Cross-border collaborations between Asian brewers are always a cause for excitement. The incredible range of flavours and spices present in each country offers endless opportunity for some pretty interesting brews.
This time round, Steersman Brewery & Taproom in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, joined forces with Great State Aleworks from Pune, India, for a unique cross-border collab resulting in Red Handed Kokum Witbier, a Belgian Witbier-style beer infused with a distinctive ingredient from India – kokum (Garcinia indica).
The collaboration was sparked when Nakul Bhonsle, founder of Pune’s Great State Aleworks met Wayne Su, co-founder and head brewer of Vietnam’s Steersman Brewery & Taproom at the recent Brew Asia brewers conference in Ho Chi Minh City.
Kokum, a member of the Mangosteen family, is a lesser-known fruit with a unique profile that includes a special flavour, a touch of sourness, and a mesmerizing red hue. Traditionally used on the west coast of India, particularly in Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka, kokum is renowned for its role in fish curries, contributing a delightful sourness. It also finds its way into kokum sherbat, a non-alcoholic beverage made with kokum syrup, water or soda, and garnished with coriander and garlic.
While Mangosteen is familiar to Vietnam, kokum brings a new and exciting twist to the brewing process. So, for this collaboration, the brewers decided to replace the usual orange zest in a Belgian Witbier with dried kokum peels, brought from India by Great State’s brewers during their visit to Brew Asia. The resulting beer boasts a mild reddish hue, a subtle sourness from the kokum, and a touch of saltiness from the dried kokum peels. The final product has merited approval from both brewing teams and are eager to scale up production for a larger batch.
“We love collab brews at Great State” Nakul told the Asia Brewers Network “they are great way to connect with like-minded brewers across borders, learn from each other and explore new craft beer markets. Due to the pandemic we’ve not been able to get out there and collab for a while now, but thanks to Brew Asia 2023, we had the opportunity to travel to Ho Chi Minh City and connect with Steersman, who were up for this collab as much as we were!”
The official release of the Kokum Witbier took place on November 25th at the Steersman Taproom in Ho Chi Minh City. Nakul made the journey back to Vietnam to commemorate the occasion. To enhance the experience, Steersman’s kitchen crafted a special menu featuring the star ingredient in dishes such as Kokum Curry with Shrimp and Kokum-glazed Chicken Wings, giving guests the chance to savour the unique flavours of this exotic fruit.
Kokum infused Shrimp Curry and Glazed Chicken were served to compliment the Kokum Witbier during it’s launch (Photo: Steersman Brewery)
In addition to the culinary delights, attendees had the opportunity to explore kokum in its raw form, and indulge in a traditional kokum sherbat.
“This collaboration marked Steersman’s first time to work with a non-Vietnamese brand” explained Wayne “It was challenging to work with an ingredient I’ve never tasted before, but it awakened my imagination. The Steersman crew learned about Kokum, the Indian fruit used as the beer’s base, and got to share it with our customers not only as a beer but as food dishes too.”
The success of the Kokum Witbier launch has set the stage for more collaborations between Steersman Brewery & Taproom and Great State Aleworks. With Steersman’s visit to India in the pipeline, the brewing teams are already planning their next venture, solidifying the bonds formed through their mutual love for craft beer and the exciting fusion of Vietnamese and Indian flavors.
As the sun sets on the first Kokum Witbier collaboration, both breweries are eagerly looking forward to their next joint event, slated for late January. The success of this partnership, bringing the vibrant and diverse flavors of India to the beer enthusiasts of Vietnam and beyond, serves as a testament to the power of cross-border collaboration in the world of craft brewing.
