India is in many ways a land of superlatives. However, the country is comparatively reluctant in term of the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Nevertheless, around 600 million Indians of legal drinking age are an enormous potential for the alcoholic beverage industries. The market has started to move: Over the past ten years, more than 100 brewpubs have been set up nationwide. In particular, in the major cities of Gurgaon and Bangalore, there are growing groups of young, consumptive and wealthy people that gratefully absorbs the trend for craft beers and craft spirits. A development that, according to experts, will continue.

Reason enough for Nürnberg Messe to launch a specialist event in India as part of its new Beviale Family series. The two-day exhibition in Bangalore was accompanied by a conference entitled "From Grain to Glass" and a workshop on the sensory evaluation of beers conducted by VLB Berlin. VLB expert Jan Biering presented the 50 participants the fundamental knowledge about taste perception as well as frequent off-flavors in beer and the associated avoidance strategies. The seminar was supplemented by practical exercises with different tasting schemes.