More than 20 breweries and meaderies from Mumbai and Pune recently came together at Doolally’s taproom in Khar to offer hopheads and craft beer enthusiasts in Mumbai with a treat of more than 30 beers, ciders and meads.
In what Doolally, India’s first micro-brewery, says was a unique opportunity for the small community of brewmasters, mead-makers, and even home brewers, to curate ‘epiphanies’ in glasses, the 3-day ‘All Stars Taproom Takeover’ was (unsurprisingly!) a bang.
Oliver Schauf, brewmaster of Doolally, invited the breweries and their brewmasters to showcase their wild experiments. The unique beers and fruit ciders explored ingredients like toffee, caramel, basil, cucumber, kokum, coconut husk, hibiscus, , and apples, mangoes, coffee, oranges, berries and more.
While Yavasura Brewery crafted Basil Peppercorn Wit and Crème Noir, Crafters Brewery came up with Cucumber Lager and Citra Wit, and Gateway Brewing offered its Best Lager and Rose.
Kimaya Himalayan had Mango Wheat Ale and Kokum Cider on offer; Drifters Beers had Helles, Czech Pilsner and Kokum Cider; there were Blonde By the Beach and Bandruh Brew from Brew Whale; and 2-Down Beer Co. brewed Basil Blonde and Pretty Please.
Lost River Brewing had Washington Wit and Dunkel Original; Brewdog came up with Pomello Pirate (grapefruit IPA) and Ten to Tango (tangerine IPA); Toit brought Stray Apple Cider; and Bombay Duck Brewing served up Bombae Lager, Rice and Shine.
Hapi had Hibikki (hibiscus cider) and Rize Lager (rice-based); Oi Brewing came up with Apple Cider and Coconut-Husk Smoked Ale; Igloo Craft Beers brought Dabble Double, Belgian Dubbel and Second Summer (German Pilsner); Effingut served Berry Cider and Hefeweizen; Brewantee - Belgian Wit, Black Lager
The Moonshine Meadery served up Salted Kokum and Coffee Vanilla; Cerana Meads came up with Jamun Melomel, Pomegranate melomel and Chenin Blanc Pyment; Wildcraft Beverage had Mulberry and Coffee Orange cider; and the Great State Ale Works brewed Bajra Pale Ale and Sunny Afternoon (NEIPA).
All three days of the event saw customers pouring in from 10 a.m. till 1 a.m.! Samplers were made available in 120-ml glasses, perfect for trying all the possible craft beers, ciders and meads available.
The chefs at Doolally prepared a special food menu for this event, to pair well with the plethora of beers, ciders and meads pouring. The menu included Pickle Mirchi Tempura, Baby Potato Ghee Roast, Kondaji Chivda-Bhel, Achari Foxnut, Angamaly Pork Ribs, and Maple sausages wrapped in bacon.
The atmosphere was doubly festive with Dooally’s VVIP guests: customers’ pets and our four-legged furry friends! Almost every table was engaged in playing board games: Sequence, Catan, Jenga, Uno, Cornhole, etc.
So, what do you get when brewers from different companies come together under one roof? A whole lot of ideas being discussed, beer recipes being swapped, industry notes exchanged, and a whole lot of banter while sipping on their favourite beers, ciders and meads!
