India: Two new microbreweries given licences to open in Delhi

Delhiites who currently travel to Gurgaon or Noida for freshly brewed beer can now get it in Delhi itself. The Excise department has given two licences for microbreweries and draught beer in a Saket mall as well as in Central Delhi, the Indian Express reported on September 15.

According to officials, five entities have applied for microbrewery licences, of which two have been approved. The remaining three are also set to be approved soon.

In Saket, 10 microbreweries will open under the L-11 licence, and some are also expected to open in Connaught Place and other places from October 1.

“There were provisions for microbreweries and draught beer under the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 but they were not implemented as the revised terms and conditions under the new policy were not notified on time. However, under the old excise regime, we have approved terms and conditions and are allowing microbreweries to be set up in Delhi. We received five applications for microbreweries and two have been given permission. It takes about 15 days to set up a plant, so, hopefully, people will have fresh beer in Delhi from the first week of October,” said a senior Excise department official.

Officials added that another entity’s Royal Plaza hotel is also under consideration, and Diwan spirits has been approved to sell draught beer.

“Currently, the microbrewery was not operational in Delhi. Many people prefer fresh beer and this will create revenue and people will have options,” said an official.

Further, with new terms and conditions, more companies/ restaurants/hotels having L-16, L-17, L-18 and L-19 licences can apply to establish microbreweries at hotels, restaurants, and airports, and the interested companies or hotel/restaurants owners will have to apply for L-11 licences for retail vend of beer.

Further, as per conditions, a microbrewery may be set up where draught beer is manufactured and it is served to the customers for consumption on the premises with an installed capacity of not more than 500 litres per day, subject to clearance by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.

The proposed microbrewery should be set up in permanent buildings. Currently, there is only one restaurant at Connaught Place that serves microbrewery beer at a cost of Rs 300 for 330 millilitres.

20 September, 2022