orca Ginza Brewery Wins Two Awards at JAPAN GREAT BEER AWARDS 2026
orca Ginza Brewery in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, reported that two of its beers won awards at the JAPAN GREAT BEER AWARDS 2026 held in February 2026. In the post, Bier de Garde took silver and Rauchbier took bronze.
Hop BroThey really did it in the basement in Ginza, didn't they? orca Ginza Brewery won two awards at JAPAN GREAT BEER AWARDS 2026.
MugiWait, what! Something that huge was happening underground? Two awards is basically a celebration already!
Hop BroAnd the contents are strong too: Bier de Garde won silver and Rauchbier won bronze, which really shows the range of styles.
MugiWhat's a Bier de Garde anyway! When I hear French-style, I just think of a stylish bakery!
Hop BroIn short, it's a beer from northern France with a mature character, and the malt aroma rises softly from it.
MugiOhhh! Then what about the Rauchbier? A name that sounds like smoked malt, like I can already see the smoke!
Hop BroThat's the right image. The Bamberg-style Rauchbier has smokiness as its hallmark, and it really shows the range of orca's brewing skill.
MugiIt's amazing that beers going in completely different directions from the same shop can be recognized like this! That really shows their breadth in brewing.
Hop BroWhat's more, the post included the business hours and tap list too, so the path to going there for a drink right away was all set.
MugiBeing able to drink award-winning beer in the basement in Ginza is amazing! I want to start with the current taps and head over for a pint!
Hop BroSeeing stuff like this reminds me that there's real romance in a beer brewed in Ginza. It makes me want to raise a glass at orca tonight.
MugiYeah, it's decided! I want to go right now and taste the flavor of victory!
orca Ginza Brewery, located in Ginza, Chuo Ward, Tokyo, and formerly known as Brewin'bar, announced in an Instagram post on May 7 that it had won awards at the JAPAN GREAT BEER AWARDS 2026. According to the post, at the competition held in February 2026, its French-style Bier de Garde won silver, and its Bamberg-style Rauchbier won bronze.
The Bier de Garde was introduced as moving closer to a finished form, with a rich malt aroma and a striking balance of bright acidity and a touch of wild character. While the post provided only limited detail on the Rauchbier's flavor, the fact that two beers in different styles were recognized together can be seen as evidence of the brewery's broad range.
orca is a brewery and beer bar located underground in Ginza 8-chome, Tokyo. In addition to the day's business hours, the post also shared the tap list, creating an easy path for people to visit after the award announcement. Being able to enjoy award-winning standards and current taps right there in Ginza is part of this shop's appeal.
This post was more than a simple award announcement; it also showed that the distinctive beers orca serves day to day were recognized in competition as well. As a local brewery brewing in Ginza, it will be interesting to see which styles it earns further recognition for in the future.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroThey really did it in the basement in Ginza, didn't they? orca Ginza Brewery won two awards at JAPAN GREAT BEER AWARDS 2026.
MugiWait, what! Something that huge was happening underground? Two awards is basically a celebration already!
Hop BroAnd the contents are strong too: Bier de Garde won silver and Rauchbier won bronze, which really shows the range of styles.
MugiWhat's a Bier de Garde anyway! When I hear French-style, I just think of a stylish bakery!
Hop BroIn short, it's a beer from northern France with a mature character, and the malt aroma rises softly from it.
MugiOhhh! Then what about the Rauchbier? A name that sounds like smoked malt, like I can already see the smoke!
Hop BroThat's the right image. The Bamberg-style Rauchbier has smokiness as its hallmark, and it really shows the range of orca's brewing skill.
MugiIt's amazing that beers going in completely different directions from the same shop can be recognized like this! That really shows their breadth in brewing.
Hop BroWhat's more, the post included the business hours and tap list too, so the path to going there for a drink right away was all set.
MugiBeing able to drink award-winning beer in the basement in Ginza is amazing! I want to start with the current taps and head over for a pint!
Hop BroSeeing stuff like this reminds me that there's real romance in a beer brewed in Ginza. It makes me want to raise a glass at orca tonight.
MugiYeah, it's decided! I want to go right now and taste the flavor of victory!
