It was the year 2006 when Indian beer lovers had their first chance to taste the first locally brewed craft beer. In a short span of just ten years, the Indian craft beer industry has grown by leaps and bounds. Today, there are over hundreds of locally produced brews and new-age pubs in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Chandigarh, Kolkata, and Goa.
But, have you ever wondered when craft beers came into existence? Here, in today’s post, we take a look at a few defining moments in the history of craft beer.
THE THREE DEFINING MOMENTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL TIMELINE OF CRAFT BEERS
1972: CASCADE HOPS ARE INTRODUCED.
In the year, 1972 the US government run breeding program released cascade hops. Ever since then, this hops variety, has become one of the most popular ones in the craft beer industry. With citrus notes, floral and slight bitter tones, cascade hops were a major hit.
Today, there are tons of innovative hops out there, but the Cascade hops remain a classic and staple.
1972: REVIVAL OF THE AMERICAN PORTER.
It looks like the year 1972 was a significant milestone for the craft beer industry. Anchor Brewing, a famous brewer, established way back in the 1800s in the US, revived the American Porter in 1972. The brew called as “Anchor Porter” was the first post-prohibition era porter in the United States.
American porters saw a significant spike in demand after this.
1978: HOMEBREWING BECOMES LEGALIZED, THANKS TO JIMMY CARTER.
In the United States, during the dark era of prohibition, there was a ban on home-brewing. Even after Prohibition was lifted, the federal law banning home brewing was still in existence. President Jimmy Carter revised that age-old law and home brewers began to experiment with innovative brews.
And, that’s the three most defining moments in the history of craft beer in the US.
Closer home, the craft beer industry didn’t pick up pace until the latter end of the first decade of the new millennium.
THE DEFINING MOMENTS IN THE TIMELINE OF THE INDIAN BEER INDUSTRY
1830: INDIA’S FIRST BREWERY OPENS ITS DOORS
Edward Dyer established India’s first brewery in Kasauli. The brewery produced and marketed its brew under the brand name, “Lion Beer.”
1835: LION BEER GOES TO HIMACHAL PRADESH
The brewery in Kasauli was shifted to Solan in Himachal Pradesh.
1885: DYER BREWERIES EXPANDS ITS WINGS
The brewery at Solan was incorporated as “Dyer Breweries” and later as “Dyer-Meakin & Companies” and was listed on the London Stock Exchange. The brewery expanded all over the country and was established at 12 locations across India and Burma.
1886 & 1887: OTHER COMPETITORS ENTER THE BUSINESS
Shaw Wallace was a brewery that was set up by Robert Gordon Shaw and Charles William Wallace. This brewery was acquired by SAB Miller in 2005.
Castle breweries were another entrant in the market at this time.
1915: UNITED BREWERIES WAS FOUNDED
Founded by a Scotsman, the United Breweries brought together five popular breweries in South India under one brand.
1949: TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP
N Mohan, a successful entrepreneur acquired the assets of the Dyer-Meakin breweries. This was later renamed as Mohan Meakin breweries in 1967.
1969: NEW ENTRANTS IN THE INDIAN MARKET
Khajuraho beer (from Lilasons Breweries), Godfather range of beers (from Devans Modern Breweries Ltd) and Pincon Spirit Ltd were some of the new entrants on the beer scene in India.
1994: HUNTER BEER INTRODUCED
Strong beers, Thunderbolt and Hunter, were introduced by Som Distilleries and Breweries in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
1994: INDIA’S FIRST INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP IN BEER
Stroh Brewery company, from Detroit USA, entered into a joint-venture with Rajasthan breweries to manufacture and market two brews, the Stroh Strong & Stroh Lager.
1998: SHIVALIK TAKES OVER THE STROH BRAND
Mount Shivalik breweries, India takes over the Stroh brands in India.
2000: SAB MILLER INDIA ACQUIRES SHAW WALLACE BREWERIES
SAB Miller then introduced the brews Hayward 2000, Hayward 5000 and Royal Challenge.
2002: LAUNCH OF THE COBRA BEER
The Cobra Beer was launched as a partnership between Molson Coors, US and Cobra Indian Beer Pvt Ltd. Subsequently, the following brews were introduced in the Indian market – King Cobra, Cobra Premium and Iceberg 9000.
2005: CARLSBERG JOINS THE RACE FOR THE SHARE OF THE INDIAN BEER INDUSTRY
World famous brand Carlsberg entered the Indian market with South Asian breweries.
2006: ANOTHER GLOBAL GIANT, BUDWEISER FORAYS INTO THE INDIAN MARKET
Budweiser launched its brews in the country as a joint-venture with Crown Breweries Ltd of Hyderabad.
END OF THE 2000S: THE CRAFT BEER SCENE OPENS UP IN INDIA
It was at this time the Indian craft beer industry began to take roots in the country. A handful of microbreweries were started in different corners of the country.
2008: HOWZATT OPENS IN GURGAON
Rohit Jafa, a microbrewery pioneer in India, sets up Howzzat, the first microbrew pub in India in Gurgaon.
2014: THE CRAFT BREWERS ASSOCIATION OF INDIA WAS LAUNCHED
Working as a non-profit, the Craft Brewers Association of India serves as a collective of brewery owners and brewers to promote craft beer in the country.
2017: AN AVERAGE OF ONE NEW BEER INTRODUCED EVERY WEEK
In 2017, despite the ban on liquor stores along the highway, nearly 52 new beer brands were launched in the country.
TODAY: THE CRAFT BEER SCENE HAS FINALLY ARRIVED BIG TIME IN THE COUNTRY
From just a handful of microbreweries in the country just a decade ago, today the industry has grown more than double its strength. There are currently nearly a hundred microbreweries all over the country.
THE FUTURE:
The beer industry in India has never looked so good. Currently, the market size of the Indian beer industry is 46,000 crores (craft beer holds around 1000 crores), and this is expected to increase to 61,000 crores by 2020 (craft beer will become four times the current size and is expected to grow to 4000 crores).
If you would like to be a part of the craft beer revolution in India, then all you have to do is give us a ring at (+91) 9811233358 / 9811196262 / 8588838333 . Under the expert guidance of Rohit Jafa and Ishan Grover (brew-master), Rohit Jafa brewing solutions has successfully established over 25 microbreweries all across the country.
Come be a part of this revolution and make your entrepreneurship dreams come true!!