Sangrias, margaritas, and more - Bengaluru says cheers to beer, in new form
Popularity of beer cocktails has the city's bar chefs pushing their creative envelopes.
By Smita Balram, ET Bureau |
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BENGALURU: Microbreweries and resto-bars are now playing with the city’s most sought-after beverage – beer – to craft cocktails.
Inspired by swigging shots and chasing it with beer, all-day café Smoke House Deli launched a beer cocktail menu by marrying the two. Beer with fruits like sour cherry and pineapple was paired with grills. “Millennials prefer light beverages. Beer cocktails are affordable at almost half the cost of spirit-based cocktails,” said the restaurant’s Ranveer Sabhani.
Closeby, Bootlegger’s Shreyas Patel said the dive bar has seen a 30-40% growth in its beer cocktail sales. Interestingly, beer cocktails sell better at the Indiranagar chapter of his dive bar than on Vittal Mallya Road. “At Indiranagar, customers in their early 20s go for beer cocktails. Vittal Mallya Road gets the corporate crowd that prefers draught beer,” he said.
The rising popularity of beer cocktails has bar chefs pushing their creative envelopes. “Bengaluru has the highest per-capita consumption of beer in India. This is a good time for bar chefs to step out of their comfort zone and build a creative beer cocktail culture,” said Sameer Chib, partner at Watson’s. He is launching a michelada menu (Mexican beer cocktail with lime juice, sauces, spices and peppers) at his watering hole.
Beer can be called the drink for all seasons, and reasons. Whether you're chilling at a sports bar with friends or out for a brunch, the many varieties of beer make it possible to pair the drink with any food.
From lagers to India Pale Ale (IPAs), beer lists continue to grow on menus.
Beer can be broadly classified as an ale or a lager; then depending on their flavours and styles they can be India Pale Ales (IPA), pilsners, porters, stouts, and wheat and Belgian beers, among others.
While the major difference between various beers is the yeast and the temperature they are fermented at, here's a list to help you show-off your beer knowledge the next time you head out.
While craft beer is its forte, even brewpub Arbor Brewing Company has 25% to its sales coming from beer cocktails. It has recently introduced a beer sangria using white wine, beer and fine fruit. Craft beer shooters are in the pipeline too.
Beer evangelist John Eapen mentions favourites in beer margarita at Church Street Social and a decoction using hop bitters at Old Fashioned bar. He even makes his own version using gin fizz topped with Belgian Wit and aromatic bitters.
Eapen, who is co-hosting a beer mixology session later this month, said: “We have seen a recent push by mixologists in Bengaluru on craft beer cocktails. Beer cocktails are a great way to introduce non-beer drinkers to beers.”
Light, bubbly and refreshing, there's nothing a mug of beer can't solve! Whether you plan to spend a lazy Sunday in front of the TV or its brunch day with friends, it's truly the drink for all reasons.
Inspired by swigging shots and chasing it with beer, all-day café Smoke House Deli launched a beer cocktail menu by marrying the two. Beer with fruits like sour cherry and pineapple was paired with grills. “Millennials prefer light beverages. Beer cocktails are affordable at almost half the cost of spirit-based cocktails,” said the restaurant’s Ranveer Sabhani.
Closeby, Bootlegger’s Shreyas Patel said the dive bar has seen a 30-40% growth in its beer cocktail sales. Interestingly, beer cocktails sell better at the Indiranagar chapter of his dive bar than on Vittal Mallya Road. “At Indiranagar, customers in their early 20s go for beer cocktails. Vittal Mallya Road gets the corporate crowd that prefers draught beer,” he said.
The rising popularity of beer cocktails has bar chefs pushing their creative envelopes. “Bengaluru has the highest per-capita consumption of beer in India. This is a good time for bar chefs to step out of their comfort zone and build a creative beer cocktail culture,” said Sameer Chib, partner at Watson’s. He is launching a michelada menu (Mexican beer cocktail with lime juice, sauces, spices and peppers) at his watering hole.
From lagers to India Pale Ale (IPAs), beer lists continue to grow on menus.
Beer can be broadly classified as an ale or a lager; then depending on their flavours and styles they can be India Pale Ales (IPA), pilsners, porters, stouts, and wheat and Belgian beers, among others.
While the major difference between various beers is the yeast and the temperature they are fermented at, here's a list to help you show-off your beer knowledge the next time you head out.
While craft beer is its forte, even brewpub Arbor Brewing Company has 25% to its sales coming from beer cocktails. It has recently introduced a beer sangria using white wine, beer and fine fruit. Craft beer shooters are in the pipeline too.
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“Beer was a gentleman’s drink and cocktails a woman’s signature sip. Beer cocktails have the best of both worlds and are equally popular with both men and women,” says general manager Vijayalakshmi G.Beer evangelist John Eapen mentions favourites in beer margarita at Church Street Social and a decoction using hop bitters at Old Fashioned bar. He even makes his own version using gin fizz topped with Belgian Wit and aromatic bitters.
Eapen, who is co-hosting a beer mixology session later this month, said: “We have seen a recent push by mixologists in Bengaluru on craft beer cocktails. Beer cocktails are a great way to introduce non-beer drinkers to beers.”
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