Maharashtra Microbrewery Industry Report 2026: Production Crosses 26.5 Lakh Litres While Craft Beer Accounts for Just 0.54% of the Beer Market

Maharashtra continues to strengthen its position as India's leading craft beer state. The latest consolidated data from the Maharashtra State Excise Department shows that the microbrewery industry achieved record-breaking production, sales, and excise revenue during FY 2025–26.

Over the last four financial years, the state's craft beer industry has nearly doubled its production while excise revenue has increased by more than two and a half times. Despite this remarkable growth, craft beer still accounts for only 0.54% of Maharashtra's total beer sales, highlighting enormous opportunities for entrepreneurs, hospitality businesses, and investors looking to enter the market.

Maharashtra Microbrewery Industry by the Numbers

Between FY 2022–23 and FY 2025–26:

Production

• Increased from 13.67 lakh litres to 26.51 lakh litres

Sales

• Increased from 13.19 lakh litres to 24.96 lakh litres

Microbrewery Revenue

• Increased from ₹5.97 crore to ₹15.38 crore

Commercial Brewery Sales

• Increased from 322.58 million litres to 458.80 million litres

Craft Beer Market Share

• Increased from 0.41% to 0.54%

These figures represent the strongest performance ever recorded by Maharashtra's microbrewery sector.

Maharashtra's Craft Beer Industry is Growing Much Faster Than the Overall Beer Market

One of the most important insights from the latest data is the difference in growth rates between craft beer and commercial beer.

During the last three financial years, Maharashtra's microbrewery industry achieved a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of:

• 24.7% in production
• 23.6% in sales
• 37.2% in microbrewery revenue

By comparison, commercial brewery sales grew at a CAGR of 12.4%.

This means Maharashtra's craft beer industry is expanding at nearly twice the rate of the conventional beer market.

Even more significant is the growth in government revenue. A revenue CAGR of 37.2% indicates that breweries are becoming more commercially successful, generating higher sales values and contributing increasing excise collections to the state.

Production Has Nearly Doubled in Just Four Years

Microbrewery production increased from 13.67 lakh litres in FY 2022–23 to 26.51 lakh litres in FY 2025–26.

This represents nearly 94% growth in production.

Several factors have contributed to this expansion:

• Opening of new microbreweries across Maharashtra
• Capacity expansion by existing breweries
• Increasing consumer demand for freshly brewed craft beer
• Growth of premium dining and hospitality
• Rising popularity of local beer brands

FY 2025–26 recorded the highest production ever reported for Maharashtra's microbrewery industry.

Sales Continue to Reach Record Levels

Sales have followed a similar trend.

Microbrewery sales increased from 13.19 lakh litres in FY 2022–23 to 24.96 lakh litres in FY 2025–26.

This represents approximately 89% growth over four years.

The relatively small difference between production and sales suggests that breweries are operating efficiently with healthy consumer demand.

Excise Revenue Has Increased More Than 150%

Government revenue generated from microbreweries has increased dramatically.

Excise revenue grew from ₹5.97 crore in FY 2022–23 to ₹15.38 crore in FY 2025–26.

Overall, revenue has increased by more than 157% during the period.

The fact that revenue has grown much faster than production indicates:

• Better brewery utilisation
• Increased premium beer consumption
• Higher production efficiency
• Stronger commercial performance
• Expansion of operational breweries

This is an encouraging sign for both investors and policymakers.

Craft Beer Still Represents Only 0.54% of Maharashtra's Beer Market

Although Maharashtra's craft beer industry is growing rapidly, it remains a very small part of the overall beer market.

Commercial breweries sold 458.8 million litres of beer during FY 2025–26, while microbreweries sold just 2.50 million litres.

As a result, craft beer accounted for only 0.54% of total beer sales.

The market share has gradually improved:

• FY 2022–23: 0.41%
• FY 2023–24: 0.41%
• FY 2024–25: 0.45%
• FY 2025–26: 0.54%

Although this represents a 32% increase in market share, Maharashtra's craft beer industry still has enormous room for expansion.

Pune Continues to Lead Maharashtra's Craft Beer Industry

Pune remains the largest microbrewery hub in Maharashtra, supported by a mature ecosystem of breweries, brewpubs, hospitality businesses, and experienced brewing professionals.

Other districts showing strong growth include:

• Thane
• Mumbai Suburban
• Nashik
• Raigad
• Satara
• Kolhapur
• Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
• Nagpur

Several new breweries commenced production during FY 2025–26, contributing to the state's record production levels.

What This Means for Future Investors

The numbers tell an interesting story.

While Maharashtra's craft beer industry is growing at nearly 25% annually, it still accounts for less than 1% of the state's beer market.

In mature beer markets such as the United States and parts of Europe, craft beer often represents 10% to 20% of total beer consumption.

Although market conditions differ, the comparison highlights how early Maharashtra's craft beer industry still is.

For entrepreneurs and hospitality businesses, this creates opportunities to establish:

• Brewpubs
• Production microbreweries
• Contract brewing facilities
• Taprooms
• Regional craft beer brands
• Brewery tourism destinations

Future Growth Outlook

If the current growth trend continues, Maharashtra's craft beer industry could exceed 80 lakh litres of annual production within the next five years.

Based on the current CAGR:

• Production could cross 80 lakh litres
• Sales could exceed 72 lakh litres
• Microbrewery revenue could approach ₹75 crore annually

These figures are trend-based projections derived from historical growth and should not be considered guaranteed forecasts. However, they demonstrate the scale of opportunity available if consumer demand, investment, and licensing continue to expand.

Conclusion

Maharashtra's microbrewery industry is entering a new phase of growth.

Production has nearly doubled in four years. Sales continue to reach new highs. Excise revenue has increased by more than 150%, and the industry is growing almost twice as fast as the commercial beer market.

Yet, craft beer still accounts for only 0.54% of Maharashtra's total beer sales.

For entrepreneurs planning to establish a microbrewery, investors evaluating the hospitality sector, or businesses looking to expand into premium beer, the data suggests that Maharashtra remains one of India's most attractive and underpenetrated craft beer markets.