The sultry, southern Indian city of Bangalore has carved out a niche as the hub of India’s thriving IT sector, but what visitors may not realise is that it has also long enjoyed a reputation as the country’s pub capital. While other megalopolises such as Mumbai and New Delhi host a bevy of swish watering holes and cocktail dens that stay open into the wee hours, it is Bangalore that boasts a new wave of microbreweries and a thriving, independent craft beer scene.
At the best beer venues in the city, one can find innovative pints spiked with seasonal fruit or local spices and even brewed with traditional grains, offering up intriguing flavours drinkers are unlikely to experience anywhere else. Here are eight spots to sample some of Bangalore’s best brews.
1. India’s First American Craft Brewery
Arbor Brewing Company is the first Indian outpost of a US craft brewery based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It’s known for its India Pale Ale (IPA) varieties – bitter beers that use generous quantities of hops for both flavour and aroma. Beyond IPAs, they offer a wide range of other brews, from the popular, spicy Bangalore Bliss hefeweizen, with hints of banana, clove and lemon blossom, to the award-winning Michael Faricy’s Irish stout that has flavours of dark chocolate and Turkish coffee.
2. Go Byg of go home in Hennur
At a sprawling 65,000 square feet, Byg Brewski Brewing Company in Hennur is a massive microbrewery with more than enough elbow space to chill out with a pint. Dine alfresco at its rustic outdoor space, where seats surround a manmade lake that’s lit with fairy lights at nightfall. Besides offering a selection of artisanal brews such as the Byg Triple, a Belgian-style strong ale, and the Byg Peppercorn that’s bursting with pink and green peppercorn notes, the brewery also serves specially crafted cocktails. Pair your tipples with its varied menu of continental, Italian, North Indian and Thai cuisine. The craft-beer infused dishes, such as its pork spare ribs and beer battered onion rings, are not to be missed.
3. Bangalore’s first Irish brewhouse
Seemingly straight out of Ireland, Murphy’s Brewhouse is a tavern located inside luxury hotel The Paul. Along with having the honour of being Bangalore’s first Irish Brewhouse, they boast that their brewers make the best lager in town. While such a claim may sound lofty, their bestselling Black Beard lager is sublimely smooth and malty, carrying a whiff of caramelised sugar. They also serve a range of cocktails and wines, best paired with international fare they serve. The décor – all wood and leather with beer barrels serving as tables – is designed as a tribute to old, kitschy Irish pubs.
4. Live music and the best hops
Local residents love to kick back with a pint of Windmills Craftworks’ hefeweizen, which is inspired by the refreshing wheat beers of southern Germany and contains a special yeast that imbues the beer with mild hints of banana and clove. On the other side of the flavour spectrum is their dark and full-bodied stout, with its distinct taste of roasted barley. The warm and cosy restaurant space is lined with bookshelves and also plays host to some of the city’s more exciting music events.
5. Best microbrewery award winner
One of south India’s oldest microbreweries and winner of the “Best Microbrewery” award’ at the Times Food & Nightlife Awards 2022, The Biere Club prides itself on fresh beers created in small batches. This means the innovative use of seasonal ingredients and spices: think smoked orange ale, mango beer or a lemon and chilli cooler ideal for the sweltering summer months. In the cooler season, the pub offers wheat beers made with rich malts and spicy hops. If in doubt, there is also a sampler flight to start with – four to six small glasses, usually comprising a wheat beer, lager, stout, ale and any seasonal or special brew.
6. Hand crafted beer and wood-fired food
For an unbeatable buzz, Bangalore’s hottest watering hole is Toit, right in the beating heart of Indiranagar, a lush and leafy residential neighbourhood. From pale ales and smoked rye ales to lagers and English malts, there is something for every kind of beer aficionado here. Toit also creates brews with a fruity twist from time to time using local ingredients such as mosambi (sweet lime) and jackfruit. If you want to take a break from beer (though I don’t see why you would), Toit serves a selection of spirits, juices and wines, and make some wicked cocktails. Toit has also opened up shop in Mumbai’s Lower Parel and Kalyani Nagar in Pune.
7. Stand-up comedy with beer in hand
Prost Brewpub, with outlets in both Bangalore and Hyderabad, derives its name from the German word for “cheers”. It is known for its excellent line up of live music and stand-up comedy events as much as its beers. Their own tribute to the city comes in the form of the pale Bangalore Bolt which is made using German wheat and barley along with a special Bavarian yeast. Also try the Red Alert, a copper-tinted brew that’s fruity and made from Himalayan apples.
Additional reporting by Claire Ang
Please check the establishments’ respective websites for opening hours as well as booking requirements before visiting, and remember to adhere to safe-distancing measures while out and about.
The information is accurate as of press time. For the latest travel advisory updates, please refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website.
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This article was originally published in the December 2018 issue of SilverKris magazine
