Beery good

As we move on during the course of the evening,I’ll explain what food best brings out the flavours,” we hear the gentleman put across in a recognisable Aussie accent. It’s a beer launch and not wine,someone mentions cheekily as David Home,chairman of TVB Craft Breweries smiles back to say,”The Indian beer market is behind by 30 years vis-a-vis the global scene and it’s time to introduce you to flavoursome craft beers.” Interestingly,Home’s company has set up India’s first craft brewery that’s dishing out five different flavours of beers and ales under the brand name ‘Little Devils’. Does beer have flavours,we quiz Home who answers,”Craft beer does. This type of beer is put together according to specific recipes and ingredients that maximize the flavour,appearances and aroma of the drink,” Home explained. For most of us who relate beer to the mass-market lager and can’t quite fathom what the fuss with flavours is all about,we get Home to elucidate some more. “The difference is simply in the superior taste and aromas due to the increased percentage of speciality malts,hops and other ingredients. All of this gives the beer and ales a more fuller and complex flavour that can remind you of banana,citrus fruits and even flowers and herbs!” Home explained as he formally rolled out the five flavours of Little Devils,three of which have never been brewed in India before. So here’s raising a toast to ‘Wheat Beer’,’Indian Pale Ale’,’Golden Ale’,’Premium Lager’ and ‘Strong’. Depending on the flavour you are sipping,you can smell whiffs of all sorts of aromas like caramel,coffee,honey and as Home adds,sometimes even freshly baked cookies. Clearly,craft beer is more than just beer.

“It’s the new buzz all over the world given its superior ingredients and resulting flavours,” added Habeeb Kamaal,CEO of TVB India as he raised a toast to the two ales in the Little Devil’s kitty. Both the ‘Indian Pale Ale’ and Golden Belgium Ale,as the promoters assure,are perfectly suited for the Indian palate. “They are a perfect accompaniment to Indian food that’s hot and spicy,” chips in Home who is looking at brewing as many as six lakh cases of Little Devils annually. As far as the flavours go,if you sip on ‘Wheat Beer’ expect classic banana and nutmeg and clove characteristics along with subtle vanilla and bubblegum aromas. But if the ‘Indian Pale Ale’ is your pick,expect a unique lingering after taste. For lager lovers,the ‘Strong’ and ‘Premium Lager’ make for good sips. Little Devils comes in 330ml bottles priced around Rs 40.