Pull up a stool with Nikhil Menon

Pull up a stool and join me as I chat with Nikhil Menon , Co-founder and Head of Brewery Operations, about his journey with Mannheim Craft Brewery . This was a very special chat for me, as Nikhil has been my close friend for more than a decade.

What inspired you to start Mannheim Craft Brewery? What was the driving force behind this venture?

The single minded purpose to serve that perfect pint of craft beer, pint after pint. ?

Can you share a bit about your background and how you developed an interest in the craft beer industry?

Growing up in Bangalore the pub capital of India, beer has been the beverage of choice from my early days. During my college day overseas I had the opportunity to experience craft beers which absolutely blew my mind in terms of taste profile and variety of styles. Many decades later when Shankar Subramaniam and Naveen Menon spoke to me about the plan they had i was more than happy to join them on the venture.?

What according to you sets Mannheim Craft Brewery apart from other craft breweries?

We are extremely proud of the beers we churn out, and I would say our attention to detail from the manufacturing process to the final product in the glass to ensure the beer is consistently perfect is what sets us apart.?

What has been the most challenging aspect of starting and running a craft brewery?

From an operations stand point I would say raw material costs, challenges in some aspects of policy and logistics are the main hurdles, however we keep trying to be innovative to overcome these challenges.?

What is your personal favourite beer from Mannheim Craft Brewery, and what makes it special?

Our IPA’s and kettle sours, the reason I find these styles special is because the brewing and maturation processes in these styles are a little more complex to ensure we get the flavour profiles and finishes true to these styles.?

What role does sustainability play in brewery operations?

Sustainability is a big factor for us as beer is heavily reliant on electricity, water and CO2, While we have already started a zero water wastage system wherein the waste water is treated and used for landscaping and construction activities, we are working on optimisation of our electricity usage by having systems to monitor cooling and heating systems, solar power for some of our processes and we are investigating options for CO2 recovery. The idea is to have a self reliant brewery with the lowest possible carbon footprint.?

Can you share any exciting new beer styles or flavours you're currently excited about?

Hmmmmm interesting question, we have a a couple of sours coming on tap, a rauchbier is currently getting ready for packaging, we have recently collaborated with Dr. Brauwolf in Switzerland and we will have a few of their styles coming on tap in the months to come.?

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start their own craft brewery?

While all businesses need to make money, i would say make sure you are not cutting corners on the production costs to increase profits, but most importantly this is the craft beer industry, we are all about collaboration and sharing ideas, this is what makes our industry different from the large commercial giants. Let’s keep it that way and help this industry grow in India. We are only a little over a decade old in India and it’s a long road ahead. Stay true to your product and the craft culture.?

How do you see the craft beer industry evolving in India, and what plans do you have for Mannheim's future growth?

With international travel increasing the number of people who are able to discover the world of craft beers, we are already seeing a sizeable increase in the number of craft microbreweries emerging all across India. Popular players like Brewdog have already set foot in India which is extremely encouraging, there will be more coming in the near future. For us while we are are currently available in our taprooms in Bangalore, the next steps will be to spread across selected taprooms in Bangalore and neighbouring states and eventually get into retail stores as well as overseas.?

Beyond beer, what other passions or hobbies do you have?

Music, travel and hitting the gym. i have been introduced to Calisthenics as a form of exercise a few years ago which I find extremely helpful in maintaining a relatively injury free workout regime.?

What has been the most rewarding aspect of being a craft brewery founder?

Hearing our patrons take that first sip and say ‘ yeah this is a great beer’ is something that makes me proud every time as well as the fact some of our beers have won accolades in beer competitions in India and South East Asia. ? ??

How do you foster a sense of community and culture within your team at Mannheim?

The craft brewers culture is community inspired and for us this is very important. Hence we are always open for collabs with other brewers and breweries to come up with exciting and new styles of beer. Our brewing team and myself included are always open to discuss details of our processes be it with guests on a brewery tour or at our taprooms when guests or fellow brewers. This craft beer culture will only grow as we community engage with each other and spread the word.

If you could share a beer with anyone, living or historical, who would it be and why?

Nicko Mcbrain of the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, as a metalhead myself, Iron Maiden is one of my favourite bands till date and I would love to have a pint or 2 with Nicko!! ?

Nikhil's passion for the craft, his commitment to quality, and his vision for Mannheim Craft Brewery's growth are truly inspiring. It's been a pleasure learning about his journey and the driving forces behind this successful venture.