The Lizard King Brewing Co. Puts the Spotlight on Craft Ciders This Summer in Goa

Brewmaster George Jacob is fermenting Himachal apples and Alphonso mangoes the old-fashioned way - no shortcuts, no artificial flavouring - raising the bar on what cider can be at India's first rock 'n' roll microbrewery.

GOA, INDIA, April 2026: Most menus in Goa follow a similar pattern - easy lagers and predictable cocktails. At Lizard King Brewing Co., George Jacob is doing something different. A Brewlab UK-trained brewer with experience across India and the UK, George has built Lizard King Brewing Co. as a process-led microbrewery and brewpub - where what’s on tap matters as much as how it’s made.

This summer, the focus is on two pours: an Apple Cider and a Mango Cider. Both are brewed on site. Both built from real fruit. And both are a clear departure from what’s typically available in Goa.

“Cider is the most lied about drink in India right now. Flavouring, carbonation, a fruit label slapped on: job’s done. That's not cider, that's a con. We brew ours the same way I'd brew anything on this tap list, you earn it through the process or you don't pour it.”, says George Jacob, Brewmaster, Lizard King Brewing Co.

The Apple Cider starts in Himachal Pradesh, where apples are crushed, before being fermented and finished in Goa. A light touch of oak adds structure, keeping it dry, crisp, and properly made - not something flavoured and passed off as cider.

The Mango Cider is built on Alphonso mangoes, with the focus on getting the fermentation right rather than pushing sweetness. Medium-bodied and clean, it delivers depth without excess.

“Alphonsos are the headliner, they don't need help, they command respect. Ferment it right, don't smother it with sweetness, don't drown it in carbonation, and get out of the way. My job is to be the best sound engineer that mango has ever had.”, says George Jacob.

Both ciders are brewed fresh, without artificial flavouring or back-sweetening. At Lizard King, the brewing process isn’t hidden - the tanks sit front and centre, because the craft is part of the experience.

Lizard King Brewing Co., which opened in Arpora in October 2025, is a 28-seater brewpub built around a simple idea: a pub should feel like a working brewery, not a set. Dark wood, industrial steel, and walls layered with rock ‘n’ roll history - from Nirvana to the Stones - set the tone.

The tap list runs eight strong: Pilsner, Best Bitter, Irish Stout, Belgian Wit, Pale Ale, and rotating specials alongside the ciders. The food follows the same thinking: pub classics with intent - Fish & Chips in stout batter, Steak & Onion Pie, Chicken Fried Steak, Ham & Cheese Sandwich and a new menu featuring our guest favourites.

In a market built on shortcuts, Lizard King doesn't do easy. These ciders are the proof, brewed from real fruit, fermented properly, and poured without apology. Come taste the difference.