We had enjoyed the taste of the Kingfisher Ultra on Maine Street at Shere Punjab while out for dinner, but drinking one in India felt like we were experiencing the beer properly for the first time. During our two-week stay in the north of India over winter break, a trip filled with incredible kite-festivals, tiger sightings, and emergency Imodium consumption, we had the opportunity to experience Kingfisher’s Ultra lager with meals and on its own.
The bottle in and of itself was unusual. The Kingfishers we found came in optimistically-sized 650-ml bottles (twice the size of a standard beer), ensuring that we had ample time and sips to thoroughly taste and examine the beer. The high volume is a wise marketing move from Kingfisher, as we both seemed to have considerably more praise for the beer midway through our second bottle.
We found the Kingfisher to be light and malty, with very pleasant drinkability. As the staple of Indian beers, it gave the sort of calming taste that perfectly counteracts the spice and intensity of the food we had it with. Through its smooth and malty taste, it allowed the drink to not lead the flavor of the meal, but instead acted as a great way to limit the crying and sniffling that the spice in the food produced. On its own, the uncomplicated lager served as a pleasant beer for unwinding from a busy day.
Although we don’t know if it quite lives up to its motto of “The Emperor of Good Times,” it certainly contributed to our astonishing adventure, either as a drink for dinner or out at one of the under-attended Delhi bars or clubs (the lack of people clubbing may have been related to our decision to go out on a Wednesday).
Kingfisher Ultra functioned as a multi-useful beer in our trip. We enjoyed Kingfisher while hanging out at the apartment we stayed in, at the clubs in Delhi, pitch-side as we played cricket on a hot day, socializing with Shan’s family in Jaipur, and at dinners out. This goes to show that it did indeed aid in, but not necessarily facilitate, many of our adventures in India. Disclaimer: in addition to impairing your ability to drive or operate heavy machinery, Kingfisher Ultra may also dangerously reduce your inhibition of antagonizing aggressive wild monkeys you encounter on the streets of India. Just ask Jay.
Although it is a very pleasant and drinkable beer, both of us agreed the Kingfisher Ultra is hardly reinventing the wheel. The brand promotes itself in a way that would make it seem like the suave BMW of beers. It points to “its world-class quality, distinct taste, attractive packaging and most importantly, the ‘Ultra Experience’” as the main features. We enjoyed the Kingfisher, but when a beer attempts to sell itself on its “attractive packaging,” maybe that is a sign that the Ultra beer is maybe not one to pull out of the fridge to impress your beer-connoisseur friends. Side note: if any seniors are looking into a career in advertising, we think Kingfisher may be hiring.
On a few occasions, we were also able to sample Kingfisher Premium. The main difference? The label, mostly. The taste was similarly smooth and malty, perhaps a little heavier-bodied. No reports yet on how Kingfisher “Ultra” or “Premium” compares to Kingfisher “Gold” or “Ultra Max,” but if anyone has any ideas, please let us know.