Indian breweries made their mark on the global stage as Kingfisher and Simba picked up multiple honors at the prestigious World Beer Awards 2025.
Simba, one of India’s rising craft beer brands, earned recognition with its Simba Wit, a Belgian-inspired wheat beer, taking home the silver medal, while the Simba Stout secured bronze in the country-level tasting categories.
Kingfisher, a household name in India, swept several awards. Kingfisher Ultra won Gold in the international lager category, making it the India Country Winner in the Taste division. The brand’s other variants also impressed:
- Kingfisher Strong – Silver in the Seasonal Oktoberfest/Marzen style.
- Kingfisher Premium – Silver in the Lager Helles/Münchner style.
- Kingfisher Ultra Max – Bronze in the Seasonal Maibock/Helles Bock style.
Tasting Highlights of the Award-Winning Beers
- Kingfisher Ultra: A crisp, clear lager with light golden tones, balancing gentle malt sweetness, subtle hops, and a refreshing dry finish.
- Kingfisher Strong: Full-bodied with malt-driven sweetness, complemented by citrus and piney hop notes, ending with a clean bitterness.
- Kingfisher Premium: A smooth pale lager with soft malt, delicate floral aromas, and a mild, refreshing taste.
- Kingfisher Ultra Max: Stronger in character, this pale-golden lager combines sweet malt, floral hops, and a smooth, cooling finish.
- Simba Wit: Bright and zesty, brewed with orange peel and coriander, offering a lively citrus aroma.
- Simba Stout: Deep and robust, with rich coffee and chocolate notes, creamy texture, and a balanced bitter edge.
Global Stage, Indian Impact
The World Beer Awards is one of the most respected competitions in the brewing world, where beers are judged through blind tastings, ensuring focus on flavor, quality, and style rather than branding. Recognition here reflects not just brewing excellence but also signals India’s growing presence in a field traditionally dominated by long-established international breweries.
These wins highlight how Indian brewers are raising the bar and competing with global names, while also giving local beer lovers new reasons to celebrate.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which Indian beer brands won at the World Beer Awards 2025?
Kingfisher and Simba were recognized at the World Beer Awards 2025 across multiple categories.
2. What awards did Kingfisher beer win in 2025?
Kingfisher Ultra won Gold, Kingfisher Strong and Kingfisher Premium secured Silver, and Kingfisher Ultra Max received Bronze.
3. Which Simba beers were awarded in 2025?
Simba Wit won Silver, and Simba Stout earned Bronze in the India Country Winners – Taste category.
4. What is special about Simba Wit beer?
Simba Wit is a Belgian-style wheat beer brewed with orange peel and coriander, giving it a refreshing citrus aroma.
5. What flavor notes does Simba Stout have?
Simba Stout features deep chocolate and coffee notes with a creamy texture and a slightly bitter finish.
6. What makes Kingfisher Ultra unique?
Kingfisher Ultra is a crisp, golden lager with a balance of malt sweetness, light hops, and a refreshing dry finish.
7. What category did Kingfisher Strong win in?
Kingfisher Strong received a Silver medal in the Seasonal Oktoberfestbier/Marzen category.
8. Did Kingfisher Premium receive any recognition?
Yes, Kingfisher Premium secured a Silver medal in the Helles/Münchner lager category.
9. What award did Kingfisher Ultra Max win?
Kingfisher Ultra Max won Bronze in the Seasonal Maibock/Helles Bock category.
10. Why are the World Beer Awards important?
The World Beer Awards is a respected global competition where beers are judged blind for quality, flavour, and style, making the recognition highly prestigious.
11. How are beers judged at the World Beer Awards?
Beers are blind-tasted by experts, meaning judges do not see branding, ensuring unbiased evaluation.
12. How do these awards impact Indian breweries?
Winning at international competitions boosts the credibility of Indian breweries and helps them gain recognition in global markets.
13. Are Kingfisher and Simba available internationally?
Kingfisher is widely available abroad, while Simba is expanding its presence beyond India in select markets.
14. What does this win mean for Indian beer lovers?
It highlights the quality of Indian beers, offering local consumers more pride and confidence in homegrown brews.
15. Could Indian beers compete with long-established global brands?
Yes, these awards prove Indian breweries are capable of standing alongside traditional international beer brands in terms of taste and quality.
