The State of Craft Beer in Japan

, The State of Craft Beer in Japan

Americans. We like our craft beer. And fortunately for us, other countries around the world, such as Japan, also like our craft beer. While not yet a household name in Japan, artisan beers are definitely making in-roads throughout the culture. Craft beer is the Rock ‘n Roll of the 21st century.

In many ways, it’s a great time for craft beer enthusiasts in Japan simply because it’s cool and only a few people, within the larger whole of society, are in the know and the choices are steadily increasing. Want to impress someone you like? Tell them about a new bar serving the best new brews to hit up the next time they go out.

, The State of Craft Beer in JapanJapan has around 200 craft breweries that include enthusiast favorites such as Baird Beer, Shiga Kogen, and Nest (more popular in the US than Japan) and import favorites such as Stone and Epic. Craft beer from abroad has slowly been making its way here since the 1990s when Phred Kaufman of Ezo Beer teamed up with Rogue Brewery.

The list of craft beer importers now includes: AQ Bevolution (Epic, Lucky Bucket), Beercats (Elysian, Wingman), Evergreen (Diamond Knot, Chuckanut), Ezo Beer (Rogue), Nagano Trading Company (Stone, Green Flash), Nippon Beer (Brooklyn Brewery), and Whiske (Brewdog). Each importer has their own specialty they cater to and are always expanding what they’re able to bring into Japan. While demand may not be mainstream yet, the enthusiasm is contagious.

The two main hubs for craft beer are undoubtedly Tokyo and Osaka, each with their own unique scene.

Tokyo has a slew of specialty beer bars that are smoke free (with a higher number of foreigners accustomed to smoke-free environments, this makes good sense) but they’re very spread out.While Osaka has a number of craft beer bars, centrally located to one another making it easy for a night out on the rounds, it can be smoky at times. There are also a few bottle shops, as well as some convenience stores and markets that feature craft beer.

A number of bars also realize the benefit of this new wave of beers and are building tap systems that can handle US and Japanese craft kegs as well as equipping their shops with refrigeration to sell bottles and cans. And one of the great benefits of drinking craft beer in Japan: you can drink anywhere outside. Outdoor selfie with the latest favorite brew? No problem.

, The State of Craft Beer in JapanIt’s not just the beer scene that’s progressed here, but what’s in print as well, effectively spreading word about the scene and availability.

One publication of the first official guide to craft beer in Japan, entitled none other than, Craft Beer in Japan: The Essential Guide, written by Mark Meli, which focuses on Japanese breweries and craft beer bars throughout the country. Japan has a national craft beer magazine called The Japan Beer Times, which focuses mostly on Japanese craft beer, now in its third year.

We’ve also saw another national craft beer magazine emerge, Beer Zen: Journal for Craft Beer, join the scene (edited by yours truly and well worth seeking out), which focuses primarily on American craft beer coming into Japan and the shops where you can buy the best made in Japan and America today.

Osaka, where I am based, saw a solid growth of craft beer bars in 2013 and 2014 with the opening of multiple shops that include: Craft Beer Base, Kamikaze, Yellow Ape Craft, Archa Arca, Lezet, and Garage 39 to name a few. Some of this growth came from all the outdoor festivals that have helped promote craft beer, bringing together enthusiasts, brewers, specialty bars, and importers. The word on the street is that 2014-15 will see around 5 new shops open in Kansai. It’s only a matter of time before restaurants will be seeking out different selections of craft beer to pair with their food.

In Japan, it’s become the new rock ‘n roll and we all want it. We all like it.

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