FAQ’s

What is a microbrewery?

A microbrewery is a small scale brewing operation (as compared to commercial type breweries) inside restaurants and pubs so that they can have their own craft beer on tap. For example, Byg Brewski in Bangalore is a microbrewery and restaurant that serves many varieties of craft beer.

What are the different types of beer?

Beer is generally classified into 2 types, based on the type of yeast used.Ales are made from ale yeast and Lagers are made from lager yeast. Aside from that, beer can also be categorised into styles, where there are multiple styles of beer, each which a different flavour profile.

Here is a list of some of the styles of beer you are likely to find in a microbrewery in India.

Belgian wit − A style of beer with low bitterness and a subtle sweet aroma of citrus and coriander.
Hefeweizen − A style of beer with low bitterness and an aroma of bananas, cloves and bubblegum.
IPA − A style of beer with medium-high to high bitterness with a very discernible fruity and hoppy aroma.
Stout − A style of beer with roasty and dark coffee flavours from use the dark malts and sometimes the addition of coffee beans.
Rauchbier − A style of beer with a smoky, almost savoury taste derived from the use of smoked malts.

What is the difference between draught(draft) beer and craft beer?

Draught beer is beer that is commercially brewed and kegged. For example, big companies and brands like kingfisher, hoegaarden etc.

Craft beer is beer that is brewed inside a microbrewery and is only available on tap at the place it was brewed. In some states like Maharashtra where the sales of kegs to other restaurants is allowed, you may find craft beer on tap in various pubs and bars.

How long does it take to brew a batch of beer?

The brewing process only takes less than a day, but aside from that it takes time to ferment and condition. This is around 2 weeks for ales and almost a month for lagers.

What is wort?

Wort is what you call the sugar water(sugar extracted from the grains) before it ferments into beer.

What ferments beer?

Fermentation is due to yeast, a microorganism that metabolises the sugar extracted from the grains and converts it into alcohol and CO2, thereby turning wort into beer. In addition to this different kind of yeasts impart different flavours and aromas into beer.

At what temperature does fermentation occur?

This generally depends on the strain of yeast used as each strains have different fermentation temperature ranges, but typically ale yeasts ferment at 20-22 ℃ and lager yeasts ferment at 7-13 ℃.

How will I be able to ferment beer despite the warm Indian climate?

Prodeb manufactures insulated Stainless Steel Fermenters and glycol lines to ensure your beer ferments at it’s ideal temperature no matter what the outside temperature may be.

What are the ingredients typically used in brewing beer?

Malt or Malted barley(Malted wheat is also used sometimes), there are different kinds of malt each imparting different colours, flavours and aromas.

Hops, this is the ingredient that provides the bitterness as well as aromas in the beer. There are multiple strains of hops each with a different flavour and aroma profile.

Yeast, is responsible for the fermentation as well as for imparting certain flavours and aromas (depends on the strain of yeast used).

Water

What are hops?

Hops are the flowers of the plant Humulus Lupus. It is responsible for the bitterness, flavouring as well as aromas in beer.

What sort of water should be used in brewing beer?

It is recommended that the purest possible RO water to be used in brewing beer.

What are the states in India that allow microbreweries?

Karnataka
Maharashtra
Andhra Pradesh
Telangana
Pondicherry
Goa
Delhi
West Bengal
Haryana
Punjab