Best Beer Brands In India

Kingfisher tops, Tuborg holds #2 as oligopoly endures despite local upstarts

India’s formal beer market remains tightly held by three multinationals even as local labels make inroads, with United Breweries’ Kingfisher retaining the top spot on volumes and Carlsberg’s Tuborg staying second by size. United Breweries (UBL), AB InBev and Carlsberg together account for roughly 80–85% of national beer sales by volume.

UBL is the best beer brand in India by a wide margin, anchored by the Kingfisher franchise across strong and mild variants. Carlsberg continues to lean on Tuborg Strong in the mass segment, while AB InBev balances its mass beers (Haywards 5000, Knock Out) with Budweiser in the premium segment.

Best beer brands in India include several companies that are either not listed on stock exchanges or are multinational corporations that do not release separate revenue and volume figures for their Indian operations, instead reporting results on a regional basis. Therefore, these companies have been ranked based on the best user ratings provided by consumers, as specific beer sales revenue and volume data for India are not independently available for each company.

Below is the list of the ten best beer brands in India:

Top 10 Beer Brands in India

1) Kingfisher (United Breweries): #1 in Top 3 Beer Brands in India

India’s largest beer brand family by volume, Kingfisher’s breadth spans Strong, Premium, Ultra and Ultra Max, supported by UBL’s nationwide footprint of own and contract breweries. UBL continues to push a premium mix (Ultra, Heineken Silver, Amstel Grande) while protecting scale in core strong lager. In FY25, UBL’s beer segment revenue stands at INR 18,782 crore. In Q1 FY26, UBL cited 11% volume growth and a 46% surge in premium labels; management targets premium to form 20–25% of volumes in 4–5 years. Operationally, UBL has been resolving state-level pricing issues (notably Telangana) and is adding capacity, including a new canning line in the state. The Heineken association underpins brand investments and distribution.

2) Tuborg (Carlsberg India): One of the Popular Beer Brands in India

Tuborg has been India’s consistent No. 2 by volume for much of the past decade, led by Tuborg Strong. Carlsberg states that Tuborg is the country’s No. 2 beer brand and the No. 1 international brand by scale—positioning that reflects its strong-beer skew and pricing accessible to mass consumers. Carlsberg India posted FY24 total income of INR 8,044.9 crore with profit up 60.5% YoY to INR 323.1 crore, aided by mix and operating discipline. The group is consolidating its control of the India unit and has signalled continued investment; historically, Tuborg volumes have exceeded the eponymous Carlsberg label in India.

3) Haywards 5000 (AB InBev India)

Among India’s biggest strong-beer labels by scale, Haywards 5000 retains deep recall in the North and parts of the West. The brand moved from Shaw Wallace to SABMiller and then to AB InBev, and remains a workhorse in AB InBev’s “core” portfolio alongside Knock Out and Royal Challenge. AB InBev India has sold approximately 450 million litres of beer in FY25. While AB InBev’s India strategy has pivoted to premium over time, management still acknowledges the role of legacy strong brands in regional markets. Industry reportage and historical share trends place Haywards 5000 among the largest strong lagers, though precise state-wise rankings vary year to year with policy and pricing.

4) Simba

One of the fastest-scaling craft-led players, Simba sold ~3 million cases in FY25 and is guiding for ~4 million in FY26, backed by capacity of ~4 million cases and co-packing tie-ups beyond its Chhattisgarh base. The brand won India Country Winner medals at the World Beer Awards 2025 (Silver for Simba Wit; Bronze for Simba Stout), boosting credentials in modern trade and on-premise. Presence now spans 15–16 markets with plans to add UP and MP; a mild-strong variant is in the pipeline to straddle taste and ABV preferences.

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5) Medusa Beer

A new-age domestic label headquartered in Delhi, Medusa positions itself between light and super-strong with a 5.9% Premium Strong and a 4.5% “Air Mild”. The brand sold over 6.8 lakh cases in FY24 and, as of October 2025, aimed to nearly double volumes to 1.8–2.0 million cases and reach ~INR 225 crore revenue in FY26, with distribution in nine states. The “mid-ABV” pitch and a co-branded House of the Dragon edition have aided trial; availability still varies by city/state due to excise regimes.

6) Carlsberg

The eponymous Carlsberg label sits behind Tuborg on volumes in India and is more concentrated in premium and strong niches—Carlsberg Smooth (mild) and Carlsberg Elephant (strong) are key variants. The brand benefits from Carlsberg India’s pan-India footprint and the group’s sharpened focus on disciplined growth. While Tuborg has historically delivered the bulk of volumes, Carlsberg’s role is pivotal in premium trade-ups. The group’s decision to take full control of the India business underscores the market’s priority in its Asia portfolio.

7) Heineken (United Breweries)

Within UBL’s portfolio, Heineken (including Heineken Silver) is a premium growth engine that, while smaller than Kingfisher on absolute volume, is scaling fast with the category’s premiumisation. UBL reported mid-30s growth in Heineken Silver volumes in recent quarters, helping premium outpace the broader market. Heineken’s global stewardship of UBL also supports supply-chain, innovation and marketing capabilities in India. The label’s expansion in metros and high-on-premise markets is a stated focus area.

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8) Godfather (DeVans)

A North-heavy strong-beer franchise, Godfather has scaled through owned breweries (J&K, Rajasthan) and contract capacity across multiple states. Management guided to a sharp uptick in 2024–25 on the back of new markets (including Maharashtra) and said premium labels (Six Fields wheat/pilsner/Brute strong) are being layered in. Current capacity across tie-ups exceeds 1.9 lakh KL annually, with further expansion planned. In Maharashtra alone, DeVANS is targeting about 1 million cases in its first full year—pointing to meaningful incremental volume even as national share remains modest versus the top three.

9) Lion (Mohan Meakin)

Often cited as Asia’s first beer (roots in the 1840s), Lion is a heritage lager that Mohan Meakin has relaunched beyond its historic CSD footprint. Volumes are modest and data sparse, but the brand’s revival underscores demand for classic, low-bitterness lagers with a legacy halo—especially in North India. The company does not regularly disclose brand-wise volumes; independent estimates place its national beer share at low single digits.

10) Bira 91 (B9 Beverages): Best Crafted Beer Brand in India

Among the best-known craft-style beer brands in India, Bira 91 offers White (wheat), Blonde (lager), Strong and IPAs, plus a Light label. FY24 proved difficult: revenue fell to INR 638 crore and net loss widened to INR 748 crore as a corporate name change triggered months of label re-registrations; volumes slipped to an estimated 6–7 million cases from about 9 million a year earlier. Auditor notes in FY24 flagged net-worth erosion and liquidity risks, and H2 CY25 saw internal governance concerns reported; the company has since explored asset actions to address dues. Despite headwinds, the portfolio’s breadth continues to command mindshare in metros.

Rankings of the best beer brands in India are also shaped by state policies and price resets. Telangana, one of India’s largest beer markets, allowed price increases earlier this year after a stand-off with suppliers; UBL, with a dominant share in the state, quickly resumed supplies—highlighting how government-run distribution and pricing windows can swing volumes.

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Best Beer Brands in India: At a glance

Leader: Kingfisher (United Breweries) remains India’s largest beer brand family by volume.
No. 2: Tuborg (Carlsberg) continues to be the second-largest brand by cases, led by Tuborg Strong.
Premium tilt: AB InBev says Budweiser is its biggest brand in India; premium mix rising industry-wide.
Market structure: UBL, AB InBev, and Carlsberg together sell ~80–85% of beer in India.
Local fightback: Regional/value labels (e.g., Godfather) gained share in 2024 as MNCs chased premium margins.
Craft snapshot: Bira 91 volumes slipped to under 7 million cases in FY24 amid disruptions; recovery path uncertain.

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