By Mewati Sitaram
India’s pioneering craft brewery Effingut has made history by being invited to brew for the J D Wetherspoon Beer Festival 2025, the United Kingdom’s largest celebration of beer spanning over 900 pubs nationwide. This marks the first time an Indian beer has been featured at the festival, offering Effingut a rare global platform.
The festival, running from 1st to 12th October, showcases 30 beers including five international collaborations. Effingut partnered with Hook Norton Brewery, a family-owned British brewery with over 175 years of brewing heritage. Manu Gulati, Founder and Head Brewer of Effingut, traveled to the UK to brew alongside Hook Norton’s team, blending traditional English ale techniques with Indian flavors.
The resulting golden ale combines English malts and cask methods with cardamom, coriander, and lemongrass. Gulati described the collaboration as “a meaningful cultural dialogue—where Indian spice and flavour philosophy meet the timeless precision of British brewing.” Lead Brewer Andy Thomas said, “Manu brought in flavours I’d never considered for beer. It worked beautifully—tradition with a twist.”
The beer will pour across Wetherspoon pubs in the UK and simultaneously at Effingut outlets in Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, and Gurugram, giving drinkers a taste of this cross-cultural creation. The collaboration reflects Effingut’s ethos of True Craft, celebrating heritage, innovation, and global craft beer culture.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
