Beer. That innocuous four letter word usually conjures up images of a cold, pale golden brew being consumed on a hot summer’s day with friends with much mirth all around or a prominently positioned six pack on the table during a football game with buddies. Aside from being the world’s oldest documented alcoholic beverage, and third most popular drink (after water and tea), beer holds a special place in our hearts. It is a social phenomenon – an unpretentious drink that’s easygoing and speaks to everyone the world over. A drink brewed by monks and commoners, by big behemoths and small microbrewers, beer does not discriminate.
The mention of beer in India until most recently also conjured up images of a green bottle with a bird on it (perhaps a prophesy that one day the owner of the company would take flight). This changed about eight years ago when the first micro brewing licenses were handed out to enthusiasts in Bengaluru, thereby ushering in the age of the microbrewery. From Biere Club to India, beer enthusiasts were finally given a taste of the locally brewed rich Weisens, crisp Pilsners, bitter Darks and innovative IPA’s. With microbreweries mushrooming all over Bengaluru, the day of the beer had truly arrived. Beer was no longer a drink to be consumed at Permit Rooms over a plate of spicy chicken 65. It had become a hip drink that friends could consume at high end, yet accessible places after work, and even places where many a first date happened.
The erstwhile unified state of Andhra Pradesh was consistently ranked as the highest consumer of beer in the country. It thus came as a surprise to many of us, that the microbreweries weren’t allowed to operate here for the longest time. All that changed a couple of years when Hyderabad was given its first license to open a microbrewery. Today, Hyderabad has as over half a dozen breweries vying for the top spot with many more waiting to open up.
Celebrating this, we went around the city to put together some of the nicest breweries around to help you make your decision easier…
Text: Anahita Ahuja
Place: The Hoppery at Olive
Owned by: Olive Group of restaurants
Brewed by: We’ve strategically tied up with Master Brewer Aditya Challa and Abhinav Maranganty of Bolly Beers.
Most selling beer: It’s too early to say, but we may be the first Microbrewery to have a non wheat beer as the top seller – the Hyderabrew with Nannari roots sold out faster than expected.
Matures in: Varies from beer to beer, but about 3 weeks on average. We don’t compromise on the maturing time – Hence the daily stock rationing!
Hops and water used: We use RO water. Our Hops are from the UK and the Pacific Northwest.
Specialise in: Forget the fact that we have the best view in town! Forget the fact that we have the most scrumptious food! Forget the fact that we have great music! We have the best brews! Hence our caption – No BS. Only Brews!
USP: At The Hoppery we are obsessed with the quality of beer produced. We do not cut corners on the quality of hops used. We do not cut corners on the beer brewing cycle.
Price of a glass/litre: Rs. 239/ Rs. 699
Address: The Hoppery at Olive, Inside Durgam Cheruvu Park, Road Number 46, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad.
