A LIBRARY without any books might be an oxymoron. But The Bier Library in Koramangala boasts a different kind of collection. “A library is a place where one finds an expanse of knowledge. We, as a bunch of beer lovers, wanted to create a place where people can learn everything about beer and experience it all under one roof. Hence the name,” says Prashant Kunal, CEO and founder. We visited this new brewery to give their beers and innovative menu a try. With a pickle platter, artisanal paneer and gluten-free pizzas, this gastro pub is more than just a catalogue of beers.
Spread across 20,000 square feet, it’s the brewery’s scale that impressed us as walked in. Open air and pet-friendly, the place also has a koi pond in the centre. They offer six beers on tap. Very Weiss, a German-style wheat beer with flavours of banana and clove, and Ale-o-Drama, a double IPA with hints of guava and grapefruit, were our favourites from the options.
Chefs Seemanta Baruah and Manjit Singh have designed the menu that is regional as well as eclectic. For example, as an homage to “touchings” in local bars, the brewery serves an array of pickles with Khamiri rotis (or as they like to call it, Indian sourdough). The pickles range from Rajasthani chole pickle and pork pickle from the North east, to a radish pickle from West India. We sampled a few of these with the bread and they indeed make for great sides. Instead of French fries, which of course also features on the menu, we suggest you try their Chips Board (tapioca, lotus root and banana chips) or the Chakna Platter (nippat, Congress nuts and papadums).
The menu has a large selection of small plates, all of which pair well with their drinks. One of our picks was the Quail 65. Chef Seemanta has added a twist to the usual chicken dish, by swapping the poultry, and we certainly think it was an improvement. Another favourite was the Mutton Kathal Kebab, a dish that brings together meat with jackfruit, an unusual, but winning combination. A small plate on our table that stood out was the Artisanal Paneer Tikka. The Bier Library makes its own paneer, which, infused with herbs and spices during the process, adds a new layer of flavour.
When it comes to pizzas, they offer gluten-free nine-inch pizzas, (made with tapioca flour), and slices of 21-inch pizzas. We tried the Fig and Bocconcini pizza, a must-try thanks to the delicious pairing of fruity flavours with tart cheese. Another recommendation is their Pizza Nero, a pizza made with activated charcoal and hence black in colour; one for your Instagram feed.
With a beer garden-style ambiance, a regionally-inspired menu and potent craft beers, The Bier Library could become a popular brewpub for the Koramangala neighbourhood.
Rs.1,500 for two. At Koramangala
anagha@newindianexpress.com @anaghzzz