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

The Indian government’s Excise Department in Delhi has directed hotels, cafes and restaurants in the city which hold the L-11 licence to provide beer samples every month for analysis in the department’s laboratory. The L-11 licence grants permission to hotels, cafes, and restaurants to set up microbrewery plants and sell the beers they produce at their premises.

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

In addition, the certification report from the excise department laboratory must be prominently displayed at the premises.

The department has emphasised that compliance with L-11 licence conditions is compulsory, but the order does not specify penalties for violations.

The measures aim to enhance oversight in Delhi’s fast developing craft beer sector, ensuring that beer served to customers meets consistent safety and quality standards. Although microbreweries remain limited in number in the capital, their growing popularity has drawn increased regulatory attention.