Great Dane Brewing to Make Its First Western Japan Appearance at Kyoto Yubagari Craft Beer Festival 2026
Great Dane Brewing, based in Akiu, Sendai, will be exhibiting at the "Kyoto Yubagari Craft Beer Festival 2026" held in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City, on May 2 and 3, 2026. In an Instagram post, the brewery announced that this will be its first appearance in western Japan and outlined the event as free admission with a ticket-based drink system.
Hop BroHere it is, their first appearance in western Japan. Great Dane Brewing from Akiu, Sendai is going to the Kyoto Yubagari Craft Beer Festival 2026.
MugiWait, from Sendai all the way to Kyoto!? An Akiu brewery coming to western Japan feels like a pretty big expedition!
Hop BroAnd the venue is Fushimi Riki no Yu. Drinking after a bath at a super sento is basically a perfect setup.
MugiBeer after a bath sounds amazing! But what kind of setup is a ticket system?
Hop BroAdmission is free, and you use tickets for what you drink. So it's an easy-to-enter event, and you can drop in casually and compare different beers.
MugiWhoa! And with a record-high 25 breweries, it sounds like the place is going to be packed with beer!
Hop BroExactly. This year's scale is huge. Great Dane Brewing was founded in 1994 in the U.S., and now it has a brewery and restaurant in Akiu.
MugiWait a second. If it has a brewery and restaurant, does that mean you can drink it like freshly poured straight from the source?
Hop BroExactly. That just-brewed feel from the tank changes how the aroma comes through, and if the beer on offer this time is hop-forward, the aroma explosion could really hit hard.
MugiAn aroma explosion? What even is that! But now I want to drink it. It's such a perfect beer-festival day that I want to clear my schedule!
Hop BroIt's on May 2 and 3, from 11:00 to 20:00, so there's plenty of time. Soaking in Kyoto and finishing with a drink from Akiu is a pretty ideal flow.
MugiYeah, I definitely want to go! There's the fun of tasting and comparing beers, and by the end, let's both go all-in from the very first drink!
Great Dane Brewing will be exhibiting at the Kyoto Yubagari Craft Beer Festival 2026. The post announced that the event will be held over two days, Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3, 2026, from 11:00 to 20:00, and that GREAT DANE BREWING will be making its first appearance in western Japan.
The venue is Fushimi Riki no Yu, a super sento in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City. With free admission and drinks handled through a ticket system, it is an easy event for anyone to join. According to the post, a record-high 25 breweries will gather this year, expanding the concept of enjoying craft beer after a soak.
Great Dane Brewing was founded in 1994 in Wisconsin, USA, and operates a brewery in Akiu, Taihaku Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture. With an attached restaurant, it is known for offering freshly brewed beer alongside food, and this Kyoto appearance is also drawing attention as a move that expands its presence from Akiu into western Japan.
Event Overview
- Event name: Kyoto Yubagari Craft Beer Festival 2026
- Dates: Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3, 2026
- Time: 11:00 to 20:00
- Venue: Fushimi Riki no Yu (Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City)
- Admission: Free (ticket system)
Combining the simple appeal of enjoying a drink after a bath with a format that lets visitors taste beers from multiple breweries, the event is expected to attract attention in Kyoto during Golden Week.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroHere it is, their first appearance in western Japan. Great Dane Brewing from Akiu, Sendai is going to the Kyoto Yubagari Craft Beer Festival 2026.
MugiWait, from Sendai all the way to Kyoto!? An Akiu brewery coming to western Japan feels like a pretty big expedition!
Hop BroAnd the venue is Fushimi Riki no Yu. Drinking after a bath at a super sento is basically a perfect setup.
MugiBeer after a bath sounds amazing! But what kind of setup is a ticket system?
Hop BroAdmission is free, and you use tickets for what you drink. So it's an easy-to-enter event, and you can drop in casually and compare different beers.
MugiWhoa! And with a record-high 25 breweries, it sounds like the place is going to be packed with beer!
Hop BroExactly. This year's scale is huge. Great Dane Brewing was founded in 1994 in the U.S., and now it has a brewery and restaurant in Akiu.
MugiWait a second. If it has a brewery and restaurant, does that mean you can drink it like freshly poured straight from the source?
Hop BroExactly. That just-brewed feel from the tank changes how the aroma comes through, and if the beer on offer this time is hop-forward, the aroma explosion could really hit hard.
MugiAn aroma explosion? What even is that! But now I want to drink it. It's such a perfect beer-festival day that I want to clear my schedule!
Hop BroIt's on May 2 and 3, from 11:00 to 20:00, so there's plenty of time. Soaking in Kyoto and finishing with a drink from Akiu is a pretty ideal flow.
MugiYeah, I definitely want to go! There's the fun of tasting and comparing beers, and by the end, let's both go all-in from the very first drink!
