Brothers Van and Sumit Sharma launched Rupee Beer about six years ago. The idea grew out of their family’s long history in the Indian restaurant business, their parents opened the first Indian restaurants in Maine after immigrating from the UK, and Van saw early on the challenges of finding a consistent supply of Indian beer in the U.S.
Rupee Beer set out to fill that gap with recipes designed to pair with Indian food, using ingredients like basmati rice. The company started by contract brewing in Boston and has since expanded, now distributing in 20 states and selling through major retailers like Costco. Its lineup now includes a rice lager, an India pale ale, a mango wheat ale, and an upcoming non-alcoholic beer.
In this episode Epicenter-NYC Co-Founder and Publisher, S. Mitra Kalita, sits down with Van to learn more about the story behind Rupee, navigating the alcohol distribution system, expanding into new markets, and building a business rooted in community.
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