India: Uttar Pradehs gets its first microbrewery

Uttar Pradesh got its first microbrewery in an Agra restaurant where customers would be served freshly-brewed draught beer as in Karnataka, the Daily Pioneer reported on November 29.

Principal Secretary (Excise) Sanjay Bhoosreddy said that, after considering relevant documents, the state government granted permission to issue MB-5 licence for setting up microbrewery in a restaurant in Agra to manufacture draught beer for serving within its premises.

“This is the first permission granted by the state government to set up a microbrewery after promulgation of UP Brewery Rules, 2019. It will be the first microbrewery to serve non-pasteurised and unbottled beer or fresh beer in place of pasteurised or bottled beer to clients,” he said.

A Government Order (GO) in this regard was issued, asking the Excise Commissioner to take further action.
The permission has been given with the condition that the terms and conditions mentioned in the UP Brewery Rules are strictly complied with.

“Setting up microbreweries will not only help in serving quality fresh beer to clients but also generate employment resulting in increase in the state’s revenue,” Bhoosreddy said.

The idea to serve unbottled beer in bars and restaurants is modelled around the liquor policy of Karnataka and Telangana. The decision was taken to cater to the demand of restaurants and hotels, mainly in Noida, Ghaziabad and Agra, where influx of foreign tourists is considerably high.

On June 12, the state cabinet had decided to allow licence for fresh beer to be sold in retail through pubs, restaurants and hotels.

Under the arrangement, microbreweries would be set up for brewing fresh beer akin to Karnataka and other select states for which the relevant Act would be amended,” he said.

The licence fee for setting up a microbrewery will be Rs 2.5 lakh per year for brewing 600 litres of beer per day.

The government has also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 per day for violation of the rules.

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