Bira 91
Bira 91 (B9 Beverages Limited) is an Indian craft beer manufacturer founded in 2015 that produces premium, locally-flavored wheat-based beers distributed across 18 countries to urban Gen Z and millennial consumers via retail, bars, restaurants and taprooms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersNew Delhi, India
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Bira 91 does
Bira 91 (legally B9 Beverages Limited, formerly B9 Beverages Private Limited) is an Indian craft beer manufacturer founded in 2015 by Ankur Jain and headquartered in New Delhi. The company produces a portfolio of premium craft beers built on wheat, barley and hops, differentiated through locally-sourced ingredients such as tea, wild honey and Nashik grapes and experimental flavours including honey ales and tea-infused variants. It was recognized as India's fourth-largest beer producer with roughly 5% market share in key regions as of 2023, operating across 18 countries through a multi-channel distribution network spanning state-wise retail, on-premise outlets (bars, pubs, restaurants), owned taprooms, and the acquired The Beer Cafe cafe chain.
The company's revenue model is unit-priced craft beer sales at premium price points, supplemented by on-premise and cafe-channel revenues. It pursues a horizontal segmentation approach targeting urban Gen Z and millennial consumers seeking differentiated, premium alternatives to mass-market beer from global brewers such as AB InBev, Carlsberg and Heineken. Marketing has historically relied on aggressive brand sponsorships, taproom experiences, and social media engagement.
Bira 91 has raised approximately USD 210 million in cumulative funding across multiple rounds, including a $70 million Series D from Kirin Holdings (November 2022) and $10 million from MUFG Bank (2023), from investors including Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India), Sofina, Kirin Holdings and Anicut Capital. The company is currently in severe financial distress following a January 2024 name change that triggered a state-by-state license re-registration crisis, an 80% revenue contraction in some markets, Rs 748 crore net loss in FY24, accumulated losses of Rs 1,904 crore, Rs 1,000 crore in liabilities, and a going-concern qualification from its auditor. Production halted around October 2025, the founder exited in July 2026 surrendering his 17.8% stake, and Anicut Capital now leads restructuring under investor-dominated governance.
Bira 91 firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bira 91
- Legal name
- B9 Beverages Limited
- Website
- https://bira91.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Bira 91 (B9 Beverages Limited) is an Indian craft beer manufacturer founded in 2015 that produces premium, locally-flavored wheat-based beers distributed across 18 countries to urban Gen Z and millennial consumers via retail, bars, restaurants and taprooms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bira 91 industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Beer
- NAICS
- Breweries (31212), Breweries (312120), Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers (424810)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spirits/Cocktail Bars Operated by Producers (THAFALAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Beer, Brewery & Craft Beverage Tastings (THAJAGAE)
Keywords
Where Bira 91 is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Delhi
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Bira 91 business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Craft Beer Sales: Direct sales of Bira 91 craft beer products through retail outlets, bars, restaurants, and own taprooms
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Premium craft beer positioning |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Bira 91 product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bira 91 is a craft beer manufacturer that produces and sells a portfolio of premium craft beers made from wheat, barley, and hops, including flavored variants such as honey ales and tea-infused beers using locally-sourced ingredients like tea, wild honey, and Nashik grapes. The company distributes its beers through retail outlets, bars, restaurants, and its own taprooms across India and 18 international markets, and operates The Beer Cafe cafe-chain acquired in 2022.
Product overview
Bira 91 is a craft beer company that offers premium flavored beers including honey ales and tea-infused variants. The portfolio consists of the core Bira 91 craft beer brand, the acquired Kamakhya Beer & Bottling Private Limited brewery for production expansion, and The Beer Cafe retail chain. The company operates as B9 Beverages Ltd. (formerly B9 Beverages Private Limited) and was founded in 2015, positioning itself in India's premium craft beer segment against global giants AB InBev, Carlsberg, and Heineken.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bira 91 Craft Beer
- The Beer Cafe
Quantifiable outcome
- 5% market share in key Indian regions at peak
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Bira 91
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Bira 91 technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Bira 91 partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- HNGIL (Hindustan National Glass & Industries)minorHNGIL issued a legal notice to Bira 91 claiming ₹11.19 crore in outstanding dues including interest, storage and mould charges for customized glass bottles not lifted. This is a vendor/supplier dispute rather than a strategic partnership.
- Chhattisgarh DistilleriesminorBira 91 acquired Kamakhya Beer & Bottling Private Limited from Chhattisgarh Distilleries in a share swap deal, strengthening production capacity amid pandemic restrictions.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bira 91 competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Independence Brewing Company: Indian craft brewery operating in the same craft beer space with taproom-driven distribution. Comparable on product positioning, though smaller in scale than Bira 91.
- Bombay Duck Brewing Company: Indian craft brewery focused on experimental flavors in the same premium craft segment. Comparable in scale and product innovation approach, though with a smaller geographic footprint.
- Cerana Brewing: India-focused craft brewery targeting urban premium consumers. Comparable on craft positioning and flavor innovation, though substantially smaller scale than Bira 91.
Regional players
- Devans Modern Breweries: Indian regional brewery (formerly Devans) producing beer under multiple labels across northern and eastern India. Comparable on brewing operations and Indian distribution but focused on mainstream rather than premium craft.
Direct peers
- United Breweries (Kingfisher): India's largest beer producer and the dominant player in the Indian mass-market beer segment with the Kingfisher brand. Directly competes with Bira 91 across on-premise and retail channels in India, with vastly larger distribution and production scale.
- White Owl Brewery: Mumbai-based craft brewery operating in the same premium Indian craft beer segment. Direct competitor on taproom experiences, flavored craft offerings, and urban on-premise distribution.
- Simba Craft Beers: India-based craft beer producer competing in the same premium craft segment as Bira 91 with similar urban Gen Z / millennial target customers and on-premise distribution model.
Broad incumbents
- Heineken India: Global brewer with Indian joint venture operations. Competes in premium and mainstream segments and shares the same on-premise and retail channels that Bira 91 relies on.
- Carlsberg India: Global brewer with significant Indian operations and brands like Tuborg. Competes with Bira 91 across price tiers in the Indian beer market and has deep relationships with state-level distributors.
- AB InBev India: Global brewing giant operating Budweiser and other premium brands in India. Competes directly with Bira 91 in the premium beer segment with substantially greater marketing budgets and nationwide distribution.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Bira 91 social profiles
Digital presenceBira 91 financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bira 91 leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Bira 91 subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Bira 91 funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds19 records
Investors15 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bira 91 M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bira 91
What does Bira 91 do?
Bira 91 is a craft beer manufacturer that produces and sells a portfolio of premium craft beers made from wheat, barley, and hops, including flavored variants such as honey ales and tea-infused beers using locally-sourced ingredients like tea, wild honey, and Nashik grapes. The company distributes its beers through retail outlets, bars, restaurants, and its own taprooms across India and 18 international markets, and operates The Beer Cafe cafe-chain acquired in 2022.
Is Bira 91 a public or private company?
Bira 91 is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Bira 91 founded?
Bira 91 was founded in 2015. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Bira 91 based?
Bira 91 is headquartered in New Delhi, India, in the Asia region.
How does Bira 91 make money?
One revenue line is on record: craft Beer Sales.
Who are Bira 91's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Independence Brewing Company, Bombay Duck Brewing Company and Cerana Brewing. Devans Modern Breweries is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are United Breweries (Kingfisher), White Owl Brewery and Simba Craft Beers. Broad incumbents are Heineken India, Carlsberg India and AB InBev India.
Does Bira 91 have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bira 91.
What industry is Bira 91 in?
Bira 91's product category is Craft Beer. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFALAJ, Spirits/Cocktail Bars Operated by Producers, with a secondary code of THAJAGAE, Beer, Brewery & Craft Beverage Tastings. Its NAICS code is 31212 and its SIC code is 2080.