The Pakora Bar, which began as an Indian street food mobile kitchen before also opening a permanent location on Hanover Street, is launching its debut craft beer, and Scotland’s first Mango Lassi-inspired pale ale, “Chakk De Phatte”, this week. A sweet, fruity ale packed with fresh mangoes, malty sweetness, and a velvet feel, it has already earned it a spot as a finalist in The Scottish Beer Awards.
Founded by the Singh family, John, Rajinder, and their sons Mark, Paul, and Brian, the decision to develop their own pale ale stems from the family’s commitment to innovation and quality, and driven by the desire to create a drink that perfectly compliments their pakoras and curries. “Chakk De Phatte”, the Punjabi phrase which translates as ‘cheers’ or ‘Slainte’, intends to fill the gap in the market for a beer that marries well with the rich flavours of Indian cuisine.
It marks the beginning of a strategic expansion for the family which sees this as a significant opportunity to establish their brand as the ‘go-to’ drink, to complement Indian cuisine in Scotland with availability not limited to their own Pakora Bar Edinburgh locations, but also distributed to selected restaurants across the country.
Mark Singh, co-owner of The Pakora Bar, said, “We’ve always wanted to create something that reflects our heritage and complements our food. With ‘Chakk De Phatte,’ we’re not just launching a beer—we’re offering a taste of who we are. There’s a real gap in the market for a beer like this, and initial feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. This really is the perfect beer to go alongside pakoras and curries”.
