If you’re a beer or sake enthusiast, nothing is better than a brewery tour. You get to go behind the scenes to see how your favorite brew is made and sample the freshest product.
Beer enthusiasts in particular who are visiting Japan should make their way out to Kiuchi Brewery (Ibaraki Prefecture), home of Hitachino Nest Beer–a favorite among craft beer connoisseurs in the country and worldwide. The brewery was founded more than 200 years ago in 1823, and currently produces a variety of alcoholic beverages including sake, beer, jin, whiskey and more.
I recently made the journey from Tokyo (about 2.5 hours by train) to Kiuchi Brewery with my parents, coordinated by a member of the brewery team. After a delicious lunch at their soba (buckwheat noodles) restaurant, the staff led our English-speaking group on an hour-long tour of Nukada Brewhouse, which is about a 10-minute drive from the main brewery. We got to see the hops, fermentation tanks and bottling equipment up close. Innovatively, their beers are brewed in the rice and wooden barrels used for sake production, which gives them a one-of-a-kind flavor.
At the end of the tour, we got to sample several Hitachino Nest Beers (I found a new favorite–their Espresso Stout) and were given a voucher for a free beer back at Mito Station before heading back to Tokyo. If you’re in a hurry to catch your train, you can get any of their standard draft beers in a plastic cup to take right on board with you.
All in all, it was an experience well worth the journey and cost. Make your way out there if you can–you may just discover a new favorite brew!
Kiuchi Brewery: https://kodawari.cc/
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LDZekFrnDxjgqCmKA