Alcohol

Craft beer

[Yamagata Prefecture Craft Beer] 7 Local Beers from the Fruit Kingdom! Including Cherry and Apple Beers!

Yamagata is famous for producing cherries such as Sato Nishiki, and craft beer is produced using these cherries and apples as secondary ingredients

We will introduce seven breweries in the prefecture, including long-established establishments that have been in business since the 20th century and up-and-coming breweries

Gassan Beer (Nishikawa Town)

Roadside Station Nishikawa Gassan Meisuikan, located along National Route 112, has been brewing beer since 1998 and serves freshly brewed beer at its restaurant

They brew authentic beer in accordance with the Beer Purity Law, using 100% malt, no heat treatment, and no filtration

Gassan Beer's recommended classic beers

  • Pilsner: A golden color with a good balance of bitterness and flavor, a refreshing finish, and a fine, creamy head.
  • Münchner: A pleasant balance of roasted malt aroma, subtle bitterness, and malty flavor.
  • Rauchbier: A beer with an addictive combination of smoky aroma from cherry-smoked malt and the rich flavor of malt.

Gassan Beer <Information>

  • Name: Gassan Beer (Gassan Meisuikan)
  • Address: 2304 Mizusawa, Nishikawa-cho, Nishimurayama-gun, Yamagata Prefecture, 990-0742
  • Phone number: 0237-74-2100
  • Official URL:Gassan Beer (Gassan Meisuikan)

Google Map

Tendo Brewery (Tendo City)

It was established in 1999 on the grounds of the hot spring inn "Sakura Momo no Hana Yubo Ichiraku," and the beer is made with the concept of "a glass after a bath."

Its deliciousness has gained popularity, and it is now available to order online

Tendo Brewery's recommended classic beers

  • Soba Dry: Perfect after a bath, with the fragrant aroma of buckwheat and a refreshing taste.
  • Angel's Cherry: Popular with women for its sweet and sour taste and fruity aroma, made with the "Sato Nishiki" variety.

Tendo Brewery <Information>

  • Name: Tendo Brewery
  • Address: 2-2-21 Kamata Honmachi, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture, 994-0025
  • Phone number: 023-654-3311
  • Official URL:Tendo Brewery

Google Map

Brewlab.108 (Brewlab Tohachi: Tendo City)

This brewery opened in 2020 in Shogi Mura Tendo Tower, and the name of the brewery reflects their desire to release craft beers that are as diverse as the 108 earthly desires

Craft beer is made using seasonal fruits such as La France pears and grapes as well as local apples

Brewlab.108's recommended classic beers

  • #005 Apple Adam & Eve: A Weizen beer with 50% wheat malt, featuring the fruity aroma of three types of apples from Tendo.
  • #008 Date Yeast of Eden: A pale ale made with dates, featuring hop bitterness and a rich aroma.

Brewlab.108＜Information＞

  • Name: Brewlab.108 (Shogimura Tendo Tower)
  • Address: 1273-2 Kunomoto, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture, 994-0012
  • Phone number: 023-653-3222
  • Official URL:Brewlab.108 (Ameba Blog)

Google Map

Zao Brewery (Yamagata City)

This is Yamagata City's first microbrewery, and it uses Zao spring water to brew unique beers, including Japan's first pure white beer

At the on-site restaurant, you can enjoy a tasting of four types of freshly brewed beer, along with dishes made with local ingredients

Zao Brewery's recommended classic beers

  • SNOW MONSTER: A white ale made with wheat malt, with low bitterness and a subtle sweetness for a clean and gentle taste.
  • YAMAGATA Cherry Ale: Cherry aroma and sweetness, light and easy to drink.
  • MATSUNOMORI ALE Re-fresh: A rich flavor and body, refreshing and never tiring to drink.
  • ZAO CLASSIC IPA: A classic IPA with a 7% alcohol content, featuring a stimulating hop bitterness and aroma.

Zao Brewery <Information>

  • Name: Zao Brewery & Clang Dining
  • Address: 1096-18 Minamizaka, Zaoueno, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, 990-2303
  • Phone number: 023-666-8151
  • Official URL:Zao Brewery

Google Map

Nagai Brewery Craftsman (Nagai City)

Since 2018, we have been brewing a pale ale made with Nagai hops and groundwater from the Asahi mountain range, with local edible wild plants used as secondary ingredients

The groundwater from the Asahi Mountain Range is extremely soft, with a hardness of 18, and its smooth texture is utilized in the beer

Nagai Brewery Craftsman's Recommended Classic Beers

  • Hyō (Pale Ale): The moderate acidity of the wild herb Hyō (purslane) pairs well with Japanese cuisine.
  • Kukitachi (IPA): The aroma and bitterness of the hops blend with the slight bitterness of the Kukitachi beer, making it a perfect match for meat dishes.
  • Kinako (Pale Ale): After the aroma of hops, there is the aroma of soybeans, and a rich flavor within the sweetness.

Nagai Brewery Craftsman <Information>

  • Name: Nagai Brewery Craftsman
  • Address: 677-11 Izumi, Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture, 993-0031
  • Phone number: 0238-87-1600
  • Official URL:Nagai Brewery Craftsman

Google Map

Gokuraku Beer Honpo (Yonezawa City)

Founded in 2016, the brewery brews beer using delicious Yonezawa water, apples, and Aralia aralia, and the beer bottle labels feature illustrations by Razwell Hosoki, the manga artist behind "The Narrow Road of Sake."

The attached restaurant serves Yonezawa beef dishes that go perfectly with freshly brewed beer, and we recommend finishing off with beef bone ramen

Gokuraku Beer Honpo's recommended classic beers

  • Tateyama Castle: A refreshing apple beer from Yonezawa with a pleasant apple aroma and mild bitterness, making it easy to drink.
  • Gokotai: A moderately sweet dark beer that allows you to enjoy the bitterness of Yonezawa's Acanthopanax and hops.

Gokuraku Beer Honpo ＜Information＞

  • Name: Gokuraku Beer Honpo
  • Address: 2-3-18 Chuo, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture, 992-0045
  • Phone number: 0238-40-0291
  • Official URL:Gokuraku Beer Honpo

Google Map

Yonezawa Jack's Brewery (Yonezawa City)

The owner, impressed by the deliciousness of his American friend Jax's home-brewed beer, opened the bar in 2018

In addition to the four standard varieties, we are actively working on brewing many limited edition beers

Recommended classic beers from Yonezawa Jack's Brewery

  • Golden Ale: A refreshing golden color with a hint of citrus aroma, making it easy to drink.
  • Pale Ale: A refreshing ale with a pleasant hop aroma and a clean, well-balanced bitterness.
  • IPA: A good balance of tropical fruit aroma and firm bitterness.
  • Session IPA: Fruity aroma with a firm bitterness, low alcohol content, and easy to drink.

Yonezawa Jack's Brewery <Information>

  • Name: Yonezawa Jack's Brewery
  • Address: 5471 Riyama, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture, 992-1461
  • Phone number: 0238-33-9558
  • Official URL:Yonezawa Jack's Brewery

Google Map

Summary (Craft Beer Event Information)

In Yamagata Prefecture, beer events featuring individual breweries are popular, but there are no large events where you can taste craft beers from all over the country

However, during the Hanagasa Festival, breweries from both within and outside the prefecture may set up stalls, so be sure to check

Articles that may be related to this article

Other articles