Dr. Yoginee Budhkar

Dr Yoginee Budhkar: Co-founder & Partner

Cerana Meads 

1. What was your first brew?

The one I made? It was a metheglin, or spiced mead with ginger, cinnamon and raisins fermented in Jamun honey. High alcohol still mead.
The one I had? Probably like every Indian, my answer is, kingfisher.

2. How did you get this job?
Some luck, some chance. The universe conspired! 

Got to know about mead while studying for my doctorate, was intrigued. Made a few batches at home and encouraged by the results and opportune market scenario, got into the project.

3. What’s your favourite mead that you have brewed?

Made a Piñot noir pyment a couple of years back. Was a perfectly balanced mead. Made a honey oatmeal stout several times. It’s a braggot with 35% honey in it. So far my best attempt at making anything close to a beer. 

4. What’s your favourite beer brewed by others?

I quite like the beatnik sticky toffee pudding imperial stout I once picked up at one of the brew dog taprooms. In spite of the 9% alcohol, they have managed to give justice to every word in that name! And it’s still very much a beer. Super delicious.

5. Which mead would you like to brew?
I would really like to make a spiced bochet. That’s spiced mead made with caramelised honey

6. What name would you really like to give to mead, and what type of mead would it be?
It would be the spiced bochet I talked about earlier, and I’d call it Spicerana

7. What’s your favourite beer style?

Pale ales 

8. What’s your favourite hop variety?

With my limited knowledge I’d like to say sorachi ace?

9. What’s your favourite malt or Honey variety?
I like them all. If you ask about honey, I like Jamun honey the best, closely followed by lychee. 

10. Which do you prefer – draught, bottle or cans?
Draft, please. Cans are good too, for the convenience of carrying and assurance of 100% leakproof seal.