Pint by pint, women reclaim their brewing legacy

Time of India

03-05-2025

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Pune: A new generation of
women brewers
is bringing fresh perspectives and bold flavours to the Indian craft beer scene.
Kajal Manchanda, head brewer at Bira's Mumbai microbrewery, passion was born from scientific curiosity. "During my undergraduate studies in industrial microbiology, I came across a small section on fermentation in a textbook. It had just one page on beer and wine, but that was enough to spark my curiosity," the 30-year-old said.
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Growing up in Haridwar, where alcohol consumption wasn't widely discussed, Manchanda carved her own path. "I studied at Vasantdada Sugar Institute in Pune where I specialised in brewing. That decision set the course for my career. I've been in this industry for eight years working with breweries in Pune, Bengaluru, and Delhi before joining Bira."
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She oversees production and innovation at the pan-India brand. "If it's a brewing day, it takes about 7-8 hours to complete the process. We start early to ensure everything is done in time. Each new beer comes with its own challenges. For example, we launched a Bebinca Stout, inspired by the Goan dessert. We incorporated coconut and nutmeg and it was a huge hit."
She brought together members of the Women Brewers Collective from across India to share knowledge, discuss ideas, and innovations.
"It started as a small initiative and has grown into a collective of over 20 women. This year, we brewed Hazy Passion, a cloudy IPA using New Zealand hops. The brew day was an incredible experience with my peers," Manchanda said.
She has always enjoyed experimenting with flavours. "Some years ago, I created a Maggi Masala beer using the masala. Another experiment was a Tamarind Red Ale, inspired by the sweet and tangy chutney that goes with samosa. The best thing about brewing in India is that our local markets are filled with unique ingredients—you can walk in and find a hundred things that could inspire a new beer."
At just 27, Chaitrali Bedre, head brewer at Igloo Brew Works in Navi Mumbai, has made her mark in craft brewing. "Most people go for engineering, but I wanted to explore a field that wasn't conventional. When I told people about my course, their reaction was usually, 'I didn't even know this existed!' At first, I wasn't sure how my parents would react. The alcohol industry is unconventional, and I was going to be working with beer—trying drinks, experimenting with brews. But they were supportive. My father is an electrician, and my mother is a homemaker; they live in Pune while I work in Mumbai," she said.
Before joining Igloo, Bedre interned at Effingut Brewery in Pune and worked in blending and bottling at distilleries in Aurangabad.
"The start was definitely tough. Brewing isn't a white-collar job—it's physically demanding. You have to lift heavy bags of malt, kegs, and raw materials. But over time, I got comfortable with the work. The best part is that I genuinely enjoy what I do. Unlike large-scale commercial breweries, we aren't bound by strict recipes. I get to design my own beers, which makes the job even more creative and rewarding," Bedre said, adding that her favourite creations include the Imperial Stout, rich with coffee flavours, and the good ol' Blonde Ale, a simple brew.
Vidya Kubher, head brewer at Bengaluru-based Geist Brewery, took an unconventional route. "I started my career in programming, then moved into factory work for an automotive tooling company. But my love for beer was always there—my travels were beer-centric, especially to Germany and Belgium, where beer culture is deeply rooted. The more I learned, the more serious I became about brewing, and eventually decided to do a course in brewing," she said.
After training at Siebel Institute in Chicago and Doemens Academy in Munich, Kubher returned to India, just as the craft beer movement was taking shape.
"I first came across Geist beers in 2006, when they were still contract-brewing in Belgium and importing to India. Then, by chance, I read an article about Geist setting up a local brewery. It felt like the stars had aligned. I immediately sent in my resume, and that's how I joined Geist in 2012—right at the beginning of the craft beer boom in India," she said.
Kubher's journey has been one of learning and discovery. "I had read that brewing is male-dominated, but my personal experience so far is different. The craft beer movement has helped bring more women into the industry. Small-scale craft brewing is not just about industrial production, it also allows for creativity," she added.
With a core team of about 20 brewers, Kubher is now focused on expanding operations while maintaining quality and innovation. "We're also focusing on experimenting with flavours this year. The Indian beer market is evolving, and there's a lot of room to introduce new styles, ingredients, brewing techniques, and plenty of space for talented and dedicated brewers," she added.