One of the cool things about going to another country is seeing all the different brands you can try. One of my friends loves going to grocery stores in other countries, and I always make fun of him. Truth be told, it is cool to see what is different in each country. In Nepal, there are so many different Nepali beers to choose from; some of which you can’t find anywhere else in the world. I didn’t expect there to be so many Nepali beers in such a small country, but with a festival almost every other day, it’s easy to see that the Nepalese know how to have a good time.
Note: the information below is compiled from the beer companies’ websites for those who would like to try all Nepali beers. Personally, I would recommendBarahsinghe Dark Wheat, Gorkha Premium or Everest.
Please drink responsibly.
Gorkha Beer
Brewery: Gorkha Brewery
Variety: Gorkha Premium and Gorkha Strong
Alcohol Content: Gorkha Premium has a 5.0% alcohol content. Gorkha Strong has a 6.0% alcohol content.
First Brewed in: 2006
Brewed with: Gorkha is brewed with the finest hops, barley malt, and pure water.
Taste Profile: Gorkha Premium is a smooth malty beer with low ester notes and high drinkability. Gorkha Strong is a smooth malty beer with medium ester notes. Both are lagers with a medium foam density.
Fun Fact: Gorkha is named after the famous Nepali soldiers who are known for their strength and bravery.
Barahsinghe Nepali Beer
Brewery: Yak Brewing Co.
Variety: Barahsinghe Dark Wheat Craft &Barahsinghe Premium Strong Craft
Alcohol Content: 6.0%
Brewed with: Barahsinghe is brewed with imported Dutch malted barley, natural spring water and imported German hops.
Taste Profile: Barahsinghe is a crisp and balanced beer with a floral aroma and refreshing taste.
Kathmandu Premium Lager
Brewery: Himalayan Breweries
Variety: Kathmandu Premium Lager
Alcohol Content: Kathmandu Premium Lager has a 5.5% alcohol content
Brewed with: Kathmandu Premium Lager is brewed with natural spring water from Godavari, Australian and European malts, German and Czech Saaz hops. It’s matured for more than 2 weeks after fermentation.
Taste Profile: It has a mellow and smooth flavor with a clean crisp taste.
Fun Fact: It’s the first Nepali beer to be imported to the UK.
Namaste Classic Beer
Brewery: Raj Brewery (JGI)
Variety: Namaste Classic Beer
Alcohol Content: Namaste Classic Beer has a 5.5% alcohol content.
Brewed with: Namaste is brewed with German Purity Law with only European barley malt, European hops, yeast and pure Himalayan water. There is no adjunct such as rice and sugar added, and no preservatives, enzymes and additives added.
Taste Profile: Namaste has a malty, fruity ester with well-rounded body and bitterness. It has balanced carbonation and is a refreshing beer with good drinkability.
Fun Fact: “Namaste” is the traditional greeting in Nepal. Translated, it means “the light in me salutes the light in you.”
Commando Super Strong Beer
Brewery: Himalayan Breweries
Variety: Commando
Alcohol Content: Commando has a 6.5% alcohol content.
Brewed with: It’s brewed with natural spring water, Indian and Australian malt, German hops, and Danish yeast. It’s matured for at least 10 days after fermentation.
Taste Profile: It has a smoky malty flavor with a smooth taste.
Mountain Ice Premium Strong Beer
Brewery: Raj Brewery (JGI)
Variety: Mountain Ice Premium Strong Beer
Alcohol Content: Mountain Ice has a 6.5% alcohol content.
Brewed with: Mountain Ice is brewed with European barley malt, rice, yeast, European hops and pure Himalayan water. No sugar, preservatives, enzymes and additives are added.
Taste Profile: Mountain Ice is a smooth, malty beer with medium body with balanced bitterness and carbonation. It’s a refreshing beer with good mouth fullness.
Sherpa Khumbu Kolsch
Brewery: Sherpa Brewery
Variety: Sherpa Khumbu Kolsch
Alcohol Content: Khumbu Kolsch has a 5% alcohol content.
Brewed with: Khumbu Kolsch is brewed with ale yeast.
Taste Profile: It’s a crisp easy to drink beer with hints of German hops in the aroma.
Fun Fact: Sherpa Khumbu Kolsch is Nepal’s first craft beer.
Nepal Ice Beer
Brewery: CG Brewery
Variety: Nepal Ice Natura, Nepal Ice Strong, and Nepal Ice Premium
Alcohol Content: Nepal Ice Natura has an alcohol content of 5.5%. Nepal Ice Strong has an alcohol content of 7.0%. Nepal Ice Premium has an alcohol content of 5.5%.
First Brewed in: 2008
Brewed with: Nepal Ice Premium and Nepal Ice Strong are brewed with malt while Nepal Ice Natura is brewed with 100% barley.
Taste Profile: Nepal Ice has sweet malty aromas. It has a light mouthfeel with medium body and carbonation.
Fun Fact: Nepal Ice Natura is the first all barley beer in Nepal.
Everest Premium Lager Beer
Brewery: Mt. Everest Brewery
Variety: Everest Premium Lager Beer
Alcohol Content: Everest has an alcohol content of 5.0%
First Brewed in: 2003
Taste Profile: Everest has hints of malt in the aroma. The taste is slightly bitter with a light to medium body.
Fun Fact: This beer was released on the 50th anniversary of the first summit of Mount Everest and originally featured an image of Mr. Tenzing Norgay Sherpa.
Mustang Premium Strong Beer
Brewery: CG Brewery
Variety: Mustang Premium Strong Beer
Alcohol Content: Mustang Premium Strong Beer has an alcohol content of 8%.
Brewed with: Mustang is a blend of imported malt, exotic hops, pure water and yeast.
Taste Profile: Mustang has apple undertones, a light body, and a velvety mouth feel.
Fun Fact: Mustang is a region in Nepal where foreigners were not allowed to enter before 1992, and today, they need a special permit. Its isolation makes it one of the best preserved cultural areas in the world.
Tensberg Premium Beer
Brewery: Tiger Breweries (founded in 2014)
Variety: Tensberg Premium and Tensberg Strong
Alcohol Content: Tensberg Premium has a 5.5% alcohol content. Tensberg Strong has a 7.5% alcohol content.
Taste Profile: Tensberg Premium combines a malty aroma with a toasted character and has a bitter/tart taste. Tensberg Strong is a smooth beer with a crisp taste. It’s amber in color and has a fluffy creamy foam.
Fun Fact: Hops are added twice for the tart taste of Tensberg Premium.
Arna Beer
Brewery: Yeti Brewery
Variety: Arna Light, Arna Premium, and Arna Strong
Alcohol Content: Arna Light has a 4.6% alcohol content. Arna Premium has a 5.5% alcohol content. Arna Strong has a 6.5% alcohol content.
Brewed with: Arna is brewed with malted barley, European hops, and Clean Himalayan Classic
Taste Profile: Arna Light is a low calorie refreshingly crisp beer.
Fun Fact: Arna Light is naturally brewed for 25% longer to remove the extra calories and is said to be the only low calorie & low carb Nepali beer.
Sherpa Himalayan Red
Brewery:Sherpa Brewery
Variety: Sherpa Himalayan Red
Alcohol Content: Himalayan red has a 5.0% alcohol content.
Brewed with: Himalayan Red is brewed with 2-row malts, the best hops, and pure Himalayan water.
Taste Profile: Himalayan Red is a full bodied bitter (ESB) with a distinct maltiness and subtle hops.
Iceberg Extra Strong Beer
Brewery: Himalayan Breweries
Variety: Iceberg Extra Strong
Alcohol Content: Iceberg Extra Strong has a 7.0% alcohol content.
First Brewed in: 1982
Brewed with: It’s brewed with Indian and Australian malt, German hops, natural spring water from Kunakhola, and German yeast.
Taste Profile: Iceberg Extra Strong is a strong beer, dark in color, and bitter in taste. It’s matured for 7 days after fermentation.
Fun Fact: It was awarded Gold Medal – the Certifie quela Medaille D’Or by the Institut Inter’l Pour Les Selections de la Qualite in 1987
Nepal Tiger Beer
Brewery: Tiger Breweries (founded in 2014)
Variety: Nepal Tiger
Alcohol Content: Nepal Tiger has 6.5% alcohol content.
Brewed with: Nepal Tiger is brewed with a unique blend of hops and barley.
Taste Profile: Nepal Tiger is a well-balanced, medium bodied smooth beer. It has a bitter taste with apple undertones.
Khukuri Premium Lager Beer
Brewery: Gorkha Brewery
Variety: Khukuri Premium Lager Beer
Alcohol Content: Khukuri has a 4.7% alcohol content.
First Brewed in: 2003
Taste Profile: Khukuri has a medium body and carbonation. It’s slightly sweet and fruity with a light bitterness and a crisp taste.
Fun Fact: A khukuri is a type of machete with a curved blade that is used by the Nepali army. This beer was awarded the Gold Monde Quality Award.
Shikhar Super Strong Beer
Brewery: Yeti Brewery
Variety: Shikhar Super Strong
Alcohol Content: Shikhar Super Strong has a 7.0% alcohol content.
Annapurna
I was not able to locate Annapurna Beer and the company that makes it did not get back to me. If you’ve had it, please let me know in the comments!
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Michelle Della Giovanna
Writer at Full Time Explorer
I’m just your average New Yorker who quit her job in the fashion industry to explore the world. Come find out what it’s like to trade in five-inch heels for squat toilets.
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