The Indian capital’s developing microbrewery sector will now need to submit monthly samples of their brews to the government’s excise department for testing

The Delhi Excise Department has directed hotels, cafes and restaurants in the city holding the L-11 licence to provide beer samples monthly for laboratory analysis.

The L-11 licence grants permission to venues to establish brewpubs on-site.

Although licence holders are already required to test brews in-house daily, the new directive adds an additional measure.

“As per the terms and conditions of the L-11 licence, the beer produced in the microbrewery shall be released for sale only after the said chemist certifies that such beer is fit for human consumption daily,” said the Excise Department in the official order.

“The licensee shall arrange to draw the beer samples once in every month and forward the same to the excise laboratory for analysis.”

Certification reports from the excise department laboratory must be prominently displayed at the premises, too.

The department has emphasised that compliance with L-11 licence conditions is compulsory without specifiying penalties.

The measures aim to enhance oversight in Delhi’s fast developing craft beer sector, ensuring that beer served to customers meets safety and quality standards.

Although breweries remain limited in number in the capital, the growth of brands like Asur and Bira 91 (who launched a Delhi taproom in 2023) has drawn both increased consumer and regulatory attention.