Beer is not just a drink, it is an emotion, and breweries are where these emotions are brewed. In the early days, we had only a select few beer options to get tipsy. They were Sandpiper, Kalyani Black, Golden Eagle, Kingfisher and Thunderbolt, to name a few. But, in the last decade or so, the brewing scene has completely changed in India. With the advent of microbreweries, the country’s beer game has accelerated. Leading this change, with a huge margin, is Bangalore.
With Bangalore boasting about 65 microbreweries, there’s absolutely no scope for a parched soul on a balmy evening in the city. With so many options comes the problem of plenty. It can be quite a daunting task to narrow down the best brewery in Bangalore to quench your thirst. So, when you’re jotting down your favourites, you must always keep a few basics in mind — the beer, the food, the ambience, the service and the experience. Here are our top five picks for your reading pleasure and testing the best brewery in Bangalore (in the order of ranking).
1. The Bier Library
A large door at the entrance welcomes you warmly into a sprawling enclosure with three floors of sitting arrangement and a beautiful indoor pond. Their beers are always a treat with at least five fabulous options on tap all the time. Amongst the different beer options, you must have the IPA, Hefeweizen and the Stout. The food is delectable, and you should try one of their pizzas for sure. The service at The Bier Library is top-notch. You are bound to have a Beerlitious time there.
Location: 6th Block, Koramangala
Price: INR 2,300 for 2 people (approx.)
2. 7 Rivers Brewing Company
This is one of the breweries we personally love because leading the brewing team is a lovely lady who is as passionate about beer as one can be. So, if you are looking to try the works of the women brewers of Bangalore, this is the place to be. Situated at the Taj MG Road, you would be wowed by the ambience and the huge pool side area to enjoy your drinks. You must try their Kapi Stout and the Strong Wheat and pair it with some barbeque wings. Overall, it’s a fantastic place to chill and have a good time. If you can’t make it to the brewery, you can also pick up their beer cans from a wine shop near you.
Location: Taj MG Road
Price: INR 2,200 for 2 people (approx.)
3. Biergarten
We call this place one of the most sincere breweries in town. The head brewer is passionate and devoted to his craft and never compromises on the beer. Between their two outlets, they offer about ten beers on tap and each is better than the other. At Biergarten, you absolutely should try their IPA and the Hefeweizen. These two beers are totally no-nonsense by-the-book beers. Besides these two, you can try the Lager, the Stout and the Red Ale. The service at Biergarten is usually topnotch and the overall ambience is good too.
Location: 5th Koramangala & Whitefield
Price: INR 2,000 for 2 people (approx.)
4. Windmills Craftworks
Windmills is one of the classiest breweries in the whole of Bangalore. For the jazz heads, live music aficionados and connoisseurs of good food and beer, Windmills is the perfect place. They’ve been in town for about ten years and have brewed about 70 different types of beers over this decade. You must try their Gosè’s and the Pale Ale. They brew one of the better stouts in the city as well. Their pub food is pretty good, and you also have the option to order from Oota downstairs. A special mention to its library-like ambience which keeps you cosy throughout.
Location: Shivaji Nagar, Whitefield & Airport
Price: INR 800-1,500 (approx.)
5. The Pump House
A relatively new entrant in the brewing scene in Bangalore, The Pump House has made a name for some great beers, good food and a fabulous ambience. We can safely say that The Pump House has one of the biggest ceiling fans (an industrial exhaust fan) in the city and the beers are no less either. Their IPA, Belgian Wit and the Lager are always a treat. Every once in a while, they come up with a new, unique experimental beer which is a great option. The food is usually on point and the service is great. You can pair your beer with some wings, cottage cheese or finger foods like cheese nachos.
Location: 1st Phase, JP Nagar
Price: INR 1,600 for 2 (approx.)
Overall, there’s no dearth of breweries in Bangalore and we could go on talking about every one of them, but the above five are guaranteed places for an amazing time with your family and friends, beers, food and great ambience. If you are a beer enthusiast or you just enjoy a chilled, tall glass of beer after a long day of work, head over to one of these best breweries in Bangalore and enjoy!