Rupee Beer Expands Into Kentucky, Bringing #1 Fastest-Growing Indian Beer to the Bluegrass State

PORTLAND, Maine — Rupee Beer, the multi-award-winning Indian-inspired beer brand named Best Beer to Pair with World Food, is expanding into Kentucky, marking another major milestone in the Indian beer brand’s rapid national growth.

The Kentucky launch brings Rupee Beer to 23 states nationwide, as the Portland, Maine-based brand furthers its mission to introduce American consumers to a new way of enjoying beer alongside Indian, spicy, and global cuisine.

Known for its distinctive Basmati Rice Lager, Rupee Beer has built an incredibly loyal following among Indian restaurants, retailers, chefs, and consumers looking for beers specifically designed to complement bold, complex flavors.

From India-Inspired Flavors to the Bluegrass State

Kentucky’s celebrated hospitality, restaurant, and culinary culture makes it a natural next market for Rupee Beer.

While Kentucky is internationally recognized for bourbon, the state’s food scene continues to evolve, with growing interest in international cuisines and new beverage experiences. Rupee sees an opportunity to introduce consumers to the curry-and-pint pairing culture that has been deeply rooted in the U.K. for decades and is now gaining momentum across the United States.

“Beer has always been one of the best ways to experience food, but American consumers haven’t traditionally been taught how well beer can pair with Indian & global flavors,” said Van Sharma, Co-Founder of Rupee Beer. “Kentucky has such an incredible appreciation for hospitality, craftsmanship, and flavor, and we’re excited to bring Rupee Beer into the market and show American consumers how an Indian beer and global spice can work together so perfectly!”

A Beer Portfolio Designed Around Global Flavor & Spice:

• Basmati Rice Lager — the flagship beer and the foundation of the brand
• India Pale Ale — an IPA inspired by the historic connection between India and British brewing culture
• Mango Wheat Ale — a seasonal beer designed to complement tropical and spicy flavors
• Non-Alcoholic Beer — bringing the Rupee pairing experience to consumers choosing not to drink alcohol
• Darjeeling Hard Tea — extending the brand beyond traditional beer with India’s love affair with chai

Rupee Beer was developed by globally renowned master brewer Alan Pugsley, a British-born brewing pioneer with more than 40 years of experience and a career spanning more than 100 beer brands around the world.

A Family Restaurant Legacy Behind the Brand

Rupee Beer was founded by brothers Van and Sumit Sharma, sons of Indian restaurateurs whose family has spent more than 50 years in the restaurant business.

Their connection to Indian food began at home and in their family’s restaurants across Europe and the United States. After spending years living in London and Australia, the brothers returned to their hometown of Portland, Maine, during the pandemic.

They quickly recognized a gap in the American distribution market: Indian cuisine was becoming increasingly popular, but the beer selection available alongside it was often limited to imported lagers that were not necessarily designed with food pairing in mind and also never had reliable year-round supply to the U.S. market.

From Portland, Maine to Nationwide

Since launching in 2020, Rupee Beer has grown from a regional concept into a nationally distributed brand. The company is now available across 23 states, with continued expansion planned throughout the United States.

The Kentucky launch follows recent expansion into additional markets as Rupee continues to build a national distribution network and establish itself as the fastest-growing Indian beer brand in the American market.

The company has also attracted significant national media attention, with coverage and features highlighting its approach to Indian-inspired brewing and the growing intersection of Indian cuisine and American beer culture.

For Rupee, Kentucky represents more than another state on a distribution map. It is another opportunity to introduce consumers to a different way of experiencing one of America’s fastest-growing culinary categories.

Rupee Beer is bringing the curry-and-pint culture to Kentucky — one perfectly paired pint at a time.