Beyond the Pint: Craft Beer Journeys in Pune and Mumbai

From Lager to Local: Maharashtra’s Craft Awakening

Ten years ago, finding a craft pint in Maharashtra meant travelling.
Today, from Bandra to Baner, the tap handles tell a different story.
Maharashtra has quietly brewed a revolution — a movement that’s cultural as much as it is culinary.

According to the Brewers Association of India (2023), nearly one-third of India’s craft beer production now flows through this state, with Pune and Mumbai leading the charge.
They’re not just two markets; they’re two personalities that together define how India drinks.

Pune: Where Curiosity Meets Community

Pune’s beer story begins in conversation.
This is a city that lingers — over food, art, music, and now, hops. With one of the youngest populations in India and a long history of cultural experimentation, Pune treats beer not as an indulgence but as an idea worth exploring.

You see it in the neighbourhoods that define the city’s after-work rhythm:

• Koregaon Park and Kalyani Nagar with their leafy patios and live bands,
  
• Baner with its weekend beer walks,
  
• and Balewadi High Street, where taprooms double as think-tanks for start-up founders and design students.
  

Here, drinkers talk yeast strains and malt aromas as easily as music or politics.

The average Punekar prefers lighter, balanced brews — Hefeweizens, Belgian Wits, or clean lagers that complement local snacks like bhajji,vada paav and Indianized chinese food.
For them, a good beer isn’t about strength; it’s about story.

Mumbai: Where Momentum Meets Celebration

If Pune nurtures introspection, Mumbai fuels expression.
With over 21 million residents, it’s a city of constant motion — and beer has become its chosen punctuation mark.

In Lower Parel, you’ll find after-office crowds spilling from converted mills like Baraza and Aloraa.
In Bandra, the evening begins with laughter over pints and ends with the sound of the sea.
Powai and Andheri have built entire social ecosystems around craft taps, brunches, and rooftop sessions that feel both spontaneous and ritualistic.

Beer here mirrors the city itself — fast, social, slightly loud, and unashamedly modern.
Mumbai drinkers chase freshness and flavour, often alternating between lagers for weekdays and hop-forward IPAs for weekends.
Where Pune’s culture asks questions, Mumbai’s answers with celebration.

And through both, you’ll often spot the same familiar name: Drifters Brewing Company, pouring across city venues and wine shops, bridging Czech craftsmanship with local confidence.

How Geography Shapes the Glass

The Pune–Mumbai Expressway doesn’t just connect two cities; it connects two chapters of India’s beer evolution.
Pune supplies the reflection — the experimental brews, the loyal regulars, the slower rhythm of discovery.
Mumbai supplies the reach — a metropolitan stage where new styles gain visibility and volume.

Maharashtra’s regulatory landscape amplifies this synergy.
The 2017 microbrewery license policy allowed restaurants to brew on-site and serve fresh craft beer, while state-level permissions for distribution through licensed wine shops helped brands like Drifters appear beyond taprooms — in homes, restaurants, and weekend getaways.

The result is a 360-degree craft ecosystem, something few other Indian states can replicate.
You can sample a local lager at a Pune taproom, find it again in a Mumbai restaurant, and even pick it up chilled at a Nashik wine store.

The Psychology of a Pint

1. Pune’s Reflective Drinker

Pune’s demographic skews toward students, young professionals, and creative workers — an audience that values authenticity and knowledge.
Surveys by Mintel (2023) note that 68% of urban millennials in Maharashtra prefer “locally brewed” over imported alcohol, associating it with transparency and quality.

This explains the rise of beer-centric discussions, guided tastings, and club communities.
For Pune’s drinkers, a pint is a platform — a way to connect through shared curiosity.

2. Mumbai’s Expressive Drinker

Mumbai’s crowd sees beer as emotional shorthand: freedom, release, belonging.
With high work pressure and limited downtime, the city’s social behaviour favours drinks that are casual yet aspirational.
The same Nielsen CGA (2024) data shows a 42% increase in taproom footfall post-pandemic, led by Mumbai’s 25–40 age group seeking “authentic experiences over nightlife excess.”

Beer, in this sense, has replaced the nightclub as Mumbai’s preferred social equaliser.
It’s laid-back luxury — no velvet ropes, just good company and cold glasses.

Why Maharashtra Leads India’s Craft Movement

1. Policy Advantage: The state’s dual licensing system allows brewing and retail, enabling scalability without compromising freshness.
   
2. Climate Compatibility: Warm weather sustains year-round demand for light, sessionable beer styles.
   
3. Socio-Cultural Readiness: High education levels and global exposure have created consumers who value origin stories and craftsmanship.
   
4. Economic Powerhouse: With Pune’s tech sector and Mumbai’s finance base, the combined disposable income supports premium but accessible products.
   
5. Community Infrastructure: Initiatives like Pune Beer Mandal and independent tasting clubs turn beer appreciation into a cultural practice.
   

Together, these factors make Maharashtra less a “market” and more a movement — grounded in local pride, open to global influence.

Drifters’ Place in the Journey

Drifters Brewing Company grew out of this landscape — translating Eastern European brewing precision into Maharashtrian context.
Founded by Nayan Shah, the brand brings Czech brewing techniques and sustainability into everyday drinking culture.
Its presence across both cities mirrors their dual personality: thoughtful in Pune, expressive in Mumbai.

Rather than teaching beer, Drifters invites drinkers to explore it — through seasonal releases, collaborations, and consistent craftsmanship that resonates with the region’s evolving palate.

A Culture in Motion

The real success of Pune and Mumbai’s beer story isn’t the number of breweries; it’s the maturity of their audiences.
A decade ago, beer drinkers chased novelty. Today, they chase nuance.
They discuss malt profiles, food pairings, and brewing ethics — conversations once reserved for wine.

This marks a deeper shift: beer here isn’t rebellion anymore; it’s identity.
It’s how cities unwind, express, and connect.

Get The Drift

From Pune’s leafy lanes to Mumbai’s skyline terraces, Maharashtra’s beer culture reflects its people — open-minded, restless, and always learning.
The journey of craft beer here isn’t about imitation; it’s about adaptation.
And every pint poured, whether in Koregaon Park or Lower Parel, is a small celebration of that journey.

Because beyond the pint lies something much bigger — a community that knows exactly how to Get the Drift.