Bengaluru breweries choose a shade of green

Bengaluru’s breweries have dropped their cosy pub vibe by going outdoors with a vengeance — from open-air, nature-centric seating to a 45-foot waterfall, it is all happening in these gargantuan waterholes

Bengaluru is now almost synonymous with breweries and this reputation that the city has gained did not come easily. Home to over 80 breweries today, it is an ever-expanding landscape that makes space for more franchises embracing nature-centric aesthetics and design.

It is interesting to note that most of the breweries established after 2015 are expansive with an open-air and nature-centric seating plan, as compared to those which had an intimate atmosphere with a proximity to brewing tanks, wooden walls, and a warm ambience. 

One can say the city’s saga with beer dates back to the inception of United Breweries in 1948 where UB City now stands. However, more recent cultural symbols of breweries in Bengaluru began in 2010, with Toit which was one of the first microbreweries in the city, alongside The Biere Club which opened in 2011. These initial breweries, followed by Arbor Brewing Co. in 2012have designs which are focused inward, with minimal balcony space, cozy wooden tables and bar stools, with many beers on tap.

These breweries exude an old-world charm that mimic an Irish beer house — friendly and hearty, serving good beer. They set the tone for an evening in the city up until around 2015, with a shift to the great outdoors. A pioneer of this change was Byg Brewski established in 2014, which created a space that finally met the increasing demands of the city’s pub crawlers.

“As Bengaluru became more of an IT hub, people wanted more open spaces to make themselves feel good after stressful days at the office,” says Head of Operations for Ironhill Breweries, Hari Kishan Mailavarapu. What is most surprising perhaps (with the expansion of these establishments averaging around 1.5 acres each after 2015) is that space is not wasted. Ironhill Marathahalli, a 2.9 acre property, commands at least a half hour wait on weekdays.

These large outdoor spaces are now more common than ever. Uru Brewpark, has made ‘the outdoors’ central to its experience as a brewery, allowing pets and paints to engage children while the adults indulge in brewed beer and coffee; all of this amidst large trees, rough lawns and rustic furniture. Krishnapriya Banerjeee, Brand Manager Uru, describes it as, “very raw, natural and deeply rooted in nature” adding that this factor has seen patrons return, especially families with children. 

Similarly, Ironhill and Oia have invested in vast plots, constructing multi storied venues with a blend of alfresco seating, water elements, and pockets of nature.