Vinyl-themed microbrewery 33&Brew raises funding from Optimistic Capital

Vinyl-themed microbrewery 33&Brew has raised Rs 20 crore or about $2.2 million in a Series A funding round led by Optimistic Capital.

The funds will be used for construction and expansion.

Founded last year by Karthik Chandrasekaran, 33&Brew is India’s first vinyl-themed microbrewery. The brand combines craft beer with a curated vinyl record collection based on the 33⅓ RPM format. Guests can select and play vinyl records, creating a personalised music experience along with their drinks.

The outlet offers a progressive Indian menu with global influences and was conceptualised in collaboration with chef Sabyasachi Gorai.

33&Brew aims to stand out in the competitive brewery market of Bengaluru by bringing together craft brewing and analogue music culture. Optimistic Capital recently announced a Rs 200 crore beer-focused fund dedicated to the microbrewery sector. The fund has already deployed Rs 30 crore in its initial investments and plans to invest the remaining Rs 170 crore over the next three years.

The firm also plans to invest in two more microbreweries in central Bengaluru. As an owner-operator fund, Optimistic Capital focuses only on the craft beer sector and targets high-margin growth. It attracts investors from India, the Middle East, and Africa.

Edwin Daniel, Founder of Optimistic Capital, said, "Structuring this unique fixed-interval financial product in the microbrewery space has been incredibly exciting. By enabling small ticket sizes as a CAT-1 Angel fund, we're democratizing access to high-potential investments, allowing everyday investors to participate in India's booming craft beer revolution. The investors also get a unique financial product which gives out periodic payouts to hedge returns compared to other products."