Summer#39;s upon us like never before and our desperate search for a chilled beer eventually leads to Gurgaon (or Gurugram) and its numerous brewpubs. To help you beat the heat the right way, we#39;ve made this guide to the 6 signature craft beers and the best places to try them at. No more choosing from dark or wheat, we are talking serious stuff here. You can thank us later or better still, buy us a round!
Indian Pale Ale @ Quaff
This newest entrant in the Cyber Hub arena had us hooked from the first sip. The vibe is great and the staff is very helpful. Plus, it#39;s one of the most pocket friendly watering hole around. If you love your beer with strong notes, then try their Indian Pale Ale (Rs 275). Expect a spicy aftertaste and a strong bitter flavour on this beauty and pair the English import with their Prawn Chips (Rs 350) or hearty Bratwurst Sausages (Rs 595).
Hefe Weizen @ Manhattan Craft Brewery
The traditional Bavarian wheat beer made with 50 per cent malted wheat, Hefe Weizen is typically pale golden in colour. Slightly cloudy because of the yeast, it#39;s an unfiltered beer as evident in the slight sediment we saw at the bottom of our mugs. This always buzzing microbrewery does the best rendition of a Hefe (Rs 225). Since the beer has a smooth and not-overpowering flavour, it goes well with all kinds of salads. Yes, we said salads! Try it with their Smoked Chicken Salad (Rs 425) made with fresh garden lettuce, smoked chicken and in-house vinaigrette or the Feta Apple Salad (Rs 375) – iceberg lettuce and red apples slices garnished with feta.
Pilsner @ Soi 7
For those who love a strong aftertaste in their beer, a pilsner is a good bet. A type of pale lager, pilsner was first brewed in Bohemia in the Czech Republic area using a different type of yeast. Slightly golden in colour, Soi 7’s curiously named Upper Cut (Rs 245) is a crisp and dry beer with a distinctive hoppy bitterness that justifies that name. It’s also ideal when eaten with crunchy, crispy food. We like pairing it with their Pepper Chicken Winglets (Rs 375) or Crispy Vegetable Chilli Garlic (Rs 325).
Pale Lager @ 7 Degree Brauhaus
Lagers are lighter bodied and lower on alcohol content than most other beers, so they are perfect to keep you cool on warm sunny days and for times when you want to drink copious amounts. The 7 Degree Lager Beer (Rs 355) at this German inspired brauhaus is a pale brew with moderately bitter flavours. The light body of a pale lager tastes best with greasy and saucy dishes, so go for the Sausages A’la Chef (Rs 449) – chicken sausages rolled in bacon and served with chilli mayo sauce.
Corn Beer @ Striker Pub Brewery
Although corn as the main grain in beer has a bad rep the world over, many brewers prefer it because of the variety it provides in terms of body, flavour and colour. As compared to wheat beers, the ones made from corn are lighter bodied and pale in colour. They are also lower on alcoholic content with a milder aroma, making it a good choice for beer novices. The ever-popular music themed Striker is one of the few places in the city that brews a corn beer called the Mariachi Maize (Rs 225). Made with yellow cornflakes, the beer has a natural sweetness that easily balances the spiciness of Asian or Mexican fare. We recommend chomping on their Spicy Mongolian Chicken (Rs 375) or Grilled Veg Skewers with Chipotle Sauce (Rs 355).
Dunkel @ 7 Barrel Brew Pub
Dunkel Weiss Biers are dark wheat brews with a distinctive chocolatey and smoky flavour because of the roasted malt used in its making. The Dunkel brew originated in Bavaria and is high on malts and low on hops, meaning they are not very bitter. This casual microbrewery#39;s version is deliciously easy-to-love. The malty Schwarzbeir (Rs 215) is a perfect match with spicy dishes, so try the Peri Peri Chicken Tikka Tacos (Rs 275) or the Sesame Chilli Potatoes (Rs 225).
Want to try all of these crafts? Check out the first of its king Gurugram Beer Week and watch out for more details and a fun contest soon.
Summer#39;s upon us like never before and our desperate search for a chilled beer eventually leads to Gurgaon (or Gurugram) and its numerous brewpubs. To help you beat the heat the right way, we#39;ve made this guide to the 6 signature craft beers and the best places to try them at. No more choosing from dark or wheat, we are talking serious stuff here. You can thank us later or better still, buy us a round!
Indian Pale Ale @ Quaff
This newest entrant in the Cyber Hub arena had us hooked from the first sip. The vibe is great and the staff is very helpful. Plus, it#39;s one of the most pocket friendly watering hole around. If you love your beer with strong notes, then try their Indian Pale Ale (Rs 275). Expect a spicy aftertaste and a strong bitter flavour on this beauty and pair the English import with their Prawn Chips (Rs 350) or hearty Bratwurst Sausages (Rs 595).
Hefe Weizen @ Manhattan Craft Brewery
The traditional Bavarian wheat beer made with 50 per cent malted wheat, Hefe Weizen is typically pale golden in colour. Slightly cloudy because of the yeast, it#39;s an unfiltered beer as evident in the slight sediment we saw at the bottom of our mugs. This always buzzing microbrewery does the best rendition of a Hefe (Rs 225). Since the beer has a smooth and not-overpowering flavour, it goes well with all kinds of salads. Yes, we said salads! Try it with their Smoked Chicken Salad (Rs 425) made with fresh garden lettuce, smoked chicken and in-house vinaigrette or the Feta Apple Salad (Rs 375) – iceberg lettuce and red apples slices garnished with feta.
Pilsner @ Soi 7
For those who love a strong aftertaste in their beer, a pilsner is a good bet. A type of pale lager, pilsner was first brewed in Bohemia in the Czech Republic area using a different type of yeast. Slightly golden in colour, Soi 7’s curiously named Upper Cut (Rs 245) is a crisp and dry beer with a distinctive hoppy bitterness that justifies that name. It’s also ideal when eaten with crunchy, crispy food. We like pairing it with their Pepper Chicken Winglets (Rs 375) or Crispy Vegetable Chilli Garlic (Rs 325).
Pale Lager @ 7 Degree Brauhaus
Lagers are lighter bodied and lower on alcohol content than most other beers, so they are perfect to keep you cool on warm sunny days and for times when you want to drink copious amounts. The 7 Degree Lager Beer (Rs 355) at this German inspired brauhaus is a pale brew with moderately bitter flavours. The light body of a pale lager tastes best with greasy and saucy dishes, so go for the Sausages A’la Chef (Rs 449) – chicken sausages rolled in bacon and served with chilli mayo sauce.
Corn Beer @ Striker Pub Brewery
Although corn as the main grain in beer has a bad rep the world over, many brewers prefer it because of the variety it provides in terms of body, flavour and colour. As compared to wheat beers, the ones made from corn are lighter bodied and pale in colour. They are also lower on alcoholic content with a milder aroma, making it a good choice for beer novices. The ever-popular music themed Striker is one of the few places in the city that brews a corn beer called the Mariachi Maize (Rs 225). Made with yellow cornflakes, the beer has a natural sweetness that easily balances the spiciness of Asian or Mexican fare. We recommend chomping on their Spicy Mongolian Chicken (Rs 375) or Grilled Veg Skewers with Chipotle Sauce (Rs 355).
Dunkel @ 7 Barrel Brew Pub
Dunkel Weiss Biers are dark wheat brews with a distinctive chocolatey and smoky flavour because of the roasted malt used in its making. The Dunkel brew originated in Bavaria and is high on malts and low on hops, meaning they are not very bitter. This casual microbrewery#39;s version is deliciously easy-to-love. The malty Schwarzbeir (Rs 215) is a perfect match with spicy dishes, so try the Peri Peri Chicken Tikka Tacos (Rs 275) or the Sesame Chilli Potatoes (Rs 225).
Want to try all of these crafts? Check out the first of its king Gurugram Beer Week and watch out for more details and a fun contest soon.