Top Indian Craft Beer Brands to Try for a Real Brew Experience

Most people looking for Indian craft beer brands to try make the mistake of searching for a national ‘best list’ that simply doesn’t exist in practice. The real answer is regional: the best craft experiences are found by targeting specific cities with thriving brewery scenes, like Bengaluru, Goa, or Pune, and seeking out their local brewpubs and microbreweries directly. You won’t find a single national brand that truly represents the cutting edge of Indian craft beer because the scene is, by its very nature, localized and diverse.

That is the first thing worth clearing up, because a lot of articles on this topic throw around names that are widely distributed but no longer ‘craft’ in the truest sense, or list brewpubs that are excellent but only available in one city. To genuinely explore Indian craft beer, you need to understand where to look and what to look for.

First, Define ‘Craft Beer’ in India

When people search for craft beer in India, they usually mean one of two things:

The widely available, ‘premium’ options: These are often larger brands that started craft-adjacent and now have national distribution, offering styles beyond the standard strong lager. Think Bira 91 or White Rhino.
True microbrewery offerings: These are smaller, often experimental breweries found primarily at their own brewpubs or in very limited local distribution. This is where the real innovation and diversity of styles lie.

That distinction matters because the ‘strongest’ or ‘most popular’ list doesn’t necessarily align with what a craft beer enthusiast is actually seeking.

Where the Real Craft Beer Scene Thrives

Forget a national shopping list. Focus on these hubs:

Bengaluru (Bangalore): The Craft Beer Capital
This city has the most mature and diverse craft beer scene in India. If you’re here, you’re spoiled for choice.
- Toit: A pioneer and still a benchmark. Known for its Basmati Blonde, Tintin Toit (Belgian Wit), and diverse seasonal taps. A must-visit.
- Arbor Brewing Company (ABC): An offshoot of the Michigan-based brewery, ABC Bengaluru consistently delivers high-quality, authentic American-style craft beers like their Smooth Criminal Stout and Raging Elephant IPA.
- The Biere Club: Another early entrant, offering a solid range of traditional and experimental brews in a relaxed setting.
Goa: The Coastal Craft Movement
Goa’s scene is newer but vibrant, leveraging local ingredients and a relaxed vibe.
- Goa Brewing Co.: Known for their innovative approach, like the Eight Finger Eddie pale ale and the Pineapple Saison. They have a distinct local character.
- Maka Di: Offers approachable and well-made styles, including a Belgian Wit and a Honey Ale, widely available in Goa and increasingly beyond.
Pune & Mumbai: Emerging and Evolving
These cities have a growing number of quality brewpubs and microbreweries.
- Great State Aleworks (Pune/Maharashtra): Often hailed for its experimental and high-quality ales, Great State frequently collaborates and pushes boundaries. Their canned options are increasingly found in specialty stores across Maharashtra.
- Doolally Taproom (Pune/Mumbai): One of the oldest brewpubs, Doolally offers a consistently good range of fresh brews and a welcoming atmosphere.
- BrewDog (Mumbai/Gurugram): While an international brand, their Indian outposts focus on craft and often feature local guest taps alongside their own extensive range.

The Beers People Keep Calling ‘Craft,’ But Aren’t Really (or have evolved beyond it)

Many articles still conflate widely available ‘premium’ beers with true craft. This isn’t to say these brands aren’t good, but it’s important to set expectations:

Bira 91: Started with a craft ethos and helped popularize non-lager styles in India. While their limited-release beers might still fit a craft definition, their widely distributed White, Blonde, and Strong are now mainstream products. They are a great entry point to different styles, but not where you’ll find the cutting edge of microbrewing.
White Rhino: A solid, widely distributed brand from Delhi/NCR offering a good Lager, Wit, and IPA. They maintain a higher quality standard than many mainstream options and represent a good bottled craft-adjacent choice, but their scale means they operate differently from a true microbrewery.
Generic Microbreweries: Just because a place calls itself a ‘microbrewery’ doesn’t guarantee top-tier craft. Quality can vary wildly. Focus on places with a reputation for consistency and innovation, much like finding unique spots in Kamakura’s hidden spots requires digging beyond the obvious.

How to Actually Find Great Indian Craft Beer

The best way to experience Indian craft beer is to:

Visit Brewpubs: If you’re in Bengaluru, Goa, Pune, or Mumbai, make a point to visit the recommended brewpubs. This is where the freshest and most diverse beers are found.
Look for Canned/Bottled Options Locally: Brands like Goa Brewing Co., Maka Di, Great State Aleworks, and White Rhino have started wider distribution of their bottled or canned products in specific states. Ask at specialty liquor stores.
Engage with Local Communities: Online beer groups and local forums are excellent resources for discovering new openings and limited releases. Understanding regional tastes and brewing trends, much like the precision offered by advanced data analytics, is key to appreciating the craft beer evolution.

Final Verdict

The strongest Indian craft beer experience isn’t about finding one magical bottle that’s universally available. It’s about location and exploration. If your priority is experiencing diverse, innovative, and freshly brewed beers, head to Bengaluru’s brewpubs (Toit, Arbor) or explore the emerging scene in Goa (Goa Brewing Co., Maka Di) and Pune (Great State Aleworks, Doolally). If you’re looking for widely distributed, quality craft-adjacent options, White Rhino and the more adventurous releases from Bira 91 are good bets.

Whether you’re exploring the vibrant brewpubs of Bengaluru or seeking out unique finds in Kingstown, the journey is part of the experience. The one-line version: True Indian craft beer is a regional, brewpub-centric discovery, not a national brand list.