FAM TRIP

Sekinoichi Shuzo was established in 1918 with the philosophy of ”making the best beer that makes people happy." respecting the history and tradition and brewed delicately.

Iwate Kura Beer is a craft beer brand launched in 1995 from the long-established sake brewery. It has won numerous awards at international competitions and has received high acclaim. In addition to the eight standard beers such as Weizen, Red Ale, Golden Ale, and Stout, there are also a wide variety of beers, including seasonal beers and beers made with Iwate's unique ingredients and fruits that can be enjoyed on various occasions.

Mr. Wataru Sato, the president of the company, gave us a tour of the beer factory behind Ishigura. Starting from the process of making beer. Beer is made from malt, hops and water. Tono City in Iwate Prefecture is also the number one hop production area in Japan. There are various types of malt, and there are a wide range of hops varieties.

Mr. Sato is dedicated to making beer that can be enjoyed on various occasions. Pondering the implication of “What is Japanese beer? What is beer made by liquor stores? What is the meaning of making beer in Iwate Prefecture?” and came about the ❮oyster stout❯ using oysters from Sanriku. “We are introducing this region and Iwate through beer. Knowing that it's a land rich in nature and blessed with ingredients, I want to make beer that excites and makes people want to come and visit us”.

Mr. Sato has made a variety of beers using local ingredients from Iwate. Iwate Kura Beer started brewing oyster stout in 2003.

Mr. Sato had always wanted to brew a Tohoku-style beer, and learned that there was a traditional beer in Ireland called oyster stout. In 2003, he decided to make a beer using delicious oysters from Sanriku Hirota Bay. When he attempted the brewing, it fermented more intensely than other beers, and the faint scent of the sea was surprisingly good with beer.

Lately, beer using Japanese pepper has been widely accepted by consumers, and has won the Grand Prix at the 2nd place for “ Expanding Japanese Craft Beer to the World” (2016). It started exporting in 2000 and is available at restaurants and supermarkets in NY and LA.

At the sake brewery restaurant, you can sample various Iwate brewery beers. The beers I tasted from the left is,

Weizen: A beer made from wheat malt with a clove-like and banana-like aroma.

Red Ale: Flavour of roasted malt and amber coloured beer. I want to enjoy it slowly with meat dishes.

Golden Ale: An orthodox pale-style beer with a refreshing aroma.

Kobeer: An IPA with a refreshing citrus scent, made with IBUKI hops from Tono City, Iwate Prefecture.

Japanese Herb Ale Sansho: Japanese pepper is used instead of aroma hops. A beer that goes well with eel.

Oyster Stout: An Irish-style dark beer made with oysters from Sanriku Hirota Bay.

Iwate Kura Beer is created by a long-established sake brewery that is creating a new trend in the Japanese craft beer field. Expectations are high for Mr. Sato's challenge to showcase Iwate with beer.