Vanit (Van) and Sumit Sharma, brothers from Portland, Maine, are making waves in the craft beer scene with Rupee Beer, a lager specially crafted to pair with Indian cuisine. Born during the COVID-19 pandemic as a solution to import shortages of popular Indian beers, Rupee has evolved into a niche, culturally-rooted brand now available across several U.S. states and finding fans far beyond Indian dining spaces and restaurants.
Van and Sumit Sharma
In 2020, as the pandemic disrupted lives globally, Van and Sumit returned from Australia to their hometown of Portland. Helping out at their parents’ Indian restaurant, just like they did as teenagers, they encountered serious supply chain issues, especially with beloved Indian beer staples like Kingfisher and Taj Mahal. With shipments delayed and larger states like New York and California getting priority, the idea took root: why not brew their own Indian-inspired beer locally that would genuinely complement the cuisine they knew so well?
Though they lacked brewing experience, they found the perfect mentor in Alan Pugsley, the legendary founder of Shipyard Brewing. Pugsley, known for launching over 80 craft beer brands, guided them through the intricate process. Together, they conducted exhaustive tastings at the family restaurant to develop a beer that would enhance Indian food rather than compete with it. Their creation was a smooth, low-carbonation lager brewed with rice, maize, malted barley, yeast, and three types of hops crafted to elevate rather than overpower Indian dishes.
Rupee Beer
The name ‘Rupee’ is more than just branding. It’s a tribute to heritage. Their parents, Indian immigrants who journeyed through Germany and the UK before settling in Maine in the 1990s, built a chain of Indian restaurants, with Bombay Mahal being the oldest in the state. As one of the few Indian families in the area, the Sharma brothers often found themselves the only Indian students at school. Their father constantly reminded them of the importance of being good cultural ambassadors.
Today, Rupee Beer is distributed through Whole Foods, Costco, and Trader Joe’s, and features prominently in Indian and South Asian restaurants across several states. It’s brewed in partnership with Dorchester Brewing and has won accolades like the 2021 Food and Drink Award.
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With increased production capacity and growing demand, the brothers are now working on expanding Rupee’s footprint to other U.S. states and in the UK. For Van and Sumit, it’s not just about beer, it’s about identity, and introducing the world to a sip of Indian beverage, one pint at a time. Read More