participating Breweries

2 Down Beer Co. – (Mumbai)

Bombay Duck Brewing – (Mumbai)

Crafters – (Mumbai)

Doolally – (Mumbai)

Drifters – (Mumbai)

Effingut – (Mumbai)

Gateway Brewing Co. – (Mumbai)

Great State Aleworks – (Pune)

Kati Patang – National

Kimaya – (Pune)

Toit – (Pune)

Yavasura – (Pune)

Special Spotlight on Breweries That Opened Up During The Pandemic

Oi Brewing Co. – (Pune)

Igloo – (Mumbai)

Pune Beer Farm – (Pune)

Brewantee – Aurangabad

Lost River – (Mumbai)

Brew Whale – (Mumbai)

Beer Tasting Sessions

For craft beer enthusiasts, Great State Aleworks has come up with a set of guided Tasting Sessions demonstrated by various brewers from the community.

4th March

Showcase 1: 12PM to Midnight, 15 handpicked beers.

4PM to 5PM: Tasting Session with Partha, Yavasura

5th March

Showcase 2: 4PM to Midnight 15 handpicked beers.

Showcase 3: 12PM to 3PM featuring new breweries.

2PM to 3PM: Tasting Session with Chinsi, Bombay Duck Brewing

3PM to 4PM: Tasting Session with Dr. Ash and Lynette, 7 Rivers

4PM to 5PM: Tasting Session with Salil and Gaurav, 2 Down Beer Co.

6th March

Showcase 4: 12PM to Midnight 15 handpicked beers.

2PM to 3PM: Tasting Session with Sameer, Kimaya

3PM to 4PM: Tasting Session with Sumiran, Toit

4PM to 5PM: Tasting Session with Oliver, Oi

Venue

Dates: 4, 5 & 6 March, 2022

Timing: 12PM – Midnight

Location: Great State Dive, Koregaon Park, Pune

Tickets

Entry Ticket Per Day: INR 315 (Includes One Pint)

Tasting Session with Brewers:  INR 525

An all access pass to all 7 tasting sessions: INR 2100

Tickets available on: Insider

Instagram: @greatstate.aleworks

Hashtag: #DeepDivebyGreatState

About Great State Aleworks

Great State Aleworks, a specialised craft brewery in Pune. The brewery is known for experimenting with local ingredients, seasonal produce and wild styles along with collaborating with breweries from all over the world. From the get-go, the team focused on building experiences for craft beer lovers, with Open House Nights at the brewery, Tap Takeovers at bars, chef dinners with local chefs and participating in numerous festivals. The latest feather in the cap is Great State Dive, a 60-seater rooftop bar in the heart of Koregaon Park, Pune.

The post Deep Dive Beer Fest: A Curated Craft Beer Festival by Great State Aleworks first appeared on Brewer World-Everything about beer is here.

The post Deep Dive Beer Fest: A Curated Craft Beer Festival by Great State Aleworks appeared first on Brewer World-Everything about beer is here.

X’mas Barleywine

This Christmas, Seven Rivers Brewing Co. has gone all out on holiday beers. Light up your festive spirit, with their X’Mas Barleywine which is their version of a traditional English style Barleywine. Inspired by Seven Rivers’ in-house Christmas Cake, this complex and malty-rich beer boasts enticing aromas of dried fruits such as raisins, prunes and figs backed by a mellow woody and earthy note lingering in the background.

Keep in mind that this is also infused with rum-soaked oak chips along with the addition of fenugreek seeds to lend it a complex maple syrup like character. It is now pouring at Seven Rivers Brewing Co. at Taj, MG Road, Bangalore.

Vital Stats: ABV: 7.9% | IBU: 25

Russian Imperial Stout

The Russian Imperial Stout at Aurum Brew Works is dark, strong, bold and dry with prominent chocolate and roast flavours. A robust ale with a deep brown appearance and a gorgeous tanned head, showcases enticing aromas of chocolate, coffee and slightly burnt character without a sharp bitterness. Pairs well with smoked or barbecued meats or a bold dessert. It is now pouring at Aurum Brew Works, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore.

Vital Stats: ABV: 8% | IBU: 35

Raspberry Pastry Stout

This is Toit’s take on a decadent pastry stout. It has the greatness of beer and the goodness of dessert. This sweet stout is brewed with a host of adjuncts such as lactose, raspberry puree, cacao nibs, vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon. Go ahead and try this one out. When you taste it, you think of Christmas beers and the warmth of the season. The Raspberry Pastry Stout is only pouring in Bangalore.

Vital Stats: ABV: 5.9%

Brew-Berry Christmas Ale

With Christmas right around the corner, the founders at Brew Whale Craft Beer have collaborated with Berrika to celebrate this holiday season with a limited-edition Brew-Berry Christmas Ale.

The Brew-Berry Christmas Ale is a Blueberry Sour Ale that is crisp, filled with fruity goodness along with a touch of sour that is entirely refreshing. With a rosé-like effervescence and a tartness that teases your taste buds, this ale hits you with the right amount of flavour in a perfectly light body. Available in growlers across Mumbai.

Vital Stats: ABV: 5% | IBU: 11

Wheatwine

For the first time ever, Red Rhino’s alchemists have launched a rare and the most extreme craft beer style that you may have never heard of – Wheatwine. Wheatwine is a beer style that is somewhere between a barleywine and a well-aged stout. It is old-school and rare. It ideally aligns with Red Rhino’s experimental brewing approach and could be their ultimate winter beer for the season.

Aged in virgin oak and infused with bold vanilla, Red Rhino’s Wheatwine shines through with complexity and aromas of plums and tropical fruit flavours resulting from the American hops. This is a true amalgam of experimentation and old-school legacy. Be sure to check this one out. It is now serving only at Red Rhino Craft Brewery & Inspired Kitchen, Whitefield, Bangalore.

Vital Stats: ABV: 8% | IBU: 30

Xmas Ale

Ironhill’s Xmas ale is a strong, malty and dark spiced ale brewed with ground cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. Brewed in the true spirit of Christmas, this dark ale showcases a malty character balanced by spice flavours and alcoholic warmth. It serves up as an ideal winter warmer. This Xmas Ale is exclusively brewed for their Bengaluru outlet in Marathahalli. Head over to the microbrewery before it’s gone!

Vital Stats: ABV: 6% | IBU: 25

Parle-B

A Christmas-special Braggot brewed in collaboration with Cerana Meads.  It was brewed by two alco-bev entrepreneurs from Vile Parle East – Gaurav from 2 Down Beer Co. and Yoginee of Cerana Meads using Maris Otter barley, Jamun honey, EKG hops, star anise and dried orange peels.

Parle-B has a lovely malty, honey, floral, citrusy and slightly spicy notes and enough alcohol to keep one warm on cold winter evenings. It is currently pouring and available in growlers and on tap at Leaping Windows (Versova) and Bonobo (Bandra), Mumbai. You absolutely don’t want to miss this one.

Champ’Ale

The Champ’Ale is Toit’s seasonal special beer pouring only in Pune and Mumbai outlets. It is light bodied and a highly carbonated beer with fruity,  wine-like characters that are derived from the yeast. It’s a strong one too, and with the Champagne flavour profile, it’s the perfect celebratory beer for the season. Toit Beer Co. has got a great selection of Christmas beers across all of their outlets, make sure to check them out!

Vital Stats: ABV: 7.2%

Barrel-aged Blueberry Porter

Say hello to the French Limousin at Biergarten, Koramangala, Bangalore! Biergarten’s barrel-aged Blueberry Porter is aged in French oak barrels which are made from one of the most popular types of wood used for maturing distilled spirits. The large-grain and tannic wood ensures a clear color and an impressive expression in beers. The barrels are carefully handcrafted by international master coopers.

A complex, barrel-aged porter with intriguing notes of oak and blueberry. Full bodied with a sweet and warm finish. Head over to Biergarten and experience this richer and tastier beer from this barrel of goodness!

Vital Stats: ABV: 7.2% | IBU: 20

Raspmerry Christmas Ale

Drifters Breweries is all set to make our spirits bright with their Christmas special ale. Usher in the Yuletide season and New Years with refreshing Raspmerry Christmas Ale (Raspberry Vanilla Milkshake Sour Ale). Topped up to the brim, Raspberry Kettle Sour is made with the use of Vanilla & Lactose to give full Milkshake treatment, and is sure to captivate all you beer enthusiasts this year.

This is like one of those Christmas beers which has a milky bar like impressions and it is the most delicious treat which you can also enjoy for breakfast! So, treat your palate with this decadent red, fruity, creamy and delicious ale to serve as the perfect accessory to those tables laden with festive food this holiday season. Pouring now at Drifters Tap Station, Mumbai.

Vital Stats: ABV: 4.7% | IBU: 8

Barrel-aged American Stout

Barrel-aged beers are ideal for the festive season. They have a depth of flavour which goes inline quite nicely with the winters. Shakesbierre’s Stout is matured and conditioned for 2 months in oak barrels which were sourced from a Bangalore based Distillery, where it was used to mature whisky. Barrel-aging, in general, takes a beer to a different dimension and adds complexity and flavour depth.

The possibilities are practically endless when it comes to barrel-aging given that there are a wide range of casks available in the market. Keep in mind, this decadent Stout is only available in limited quantities. Head over to the brewpub in EVA mall, Brigade Road, Bangalore before the barrel soaks it up!

Vital Stats: ABV: 7.2%

Extra Special Bitter

ESB, also known as Extra Special Bitter, is a classic English style bitter which showcases the harmony and balance between the malt and hops. With its biscuity and malty flavours followed by earthy and spicy notes from the hops, the ESB finishes with a pleasant bitterness. The folks at The Bier Library in Koramangala, Bangalore have just tapped this beer. Make sure to drop in and savour this one!

Vital Stats: ABV: 6.2% | IBU: 35

Hazy IPA

Last but not the least, Windmills’ Hazy IPA is a great brew to celebrate the holiday season. Hazy IPAs are very vibrant and celebratory. Brewed with Centennial, Citra, Amarillo and Mosaic hops, Windmills’ Hazy IPA explodes with juicy tropical sweetness backed by well-rounded bitterness. Upon swirling, the nose reveals aromas of mango, pineapple and citrus thanks to the generous dry-hopping. The addition of wheat gives it a nice, creamy mouthfeel and a persistent white head. This beer is very easy to drink and leaves long, lingering flavours. Now pouring at Whitefield, Bangalore.

Vital Stats: ABV: 7.25% | IBU: 40

As a reminder, all of the above beers are subjected to availability and this listicle was not sorted in any order. Enough said. So, what beers are you drinking this Christmas? Head over to one of these outlets and let us know about your seasonal beer experience in the comments section down below. Cheers & Merry Christmas!

The post 13 Christmas Beers You Should Definitely Try This Holiday Season first appeared on Brewer World-Everything about beer is here.

The post 13 Christmas Beers You Should Definitely Try This Holiday Season appeared first on Brewer World-Everything about beer is here.

India and many countries throughout Asia, like Thailand, Hong Kong, and South Korea, have experienced a boom in craft beer sales as consumers switch from the mainstream beer that has long dominated the local market to palate-expanding imports and microbrews. The laws governing India’s 29 states have tightened in some regions and loosened in others, making it difficult for an actual craft takeover to take place. Several states (including Gujarat, Manipur, and Nagaland) have even implemented strict prohibition policies, contrasting starkly with the growth of craft beer in cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, and Pune. Adding to the list is Pondicherry. The Paris of East recently saw its first brewery, Catamaran. The beers at Catamaran are receiving much love from the beer community. The man behind the beers getting so much love is Suryakant Balgovind Singh.

Suryakant, the 28-year-old Head Brewer at Catamaran, has worked with various Breweries to date. Before Catamaran, he worked with Doolally, Pune, for four years. Before which he has worked with breweries like Effingut Brewerkz and Smokies Brewing Company. Suryakant spoke to Brewer World to share insights about brewing and his journey as a brewer. Below are the excerpts…

When did you start brewing?

I brewed my first batch of 500lit Hefeweizen in July 2016. Usually, people start by homebrewing the beers, but in my case, it was different, and that is all because of my mentor Hrishi Sasane, Head Brewer, Effingut, Pune. He always wanted me to push the boundaries and said, “Don’t follow the SOP’s blindly, do things differently if you feel it can be done better, you will get a lesson at the end, that may be a good one or a bad one.”

Are you formally trained?

Yes. I did my Bachelor’s in Biotechnology, and after that, I wanted to choose to do something that every other student would not do. So after a lot of narrowing down on the courses available, I got into VSI, Pune, to pursue Masters in Wine, Brewing, and Alcohol technology, which specialises in winemaking. But, soon after completing my first year, I got an internship opportunity at Effingut, which changed the whole perspective. I decided to take up winemaking as a hobby as brewing beer had become my passion.

How would you describe what you do?

Now that is quite a complicated question. As a brewer, we have to conduct research, process development, brewery management, purchase of raw material, beer sales, staff training, electrical and mechanical instruments maintenance, brewery cleaning, and more. I do anything and everything in the brewery space. Sometimes, I will also have to design and plan for expansion and installation, and excise bookkeeping.

You brew at Pondicherry’s first microbrewery. What’s the vibe like?

Catamaran Brewing Company is my first independent project. Being here from ground zero is such a proud feeling. Oliver Schauf has been the best guide and a great support system and motivation. Pondicherry has its own drinking culture but into Brandy and similar forms of liquor. And to my surprise, they have been supporting craft beer in a very similar manner. So the vibe is matching here!!!

What is the crowd’s reaction to the new craft beer scene in Pondicherry?

Pondy has a mixed crowd of Indo-French and other European populations; hence, they know craft beers. So they are pleased to get craft beers in Pondicherry. Especially the Belgian Witbier, Stout, and IPA. Now, they don’t miss home a lot and have become a family for Catamaran.

Which beer is Catamaran’s most popular?

Like any other microbrewery wheat-based beer, Belgian Witbier leads the sales, followed by Cider. After that, Helles Lager, Smoked Porter, Oatmeal Stout, Märzen, Black magic Lager, and Hybrid Dark Lager are others people like. But to my surprise, Pondy is also ready for IPA, so we are giving them some nice Hoppy-ness.

How do you develop new beer recipes?

Usually, it’s a motivation from one or the other thing around. Sometimes a random communication with brew buddies or news articles or a walk in the market leads to an idea of making certain styles of beer. Once I have the statistics desired in the beer, I formulate a basic recipe and brew a pilot batch to check at what level the beer stands. Then I note down the changes and brew another batch to fine tune it. Once I get the desired characteristics, I scale up the recipe and brew it in bigger batches.

Which beers do you plan to brew over the next few months for Christmas and New Year?

This time I will be following Pondy’s brewing tradition by making a Hot Mulled Cider. Besides this, we have concluded our trials for Spiced Strong Ales for the cold and festive season. “Single for 60 min” is one beer I’m looking forward to brewing. It is the single hop version of 60min IPA from my original recipe.

Do you have a favourite beer and food pairing?

I don’t go drinking beer alone. So, I choose the beer, and my friend, a food expert, picks the food. Wood-fired Pizzas have been the go-to pair with any style of beer. Sausage platter at Toit, Spiced Namak para at Bira taproom, Pretzel bread basket at Seven Rivers, and the delicious Pizzas at Byg Brewsky, Hennur, and Bier Library have some of the best dishes that I love to pair my beers with. Of course, salted Peanuts have been the best pair for beer and any other alcoholic beverage if nothing is available.

In the brewing industry, who do you admire?

I admire Amar Shrivastava the most. He chose the Ministry Of Beers to change people’s perspective on beer. Narpat Singh at Gurgaon is on fire. Sandeep Malvi and Kapil Srivastava have made great beers at Big Pitcher, Gurgaon. Harshvardhan is changing the face of Bira.

In your opinion, which brewery is the best in the World?

It’s not the brewery but the team that makes it the best. Effingut and Doolally top my list of the best.

What would you drink if you could have just one drink, one last time?

Snake Venom, from Scottish brewery Brewmeister. It is the world’s strongest beer. I will die after drinking it, so let the culprit be beer, not my age or health. (Giggles)

Tell us about yourself.

I was born in Lucknow but grew up in Pune. I wanted to become a Pilot, but Breaking Bad had different plans. The web series Breaking Bad inspired me to take up Biotechnology. Lab research in DNA hybridization and Gene sequencing excites me.

When you’re not brewing, what else do you like to do?

Traveling, painting, and hanging out with friends is all I do when I am not brewing.

How excited are you about the Beer Of India Awards?

I am very much excited to be a part of the Beer of India Awards and looking forward to participating and marking the presence of Pondicherry in the Craft beer world.

The post Brewer Talks: Breaking Bad Inspired Me: Suryakant Singh first appeared on Brewer World-Everything about beer is here.

The post Brewer Talks: Breaking Bad Inspired Me: Suryakant Singh appeared first on Brewer World-Everything about beer is here.

The country witnessed new beer brand launches, existing home-grown brands making their way into international markets and becoming the centre of attention at global beer competitions, new microbreweries making their debut in the local craft beer scene as well as some very progressive policies being introduced for the first time ever. Before the book on 2020 closes, why not take a look back at the industry’s happenings over the last year?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

JANUARY

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Beer Cafe Revenue Crosses Rs. 100 Crores

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FEBRUARY

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Bira 91 Launches Taproom In Bengaluru To Mark Their 5th Anniversary

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FEBRUARY

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CBAI Announces All India Sour Beer Month

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MARCH

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Goa Brewing Co. Shares Hand Sanitiser To Ramp Up Protection Against COVID-19

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APRIL

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Budweiser Announces ‘One Team’ Initiative

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MAY

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Karnataka Becomes The 1st State To Permit Growler Sales To Sell Off Existing Beer Stocks

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JUNE

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Karnataka Govt Allows Microbreweries To Begin Production

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JUNE

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Maharashtra Becomes The 1st Indian State To Make Growler Policy Permanent

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JUNE

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West Bengal Initiates Talk of Doorstep-Delivery of Beer with Amazon and BigBasket

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JULY

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Goa Brewing Co. Launches Wheat Ale

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JULY

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Pune Gets India’s First Tap Station, Courtesy Kimaya Brewing Co. 

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JULY

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Caldera Craft Beer Launches In Kolkata 

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JULY

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Susegado Announces Availability In Bottles

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AUGUST

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Bira 91 Bags 5 medals At The Asia Beer Championship 2020

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SEPTEMBER

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7 Rivers Brewing Community Opens At Taj, Bengaluru

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SEPTEMBER

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BeeYoung Becomes The First Homegrown Strong Craft Beer Brand To Hop Abroad

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SEPTEMBER

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Kolkata’s Scrapyard Brings Mumbai’s Kadak Flavours To The City In Bottles

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OCTOBER

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Maka di Makes Its Debut, Launches In Goa

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OCTOBER

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Geist Brewing Factory Throws Open The Doors To Its Brewery Garden

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NOVEMBER

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Effingut Launches India’s 1st Retail Craft Beer Chain, Effingut 2 Go

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NOVEMBER

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Byg Brewski Announces Novemberfest

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NOVEMBER

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AB InBev Launches First Super-Mild Beer With ABV 3.5 percent Only

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NOVEMBER

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Carlsberg Group Partners With Desolenator For Water Desalination Project

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DECEMBER

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Bira 91 Steals The Show At The European Beer Challenge 2020: Bags Double Gold, Gold, Silver & Bronze!

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DECEMBER

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Effingut Becomes India’s Only Microbrewery To Win Three Bronzes At The Asia Beer Championship 2020

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DECEMBER

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Red Rhino Craft Brewery & Kitchen Announces Exclusive Membership Programme

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The post The Year In Beer: 2020 Edition first appeared on Brewer World-Everything about beer is here.

The post The Year In Beer: 2020 Edition appeared first on Brewer World-Everything about beer is here.

The brand has successfully bagged three bronze awards. The ‘Hefeweizen’ stood out in the Wheat Beer Category that had entries for all wheat beers including Belgian Witbier and American Wheat styles. The ‘Sorach Ace Saison’ also bagged a bronze in the Saison Category wherein the Saison beer style is acknowledged as one of the most well-regarded and historic styles across craft beers globally. Effigut’s was made with rare Japanese hops that added a unique touch, balancing the style well. And last, but definitely not least, the Barrel-Aged Hefty Braggot won the ‘Chairman Selection’ award in the Experimental Beer Category. This famous winter warmer from Effingut, aged in oak whiskey barrels for a year won several hearts in this category!

The feather in the cap?

The Chairman’s Selection is awarded to exceptional examples that meet stringent quality standards in their respective categories! Effingut Breweries truly owned the stage; or let’s say the categories by being the only brewery in India to win any awards in this bumpy year!

The post Effingut, the only Indian Brewery to bag the Asia Beer Championship 2020 awards! first appeared on Brewer World-Everything about beer is here.

The post Effingut, the only Indian Brewery to bag the Asia Beer Championship 2020 awards! appeared first on Brewer World-Everything about beer is here.