photo by gettaphunter
The temperature has been hiking since the beginning of July, everyone must be enjoying a glass of thirst-quenching beer. Nothing beats drinking refreshing beer in a chilled glass in the hot summer afternoon. Major Japanese beer companies releases many brands of beer available in beer gardens and restaurants, or convenience stores for domestic consumption. But Japanese beer is not all about these major brands. There are a number of small beer makers all over Japan, which are called microbreweries. They are locally based and manufacture unique “local beers” which are highly popular among food-loving tourists. This time, 5 Japanese microbrewery beers are arbitrary chosen as the best of a number of brands.
About Japanese Microbrewery beers
Along with the amendment of the Liquor Tax Act of Japan in 1994, the minimum production volume of beer was considerably reduced from 2000Kl to 60Kl. Consequently, many of locally based small breweries were founded throughout the country to revitalize each township, and created a craze of microbrewery beer. This is the origin of the Microbrewery culture in Japan. The craze had once winded down around 2003, but came back in late 2000’s. The beers those microbreweries produce from selected ingredients with expertise have been called craft beers. Now, about 200 microbreweries are operating all over Japan to produce their original beers every day. Microbrewery beers are normally distributed within local areas, but many of them are available from online shop for handier access.
1. Hitachino Nest Beer by Kiuchi
Founded in 1823, this old brewery has been proudly producing their private brand of sake. The Hitachino Nest series is their original beer brand launched in mid-1990’s. Their craft beers in Belgium, German or British style, which are brewed by using strictly selected ingredients, have won a number of domestic and international awards. While many other breweries have a restaurant within the premise to distribute their beers from tap, this place sticks to selling bottled beers. The Hitachino Nest series can be enjoyed at many diners and restaurants with in Ibaraki prefecture, or purchased online. Also, Hitachino Brewing Lab was open under their management in Chiyodaku Tokyo in 2015, so that more people can enjoy the series.
Kiuchi Brewery
Hitachino Brewing Lab
2. Ise Kadoya Microbrewery
This brewery has a long history that can be traced back to about 430years ago. It used to be a little tea shop for travelers who visit the Ise Grand Shrine. They started making miso pastes in the Taisho period, and beer brewing in 1997. What is best about their beers is unique tastes created by locally obtained ingredients. They offer variety of products: a standard series including pale ale, stout and brown ale as well as limited edition beers of the year created with selected yeast. The Ise Kadoya beers can be enjoyed at two restaurants under their management within Ise city, or online.
3. Minoh Beer
This brewery is well known for manufacturing real ales that is yet uncommon in Japan. During the course of production, ales are barreled after primary fermentation letting secondary fermentation completed in the shipping barrel. The unfiltered and unpasteurized beers are characterized by its unique and rich taste with nice creamy top. They offer a great range of beers: standard products such as pilsner, stout, pale ale, and limited merchandises such as cabernet sauvignon beer. Monoh beers are available in many restaurants and liquor shops around Japan, and also can be ordered via the internet, fax or mail.
4. Fujizakura Hights Beer
This brewery operates near Lake Kawaguchi, one of the Fuji Five Lakes located at the base of Japan’s greatest heights Mt. Fuji. Here, a beer master who learned beer manufacturing in Germany uses all his expertise to create sophisticated beers. They offer four German style beers, pils, weizen, rauch, schwarts weizen and a limited-time-only dopplebock beer. Those beers can be enjoyed at the beer restaurant Sylvans owned by the company and some golf clubs within Yamanashi prefecture, or purchased from their online shop.
Fujizakura Heights Beer (Japanese)
5. Okhotsk Beer
Located east of Hokkaido Island, Kitami city is well known production area of onions, white kidney beans and scallops. The Okhotsk Beer was founded in the heart of nature’s bounty as Japan’s first microbrewery. All beers are manufactured from just malt, hop and natural water without using corn starch or any other auxiliary materials, most of the ingredients are locally obtained. Their standard products are ale, pilsner, weizen and mild stout with different after finish of better and dry, mild and fruity and more. At the restaurant Okhotsk Beer Factory next to the brewery, you can enjoy a range of delicious foods and unfiltered ale which is only served in this restaurant. Okhotsk Beer can be purchased from local gift shops in Hokkaido or online shop.
For a quart of Ale is a dish for a king
So, this column has picked up just 5 breweries, but hundreds more microbreweries exist in Japan. Each brewery has their own tastes and produces the best of beers. Also, at “the Beer Fes” that the Craft Beer Association organizes in several cities every year, many microbreweries from all over Japan gather to demonstrate their beers. This is a great opportunity to taste many different great Japanese beers within a day, so check the website for more details. By the way, remember the legal drinking age in Japan is 20.
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