Itihaas joins forces with local microbrewery

BIRMINGHAM-based restaurant group Itihaas has linked up with Coventry microbrewery Lion Heart to produce a new beer to match its menu of Indian cuisine.

Sambha IPA is said to be hoppy in flavour, with fruity notes of citrus and pineapple derived from citra hops.
 
The ale is to be available exclusively at the Itihaas brasserie in Selfridges in Birmingham’s Bullring.
 
Raj Rana, managing director at Itihaas, said: “There’s huge interest in craft beer styles, their character and provenance. We wanted to challenge perceptions of Indian food and beer by creating an IPA that goes perfectly with the rich and diverse flavours of our authentic menu.
 
“Sambha beer is the genius of Itihaas head chef and the brewery’s master brewer working together to create a refreshing beer that complements the palate when enjoying rich and flavoursome food. Sambha has been brewed to be specifically paired with Indian food.”
 
Lion Heart’s head brewer Carl Marshall added: “The recipe was developed to complement the rich and spicy aromas of Itihaas’s cuisine. It is dry but fruity, and refreshes the palate while packing real subtlety and depth of flavour.”
 
In a nod to more recent history, the ale is named after a cheeky 1970s movie villain. The label art recalls Bollywood posters of that era.