You no longer need to make the journey to Gurgaon every time you desire the pleasure of freshly brewed beer. The trend of microbreweries is gradually gaining popularity in the national capital, with five outlets currently in operation and two more in the works. Officials have reported receiving inquiries from numerous established players in the hospitality industry who are interested in establishing their own breweries to offer customers the delight of freshly crafted beer.
Despite the Delhi government’s 2015 excise policy announcement, which permitted restaurants and hotels to establish microbreweries on their premises, the implementation of this decision was delayed for four years. This was primarily due to the classification of breweries as “liquor-making plants,” which were prohibited within the capital city.
At its board meeting in September 2018, the Delhi Development Authority made a significant decision to remove microbreweries from the list of “prohibited” industries under the Master Plan Delhi 2021. However, this change came with a condition: the establishment of an onsite wastewater treatment facility on the premises. Additionally, applicants were mandated to obtain approval for their water treatment systems from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).
The process of establishing microbreweries in Delhi gained momentum only after the Ministry of Urban Housing and Affairs officially announced the change in February of this year.
After diligently following the guidelines and successfully completing the extensive water treatment system installation process, the applicants obtained approval from the DPCC. Subsequently, the excise department began issuing licenses to them.
The first license to establish a microbrewery was granted in September of the previous year. Currently, there are a total of five microbreweries operating in the city. Two are located in Connaught Place, one can be found at a five-star hotel on Ashoka Road, and one each in Saket and Hauz Khas. Furthermore, inspections of two additional microbreweries have been completed. One is situated at Avenue Mall in Saket, while the other is located at Ambience Mall in Vasant Kunj. The licenses for these two establishments are expected to be issued soon.
According to excise officials, the industry initially had some concerns, but now more players seem interested as licenses are being issued to those who fulfill the necessary requirements. The department collects excise duty based on the total capacity of the brewery and does not have the authority to determine the rate of the crafted beer.
As per the policy, restaurants, hotels, and clubs have the opportunity to establish microbreweries with a daily capacity of up to 500 litres. In the neighboring city of Gurgaon, where microbreweries have been operating for the past few years, there are at least 50 establishments of this kind that appeal to beer enthusiasts.
Given the consistent increase in beer consumption within the city, microbreweries in Delhi have the potential to emerge as significant revenue generators for the excise department.
The freshly brewed beer is renowned for its alcohol content ranging from 4 to 8 percent, offering a natural and authentic taste without any preservatives or artificial flavorings. This unique quality has contributed to its widespread popularity.
“A choice of 12-14 true craft beers is now available in Delhi and that too at everyday value in pricing. We see no reason for anybody to travel to any other city to enjoy freshly brewed craft beer. In fact, we’ve been noticing an influx of customers from adjoining areas who are tired of consuming sub-standard produce,” said Manish Tandon, the owner of a microbrewery.
