How to Lounge this weekend

On a platter: The new beers on tap

Bira 91, one of the pioneers of bottled craft beer in India, opened the doors to its first taproom this week to mark the brand’s five-year anniversary. The Bira 91 Limited Release Taproom, in Koramangala, Bengaluru, promises a unique experience, where customers get to taste and rate new beers created by the brand, and the feedback is used to launch new bottled versions nationally. Bira 91 plans to release one new beer every week on an average at the taproom, the brand said. Spread over 3,500 sq. ft, with a seating capacity of 450, the Limited Release taproom offers all Bira variants on tap, along with new varieties like an English-style brown ale, a West Coast IPA, the special “Pomegranate Champagne Rose”, a new beer variant with champagne yeast blended in pomegranate juice crafted by the brand, and Mysore Imperial Stout, a bold stout with a hint of coffee and molasses. — SB

Bira 91 Limited Release Taproom, on 80ft Road, Koramangala, Bengaluru, is open every day from 11am-midnight.

On display: The future of film is female

The IAWRT Asian Women’s Film Festival is back for its 16th edition. Organized by the International Association of Women in Radio and Television, the festival will screen 52 films by women from 15 countries, ranging from animation to shorts, documentary and experimental film. This festival is always a good chance to discover fresh, lesser-known voices, but there are also some big names in the lineup: The opening film is Deepti Gupta’s documentary Shut Up Sona about singer Sona Mohapatra. There is also Gitanjali Rao’s animated feature Bombay Rose, apart from sections on directors from the Middle East, women photographers, and a curated category called “Her Upside Down Gaze”. —UB

The Asian Women’s Film Festival, India International Centre, 4-7 March. Entry, free. Visit iawrtindia.blogspot.com for the schedule.

Travelogue: Fresh on the boat

The backwaters of Kochi offer several houseboat options but if you are looking for something really top-notch, the city’s Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty has recently launched its first two-bedroom luxury eco-friendly houseboat, Nattika, crewed by a team of six. It can accommodate up to four adults and four children, and comes equipped with exclusive upper and lower decks, a sun deck, living room, kitchen, dining room and lounge. From fishing and kayaking in Vembanad lake to karaoke and games on board, there is enough to keep everyone busy. The boat has bio-toilets and an efficient waste management system. —SL

Prices for the Nattika at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty, Kochi, start from ₹40,000 for 5 hours (half a day) and ₹60,000 for 8 hours (full day).

Curated by Shubham Ladha