DRIFTERS BREWING COMPANY SETS ITS SIGHTS ON GOA, INVITING THE COAST TO “GET THE DRIFT.”

Some arrivals are announced. Others are felt. This September, something new is set to find its way into Goa’s easy-going afternoons, spontaneous sundowners and unplanned nights out. Drifters Brewing Company, the Maharashtra-born craft beer brand built around curiosity, movement and going with the flow, has now made its way to Goa, bringing with it an easy-drinking beer experience created for wherever the day takes you.

At the heart of the Goa debut are two signature brews, Belgian White and Mexican Crisp, both at 4.6% ABV. Belgian White is smooth and hazy, brewed with malted and unmalted grains and layered with Curaçao orange peel and coriander seeds for a bright citrus character and subtle spice. Mexican Crisp, on the other hand, is a clean and refreshing lager with gentle fruity and floral notes, soft grainy sweetness and a crisp finish. Together, the two styles showcase Drifters’ approach to balancing European brewing influences with a contemporary Indian palate, while keeping the beers approachable and easy to drink.

What sets Drifters apart is its focus on bringing together the best of both worlds: the quality and taste of craft beer with the stability and consistency traditionally associated with commercial beer. Drifters’ beers are pasteurised and shelf-stable, with no added preservatives or additives, allowing the brand to retain its distinctive craft character while creating a product that can travel, scale and reach consumers across markets without compromising on quality or taste. This approach reflects Drifters’ larger ambition of evolving beyond its Maharashtra roots and building a beer brand that is ready for a national and, eventually, global audience.

Built around the belief that every beer should complement the moment, Drifters is designed for the many moods of Goa, lazy afternoons by the beach, sundowners by the river, house parties, bar-hopping or those spontaneous “let’s grab a beer” plans that turn into an entire evening. While Goa marks its latest destination, Drifters does not enter as a local Goan label, but as a brand from Maharashtra taking another step towards a larger journey across India and beyond.

“Goa has always represented a certain freedom, the freedom to slow down, explore, make spontaneous plans and simply enjoy where the day takes you. That is very much the spirit of Drifters. At the same time, we have always wanted to build a beer that combines the character and taste of craft with the stability needed to take it beyond one market. Our pasteurised, shelf-stable beers with no added preservatives or additives allow us to bring that experience to more consumers, without compromising on what makes Drifters distinctive. Entering Goa is an exciting step in that journey, and we see it as another milestone towards building a brand that can travel well beyond India,” says Nayann Shah, Managing Director & Co-Founder, Drifters Brewing Company.

Drifters’ journey began in 2016, followed by years of licensing, recipe development and refining its brewing language. The brand opened its first Tap Station in Bandra Kurla Complex in 2018, before expanding to Pune and subsequently across Mumbai and Maharashtra. In 2025, Drifters introduced cans, marking another step in its evolution and making its beers more accessible across occasions. With its focus on combining craft quality with shelf stability, the brand is now entering a new phase, one focused on taking its brewing philosophy to a wider audience.

“For us, brewing has never been about following a formula. It has always been about character, curiosity and creating something people genuinely want to come back to. Our aim has always been to create beers that have the quality and taste of craft, while offering the consistency and stability needed to take them across markets. That balance is at the heart of Drifters and is what gives us the confidence to think beyond our home market. With Goa, we are taking that philosophy into a new environment and a new community of drinkers, while laying the foundation for the journey ahead,” says Shiital Shah, Co-Founder, Drifters Brewing Company.

Available across select bars, hotels, cafés, pubs and wine shops in Goa, Drifters Belgian White and Mexican Crisp will be available in 500 ml cans at INR 165 and 330 ml pints at INR 120, with new styles and limited-edition drops planned for the future. Drifters is set to make its way onto taps across select Goa venues in the near future.

Because sometimes the best plans are the ones you never made. Just get the drift.