Colorado’s New Belgium Brewing collaborates with Bira 91 in limited-release Tamarind Chutney Dubbel

New Belgium Brewing, a US craft brewery with operations in Colorado and North Carolina, has teamed up with India’s Bira 91 to launch a unique, limited-release beer, Tamarind Chutney Dubbel.

The beer – a blend of the bold flavours of Indian street food and the rich brewing traditions of Colorado – will be available only at the taprooms of New Belgium in Fort Collins, Colorado, and those of Bira 91 in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) and Bengaluru, in India.

The Tamarind Chutney Dubbel, which was launched at New Belgium’s Fort Collins brewery, is to be a one-time brew, available only while supplies last, according to sources.

The special edition beer marries the “puckering sour fruit” taste of tamarind, a staple component in Indian chutneys and curries, with the robust character of a Belgian-style Dubbel ale, renowned for its deep malt flavours and complex fruitiness. Crafted with specialty malts, tamarind, Saaz hops, and Belgian yeast, the copper, amber-coloured ale boasts a 7% alcohol content.

Timed to coincide with the Indian festival of Holi which took place on 25 March, the beer’s release celebrated the season of colours and love, marking the onset of spring.

Bira 91 was founded in 2015 and now has six manufacturing units in India, brewing beers that are available in 1,000 towns and cities spread across 25 countries, according to the brewery. It also operates four taprooms in Bengaluru and Delhi NCR. The company is backed by investors from across the globe, including Japanese beer company, Kirin Holdings.

New Belgium Brewing was founded in 1991 in Fort Collins, Colorado, by Kim Jordan and Jeff Lebesch, and was acquired by the Australian subsidiary of Kirin in 2019. Its flagship brews include Fat Tire Ale, Voodoo Ranger IPA, Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza, and La Folie Sour Brown Ale.