India is the world’s fifth-largest beer market by volume and one of the fastest-growing, even though per capita consumption is still a fraction of the global average. Two very different stories are running at once there: a handful of huge strong-lager brands that most Indians actually drink day to day, and a newer wave of craft and premium brewing that’s started winning real international awards. Here’s both sides, plus what you’ll actually find on a shelf or a bar menu if you’re in the country.
The Best Beers in India at a Glance
| Best Overall / Best-Selling: | Kingfisher Strong |
| Best Everyday Lager: | Kingfisher Premium Lager |
| Best Classic Strong Beer: | Haywards 5000 |
| Best Budget Strong Beer: | Godfather Premium |
| Best Award-Winning Beer (2026): | Six Fields Brute |
| Best Craft Portfolio: | Simba (Wit, Stout, Wild, Lager) |
| Best Premium Lager: | Kingfisher Ultra |
| Best Craft/Wheat Beer: | Bira 91 White Ale |
| Easiest to Buy Outside India: | Taj Mahal Premium Lager |
The beers everyone in India actually drinks
India’s beer market is dominated by three groups controlling around 85% of sales: United Breweries (Kingfisher, now majority owned by Heineken), AB InBev India (Budweiser, Corona), and Carlsberg India (Tuborg, Carlsberg). Strong lager, typically 6-8% ABV, makes up 70-80% of everything sold by volume, which is the opposite of most Western beer markets.
Serve in: Straight pint glass, ice cold
Serve in: Tall pilsner glass
Serve in: Pint glass
Serve in: Straight pint glass
The award-winning and craft beers changing the picture
Alongside the mass-market lagers, a newer generation of Indian breweries has started winning serious international recognition. At the 2026 World Beer Awards, Indian entries picked up medals across international lager, Belgian-style witbier, hoppy pilsner and stout categories, well beyond the traditional strong-lager space.
Serve in: Pilsner glass
Serve in: Tulip glass for the Wit, snifter for the Stout
Serve in: Pilsner glass
Serve in: Wheat beer glass or tulip
What you’ll actually find if you’re in India
If you’re travelling and expecting only Indian-made brands, you’ll be surprised how many familiar international names are on the menu, brewed locally under license rather than imported. Local brewing keeps prices down and lets global brands compete directly with Kingfisher and Haywards on price.
Budweiser has been brewed in India since 2007 through a joint venture with Crown Beers India, adjusted to around 5% ABV for the local market. Read our full Budweiser review.
Corona Extra is brewed locally by AB InBev India under license from Cerveceria Modelo, which is why it costs a fraction of a genuinely imported bottle. Read our full Corona Extra review.
Heineken is expanding fast in India’s premium urban segment, produced through United Breweries, which Heineken now majority owns. Read our full Heineken review.
Carlsberg and Tuborg are both brewed by Carlsberg India across seven owned breweries since 2007, with Tuborg Classic specifically formulated as “India’s first premium strong beer with Scotch Malts” for the local palate. Read our full Carlsberg review.
One practical thing worth knowing before you order: Indian beer menus split hard into ‘mild’ (standard lager, 4.5-5% ABV) and ‘strong’ (6.5-8% ABV) categories, sometimes for the same brand name. Always check the label or ask, since a Kingfisher Strong and a Kingfisher Premium look similar but drink very differently.
Want to try one yourself?
A few of India’s biggest names have made it onto US shelves. We picked up and reviewed the three easiest ones to actually find and order:
| 1. Kingfisher Premium Lager | 4.0/5, India’s best-selling beer by name, light and easy-drinking |
| 2. Taj Mahal Premium Lager | 3.9/5, deeper, maltier step up from Kingfisher, brewed in Kolkata since 1959 |
| 3. Bira 91 White Ale | 4.1/5, the craft witbier that changed what Indian beer drinkers expect |
What to eat them with
India’s strong lagers and craft beers both hold up well against the country’s food, but the pairing rules shift depending on the beer. For the full breakdown of what actually works with a curry, see our guide to the best beer with Indian food.
Best Beers in India FAQs
What is India’s most popular beer?
Kingfisher, made by United Breweries. It holds roughly 46-52% of India’s organized beer market on its own, more than any other brand, and Kingfisher Strong is generally cited as the single largest-selling beer in the country by volume.
What is India’s most awarded beer?
Six Fields, from DeVANS Modern Breweries, was the most decorated Indian brand at the 2026 World Beer Awards with five medals across three beer styles, led by Six Fields Brute’s Gold in International Lager.
How strong are Indian beers?
Indian beer splits into ‘mild’ lagers around 4.5-5% ABV and ‘strong’ lagers around 6.5-8% ABV, with strong beer making up 70-80% of the market by volume. That’s notably higher than the 4-5% ABV standard in most Western markets.
Can you buy Indian beer outside India?
Yes, a handful of the bigger names travel well. Kingfisher, Taj Mahal and Bira 91 are all stocked by US beer delivery services, and Bira 91 is sold in 15 countries in total.
What ties it together
India’s beer story really is two markets running side by side: a small set of enormous strong-lager brands (Kingfisher, Haywards, Godfather) that most of the country grew up on, and a fast-growing craft and premium scene (Six Fields, Simba, Bira 91, Kingfisher Ultra) now picking up gold medals against 60-plus countries at the World Beer Awards. Worth trying both sides if you get the chance, ideally with a plate of something spicy.
