/ GUIDE
THE BEST
MODERN
INDIAN BEERS.
Indian beer has spent decades playing it safe — same names, same green bottles, same "goes well with curry" line on the menu. A new generation of British-Asian drinkers wants more than nostalgia. So here's our take on the best modern Indian beers to drink right now — brewed by us, for people who grew up loving Desi flavour but expect a lot more from what's in the fridge.
Long before IPA (India Pale Ale) sailed in and stole the headline, beer was already being brewed across India using local ingredients like rice, shaped by the climate and culture of the region. DESI Beer Project picks that story back up.
1. RICE LAGER
RICE LAGER · 4.2% · 440ML
A crisp, clean lager brewed with basmati rice for a light, smooth body and Kent-grown Harlequin hops for gentle citrus and floral notes. It's the beer Indian brewing was doing centuries before anyone imported an IPA — modernised with a British-Asian accent.
Best for: the "give me a proper lager" moment — a cold one after work, a warm afternoon in the garden, or anything spicy on the plate.
SHOP RICE LAGER2. MANGO MIRCHI LAGER
FRUITED LAGER · 0.5% · 440ML
Juicy Alphonso mango on the nose, a clean pilsner base and a slow habanero warmth that lingers without ever overwhelming. It's what "mango beer" should have been all along — actual mango, actual heat, no cliché.
Best for: alcohol-free rounds that don't feel like punishment, sunny sessions, and anyone bored of the same three fruit lagers on every shelf.
SHOP MANGO MIRCHIWHY MODERN DESI BEER MATTERS.
Traditional Indian lagers built the category — but they were made for a different time, a different audience and a very particular story. We grew up around big flavours, loud tables and drinks that deserved better company than a dusty bottle in the corner of the takeaway fridge.
DESI Beer Project is what happens when you take Indian brewing heritage seriously and refuse to hide behind clichés. Fresh branding, real ingredients, and beer built for the fridge — not just the curry table.
TRY THEM BOTH.
Build your own mixed box of 2 DESI beers and taste what modern Indian beer actually looks like.