21 Best Beer Brands in India for 2024
Beer is a light alcoholic beverage which is loved across the world and consumed by billions of people every year. With origins in the oldest human civilisations in Israel, beer is the go-to alcoholic beverage for the summers, given its refreshing taste and low alcohol content. The name “beer” is derived from Old English and the Common Germanic word “bēor”, which loosely translates into a sweet yet potent drink made from honey and fruits. Beer has been part of popular culture as early as the construction of the Great Pyramids of Egypt and has gone on to become one of the most popular beverages on the planet.
The best part about beer is that you can get great options and a good quantity of the drink on a budget, which isn’t generally the case with more expensive spirits such as whisky, gin, and wine. In case you are on the lookout for a nice beer to chill alone or with your loved ones, we have curated a list of the best beer brands available in India – including international and Indian brands. But before that…
What is Beer?
As discussed, beer is an alcoholic drink that has its origins in the Carmel Mountains near Haifa in Israel between 8500BC-5500BC, about 12-13,000 years ago. Since then, it has travelled across the globe and is loved by millions of alcohol lovers. Contrary to whisky and certain wines, beer has no standardised composition. However, largely, beer is made from malted barley or malted maize, with water being the main component. Lighter beers have 4-5% alcohol by volume, moderate ones have 5-7%, while strong beers are categorised as having more than 7-8% alcohol by volume.
How to Drink Beer?
Beer is generally consumed in its existing form without the need to mix additional water, soda, or other liquids. This is because of the low alcohol content in most beers. However, there exist certain beer-based cocktails, such as Chelada, Beer Margarita, Black Velvet, and Classic Shandy, that you can experiment with at house parties or when you are chilling at a club or bar. There is no real purist way to drink beer, and you can enjoy it in a number of ways.
What if I don’t drink beer?
If you are a teetotaller, we have something exciting for you. There are several great 100% non-alcoholic beer brands to choose from. They offer a robust flavour and give you a chance to enjoy yourself with your friends without feeling left out.
How Do We Pick the Best Beer Brands In India?
Beer is one of the simplest and least complex kinds of alcoholic beverages. However, it has various elements, including alcohol content, flavour, and price. We have curated a list of the best beer brands that cater to almost every kind of drinker out there. Here you can also check the best vodka brands and a list of some of the top whiskey brands in India.
List of 21 Top Indian Beer Brands in India
1. Kingfisher
Kingfisher is the most well-known beer brand in the country. Owned by UB Spirits, Kingfisher is ubiquitous for its mild and strong beers in the country. Whether for house parties or beach chill scenes, Kingfisher is usually the average Indian’s first choice.
Notable Features
- Kingfisher has more than 36% market share in India’s massive beer market.
- Launching in 1978, Kingfisher beer now also sells in over 52 other countries apart from India.
- Heineken is the largest shareholder in UB Group, the holding company of the Kingfisher brand.
Country of origin: India
Latest Price (in New Delhi): at Rs 65
2. Bira 91
Bira 91 is one of the most recent beer brands in India to gain cult status. The brand brings a fresh change to the Indian beer scene with craft beers and a refreshing new flavour profile.
Notable Features
- Bira 91 is one of the youngest major beer brands in India – launched in 2015.
- Bira 91 is known for launching experimental beers in the market – Mango Lassi Ale, Kokum Sour, among others.
- The brand was founded by Ankur Jain, who noticed this gap in the Indian alcohol market.
Country of origin: India
Latest Price (in New Delhi): at Rs 80
3. Haywards
Haywards 5000 is probably one of the most well-recognised beer brands in the country. Over the past few years, it has gone on to be synonymous with strong beers (the largest segment of the market) in India.
Notable Features
- The brand was started by Eric Hayward who came to India in 1904.
- Haywards 5000 is easily India’s bestselling strong ale beer.
- The brand is currently by the Shaw Wallace Group.
Country of origin: India
Latest Price (in New Delhi): at Rs 100
4. Simba
Following in the footsteps of Bira is Simba, yet another craft beer that has made it to the Indian mainstream. In fact, the Simba Stout is India’s first bottled craft stout. The beer is now available in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Goa, Kolkata, and Assam.
Notable Features
- Simba beer is usually made in small batches, allowing for more experimental options.
- The brand sells Wit, Stout, and Light options of beer.
- Simba has been making strides in the Indian beer market ever since its relatively recent inception in 2016.
Country of origin: India
Latest Price (in New Delhi): at Rs 80
5. Royal Challenge
Royal Challenge is wildly popular for its budget whisky, but not many know that Royal Challenge also runs a popular beer brand. It sells a premium lager, one of the most sold beers in India.
Notable Features
- Royal Challenge lager sells more than 2.5 million caes in India every year.
- Aroma of the beer is super sweet and malty with a cider after smell.
- In certain South Indian markets, Royal Challenge beer has a bigger market share than even Kingfisher beer.
Country of origin: India
Latest Price (in New Delhi): at Rs 50
6. Godfather
Launched over 25 years ago, Godfather beer is one of the most well-known strong beer brands in India, especially in the northern states. The beer is distilled in the brewery in Jammu.
Notable Features
- Godfather Original Strong beer is packaged at 7.5% abv, which is one of the strongest in the market.
- The beer has a refreshing 25-day brewing cycle that gives it the solid flavour profile.
- The brand is currently owned by Devans Modern Breweries.
Country of origin: India
Latest Price (in New Delhi): at Rs 65
7. White Rhino
White Rhino Brewing Co is regarded as India’s first craft brewery, which set the trend for the category in the Indian market. The brewery is located in Malanpur and produces several interesting variants of beer on a regular basis.
Notable Features
- White Rhino sells Wit, Lager, and India Pale Ale (IPA) as its flagship beers in India and abroad.
- The brewery is located in Malanpur (Chambal), a few hours from New Delhi.
- The brewhouse was manufactured in the US, bottling machinery in Czech Republic.
Country of origin: India
Latest Price (in New Delhi): at Rs 95
8. Kati Patang
Kati Patang is a unique Indian beer that was conceptualised and is now brewed in Bhutan. The beer uses Himalayan water to present a robust and refreshing taste profile.
Notable Features
- Kati Patang has Zesty Amber, Snappy Wheat, Saffron Lager, and Bareilly Bold as variants.
- The Saffron Lager is super unique in the sense that it has actualy saffron for an interesting flavour.
- Kati Patang beers are currently available in Delhi, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh.
Country of origin: India
Latest Price (in New Delhi): at Rs 130
9. BeeYoung
BeeYoung is another craft beer brand from India, known especially for its locally crafted strong beer. The brand’s motto – Young & Free – is relatable with its refreshing bottle and can design and beer flavour.
Notable Features
- BeeYoung was established quite recently in November 2018 in New Delhi.
- It is India’s first strong craft beer with an alcohol content of 7.2%.
- The brand sells its beers in Delhi, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab.
Country of origin: India
Latest Price (in New Delhi): at Rs 100
10. Beor 360
Owned by BrewKing, Beor 360 is a new Indian craft beer brand known for its small batch wheat beers that are popular among the millennial and GenZ audience across the country.
Notable Features
- Beor360 is available in two variants – Craft Lager and Craft Wheat.
- It is India’s first strong craft beer with an alcohol content of 7.2%.
- Beor 360 availability is currently very limited – only in Delhi and Gurugram.
Country of origin: India
Latest Price (in New Delhi): at Rs 120
List of the Top International Beer Brands in India
11. Tuborg
Tuborg is a centuries-old beer brand that has been appreciated by liquor enthusiasts across generations. The origin of the brand is in Denmark where Jonas Theus conceptualised the bottles.
Notable Features
- Tuborg started in 1880 and its name is derived from Thues Borg, meaning Thues’ castle in Danish.
- Its Tuborg Green beer is one of the most recognisable beer brands in the world.
- The brand sells its beer in bottles and different sizes of cans across the globe.
Country of origin: Denmark
Latest Price (in New Delhi): at Rs 65
12. Carlsberg
Carlsberg is yet another major international beer brand that is extremely popular in the Indian market. It shares its parent with Tuborg, and produces more than 500 local and international beers across the world.
Notable Features
- Carlsberg’s India flagship Elephant is one of the bestselling strong beers in the country.
- The brand also sells a regular Carlsberg variant alongside a Special brew option.
Country of origin: Denmark
Latest Price (in New Delhi): at Rs 135
13. Foster’s
Foster’s is an Australian beer brand set up back in 1887. It is the largest-selling Australian beer brand now and retails in over 150 countries across the world.
Notable Features
- Foster’s beer is only manufactured by Hop Products Australia in 3 locations in Australia.
- The unique yeast formula helps cut the sulfur harshness and retain smoothness in the beer.
- Foster’s Lager and Premium Ale are the two top-selling beer brands in the country.
Country of origin: Australia
Latest Price (in New Delhi): at Rs 100
14. Heineken
Heineken NV produces the Heineken beer range, one of the most popular brands in the market right now. The brand’s iconic green bottle with red star is highly recognisable across thousands of bars and retail shops across the world.
Notable Features
- Heineken has been in the business of producing quality beers for the last 140 years.
- 25 million cases of the beer are sold each year across 192 nations globally.
- The brand’s custom A-Yeast gives it a smooth flavour profile, making it loved by millions across the globe.
Country of origin: The Netherlands
Latest Price (in New Delhi): at Rs 110
15. Miller
An American beer brand, Miller was founded back in 1855 by a German immigrant in the US. South African Breweries is the majority owner of the brand globally.
Notable Features
- Miller sells High Life, Lite, Genuine Draft, 64, and Chocolate Lager as variants.
- The brand sells beers ranging from 4.1% to 8% alcohol content in US and other countries.
- Miller is now solely owned by Ab-InBev globally.
Country of origin: United States
Latest Price (in New Delhi): at Rs 155
16. Corona
Probably the most talked about beer in the last couple of years, Corona is a Mexican beer that had a huge coincidence when the virus that caused a global pandemic was similarly named.
Notable Features
- Corona is produced by Mexico-based brewery Cervecería Modelo while the brand is owned by AB-InBev.
- The beer is usually served with a wedge of lime on the neck of the bottle to add flavour.
- Corona’s recipe includes adding corn to the usual barley malt to provide a unique flavour profile.
Country of origin: Mexico
Latest Price (in New Delhi): at Rs 155
17. Hoegaarden
Hoegaarden comes from a location that is known for its wheat beers since the Middle Ages. The brand sells its iconic beers with a dried Curaçao orange peel to provide an orange zesty flavour.
Notable Features
- Hoegaarden is a Belgian white beer with flavour of spices, citrus, and lemon.
- The beer is super popular across the globe in the fact that it is sold in over 70 countries.
- It is a great option to pair this beer with fresh salads, Meditteranean foods, and mussels.
Country of origin: Belgium
Latest Price (in New Delhi): at Rs 155
18. Stella Artois
Stella Artois is yet another Belgium beer, commonly known as the standard for pilsner beers in the country. Outside Belgium, Stella Artois is usually sold with reduced alcohol content for commercial reasons.
Notable Features
- The Stella Artois was launched in 1926 as a Christmas-special beer.
- Usually sold in draught style, Stella Artois also comes in other packaging options.
- It is recommended to chill the beer between 3-5 degrees Celsius before serving.
Country of origin: Belgium
Latest Price (in New Delhi): at Rs 280
19. Asahi
Asahi is undoubtedly one of the biggest alcohol brands from Japan. The Super Dry brand has transformed the country’s beer industry and made Japanese beer a household name in European countries.
Notable Features
- Asahi sells Draft, Gold, Stout, Z, Black, and Prime Time as beer variants.
- Asahi has a 44% share in Czech Republic, 32% in Poland, and 18% in Italy, which shows the prowess of a Japanese beer in beer-dominated markets.
- Asahi beer is inspired by sake and has brought super dry beer to the mainstream.
Country of origin: Japan
Latest Price (in New Delhi): at Rs 285
20. Singha
Singha is a subsidiary of Thailand’s Boon Rawd Brewery. This is one of the most popular Southeast Asian beer brands in the world. The colour of the beer and the bottle design are iconic among beer enthusiasts.
Notable Features
- Singha is synonymous with Thai culture, signifying a rich colour through its golden yellow colour.
- The 330ml classic pint bottle has 122 Kcal and 5% alcohol content.
- Born in Bangkok, Singha beer is now enjoyed across 58 countries globally.
Country of origin: Thailand
Latest Price (in New Delhi): at Rs N/A
21. Beck’s Ice
With a strong German heritage, Beck’s Ice is a beer brand that is aimed at the youth. It is known as one of the smoothest strong beers in the Indian market right now.
Notable Features
- With 7% alcohol content, Beck’s Ice is one of the most popular strong beers available in India.
- The brewery that makes this beer was started way back in 1873.
- The beer has 100% pure malt and offers a smooth aftertaste for enjoying in your house and office parties.
Country of origin: Germany
Latest Price (in New Delhi): at Rs 105
Best Beer Brands in India With Price List
| Best Beer Brands | Price* (New Delhi) |
|---|---|
| Kingfisher | Starting at Rs 65 |
| Bira 91 | Starting at Rs 80 |
| Haywards | Starting at Rs 100 |
| Simba | Starting at Rs 80 |
| Royal Challenge | Starting at Rs 50 |
| Godfather | Starting at Rs 65 |
| White Rhino | Starting at Rs 95 |
| Kati Patang | Starting at Rs 130 |
| BeeYoung | Starting at Rs 100 |
| Beor 360 | Starting at Rs 120 |
| Tuborg | Starting at Rs 65 |
| Carlsberg | Starting at Rs 135 |
| Foster’s | Starting at Rs 100 |
| Heineken | Starting at Rs 110 |
| Miller | Starting at Rs 155 |
| Corona | Starting at Rs 155 |
| Hoegaarden | Starting at Rs 155 |
| Stella Artois | Starting at Rs 280 |
| Asahi | Starting at Rs 285 |
| Singha | N/A |
| Beck’s Ice | Starting at Rs 105 |
*Prices are subject to change
Final Word
Beer is one of the oldest and most enjoyed alcoholic beverages in the world. With several varieties and alcohol by volume, we have curated a list of the absolute best beer brands in India. While Kingfisher, Bira 91, and Asahi are our absolute party favourites, you can go through the list and take your pick depending on the budget, type of beer, and taste profile mentioned.
FAQs
How do you know if beer is good?
To know if beer tastes good, you will experience a smooth, balanced taste when drinking it. In case the beer tastes sour or too bitter or flat, it is most likely gone bad.
Who invented beer?
While there is no solid evidence on who invented beer and when, it is estimated that beer was enjoyed as early as 5,000 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia. Thus, beer has been part of culture since the Middle Ages.
What are the benefits of beer?
There are several benefits of beer including stress relief, memory strengthening, and protection from certain heart and kidney ailments. However, much like every other alcohol, beer is best consumed in moderation and with low frequency. Overconsumption of any alcohol can cause long-term health issues.
Why beer is called beer?
The name “beer” is derived from the Old English and Common Germanic word “bēor” which loosely translates into a sweet yet potent drink made from honey and fruits.
Which is the oldest beer?
While the oldest beer is not known, it is believed that Brauerei Weihenstephan, located in Germany, is the oldest known brewery in the world. It has origins dating back to 1040AD.
Does beer expire?
Yes, beer can expire if kept in hot conditions for a long time. Due to the low alcohol content, beer is prone to spoiling when not kept in optimum conditions.
