An Andheri brewery is turning nostalgic childhood candies into inventive craft beers

“If you grew up in the 1990s, you’ll remember calling dibs on your favourite colour when a pack of Poppins was opened, or holding a sweet cigarette between pursed lips. The children who did this are still alive inside us; they just sit across the bar now,” Pratap tells us as he swiftly smacks the back of his hand. “Did you ever apply one of those free tattoos from bubblegum packs like this?” the 30-year-old chuckles.

Nearly 70 kms away in Karjat, these new beers came to life last month through a brainstorming session with brewer Abhishek Chinchalkar. “We went through multiple iterations to get the flavours right. Patrons remember these flavours too well,” Pratap shares. The mint lager on the menu, for instance, was brewed with natural crushed mint. Similarly, the cardamom lager (a tribute to Kismi toffees) were spiced during the initial stages in the brewing process. For the indecisive ones, the beers are available in 60 ml pours, standard pints, popsicle, and ice pop forms. 

“The idea is to draw in people who don’t usually enjoy beer, and give the drinks a second chance,” Pratap explains. While we’re there, we spot a menu coming fresh off the press. An upcoming Christmas-special menu includes Rudolf’s Red Nose, Snowman Cookie, and Santa’s Chimney. “We’re also experimenting with a gluten-free beer made with black rice sourced from Northeast India,” the restaurateur reveals. Watch this space for more heady updates.  
 
Time 12 pm to 1 am 
At Sthamba Global Brewery, Morya Landmark II, opposite Infinity Mall, Link Road, Andheri West. 
Log on to @sthambabrewery

The Guide’s top picks

1 Bubblegum Sour: This Boomer-inspired beer comes in a deep shade of pink. True to its name, the tartness under the sugar is unmissable, and possibly saves the beer from being too saccharine or syrupy for beer lovers. We’ll call this an experiment that shouldn’t have worked, but somehow did.

2 Mint Lager: We were warned that this one might not suit a regular beer junkie’s palate. First sip in, and we can almost taste the crushed mint that hopped into the brewing kettle in Karjat. We love the minty freshness this Phantom cigarette-inspired lager brings to the table, but it does leave a bittersweet aftertaste, which you might or might not love.

3 Key Lime Sour: We opted out of sipping this beer, because we could bite into it instead. Served in the form of ice popsicles, this Sour Punk flavoured beer had us slurping the tangy beer like a child. Unlike the distinct acidic punch of the lime, our table manners were nowhere to be seen.

4 Chocolate Stout: If stouts are not your jam, we recommend you call for a 60-ml pour of this dark stout that borrows its flavour from the Melody toffee bites. The creamy head, heavy body, and aromatic hints of caramel and cocoa make this our pick for the perfect dessert beer.

Cost Rs 50 (60 ml pour), Rs 395 (standard 330ml pint), Rs 200 (ice pops)