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After the absolutely uncharacteristic guest-appearance of Bangalore’s winter season, the city has begun to brace itself for yet another scorching summer. Although the garden-city is still a tad better equipped than most metropolitan cities when it comes to green cover , the coming months are sure to get temperatures and tempers (aided by usual traffic snarls of course) soaring!
However, residents and travellers to the city can find succour in the many micro-breweries that have sprung up in the past few years thanks to the Karnataka Brewery Act that was amended in 2011 giving rise to close to 20 different outlets in the city alone as on date. The citizens of ‘luru have always loved beer in it’s many forms and origins and that sure isn’t going to change anytime soon.
German, Belgian or British, strong or mellow - Bangalore has the beer to suit your every mood. Here are 10 craft beers brewed right here in the city that you definitely must try to beat the heat.
I. The Wheat Beer @ The Biere Club
Another brewery that is now synonymous with the IT capitals love for the frothy bubbly beverage is the Biere Club. Located in the heart of one of the city’s posh neighbourhoods the Biere Club boasts of one of the best wheat beers in town.
Simple, straightforward and easy on a drinker’s palate the wheat beer has a balanced , light taste and is the most popular type available here. Perfect for long blazing summer afternoons, the wheat beer is the best accompaniment to sunday brunch this time of the year.
Go get yourself one now!
Probably one of Bangalore’s most infamous brews to have ever been concocted, the Phat Abbot is a sure fire mention when it comes to craft beers in the city and especially in the summer.
Arbor describes it as a golden abbey-style ale made with ‘Trappist’ yeast and light Belgian candy sugar for a traditional, malty Trappist character. Available from February onwards, the Phat Abbot is one amongst the most popular beers in Pub city and is also one of the strongest at 8% alcohol by volume. Rich and complex with flavors of toasted bread, tropical fruits, banana and honey; one must give this a go when in town!
III. The Weiss @ Toit
One can’t really write about the beers in Bangalore without mentioning the Weiss at Toit.
A close competitor to the Hefeweizen at W&C, the Toit Weiss is similar in taste and in character. The only difference being the alcohol by volume percentage which is slightly higher in this case , averaging at about 4.9% . Our friends in Mumbai certainly have something to look forward to when the pride of ‘luru opens there soon!
In Fact , the Weiss is so well known , even my German friend Felix agreed it was one of the best beers he ever had. ( We know how much beer the Germans drink don’t we ?)
IV. The Hefeweizen @ Windmills and Craftworks
W&C is back and this time is for the Hefeweizen beer that is to DIE for. Probably the city’s most loved beer , it is available at nearly all microbrews across town.
The reason why the Hefeweizen here is as close to the real deal as it gets is because the malts are imported from their country of origin, Germany. These malts are them fermented with traditional yeast that gives it that distinct clove and banana flavour adding just that little bit of zing!
A fruity, refreshing beer and totally worth trying out.
V. The Stout @ Windmills and Craftworks
One of the Jewels in Bangalore’s treasure trove of breweries is of course Windmills and Craftworks and they take their beers very seriously. The Stout beer that is available here is often regarded as the best not only in the city but also the country!
Traditionally smooth and roasty in flavour , the stout at windmills is brewed with U.K. Pale malt, Roasted barley and Flaked barley. What makes it stand-out is the fact that the malt sweetness is balanced out by nugget hops for bittering.
The Irish themselves would be proud of this beer as true to tradition finishing hops are absent.
VI. The Weizenbock @ Big Brewsky
Steering clear of the norms for standard beers is the ‘Weizenbock’ at the Big Brewsky. The picturesque brewpub is home to an original masterpiece, something even the most critical connoisseur would be proud of.
The term ‘bock’ refers to a strong beer with a high alcohol content. The beer combines the smooth and calm texture of a traditional hefeweizen with the strength of a bock to give it a unique flavour. The beer is made with wheat and barley malts, along with a small percentage of highly kilned caramel and roasted malts.
Boasting an alcohol by volume percentile that is above 6% caution ( if not thrown to the wind) is generally advised.
VII. The Mango Cider @ 3 Monkeys Brewpub
One of the good things about the onset of summer is of course the Mango Season and brewmasters in the city waste no time in concocting flavoursome brews for the ‘Aam’ aadmi as well.
The 3 Monkeys brewpub has an array of beers to try out and probably has the most extensive list of beers and their mango cider is definitely worth a glass or two. Sweet notes of alphonso mangoes that also smell recognizably strong accompanied with a tangy dryness are characteristic of the cider.
A welcome change in vibe for those looking to experiment!
VIII. The American Pale Ale @ Punjabi By Nature
Fancy a fine-dine restaurant with a microbrewery of the highest quality to boot? That’s exactly what you will get if you walk into Punjabi by Nature in Whitefield. Not heavily advertised or spoken about, the beers here are nothing short of spectacular and the pick of the lot is of course the American Pale Ale.
A beer Uncle Sam would be proud of , the pale ale is quintessentially light, crispy and has a clean mellow taste. The best way to describe a swig of this would be “Peaceful”.
IX. Michael Faricy’s Stout @ Arbor Brewing Company
Arbor is among the most popular brewpubs in the city and Michael Faricy is now a popular name among the frequent tipplers in the city although almost no one knows who he is.
The Arbor brewing company has it’s roots in Ann Arbor Michigan , where a friend of the owner’s Michael Faricy conjured his own version of the Irish Stout as a homebrew in 1993. It is so famous that it even won first place at the ‘World beer championships’ in 1998 ( yes, there exists such a thing ).
The Irish recipe for the perfect stout is amended to include a turkish coffee beans that give it an unmistakably distinct taste.
X. The Dark Knight @ Toit
A Beer that even the Batman would be proud of and from the stables of Bangalore’s first microbrewery - Toit , is the Dark Knight.
One of the most ancient forms of beer, the Dark knight is based on a recipe that is almost 200 years old and was conjured long before Wayne enterprises even existed. Toit describers the beer as “A very dark, full-bodied, roasty, malty ale” and has it’s roots in Ireland.
The Dark Knight clocks in at a decent 4.3% alcohol by volume percentile and is characterised by the taste of milk chocolate or coffee with cream which is a result of roasted dark grains combined with the sweetness of malt. To the Batmobile!
Featured image via The Biere Club website.
