A brewpub shaped by Onomichi’s local produce

Onomichi Brewery is a brewpub in Kubo, Onomichi City, Hiroshima. Housed in a renovated 130-year-old kura warehouse, it has built its identity around “Made in Onomichi” beers that use the city’s fruit, vegetables, and other local agricultural products. It is a place where the beer reflects the character of the town itself.

The beer now being brewed is Cucumber Saison, a long-running summer favorite. It uses cucumbers from Onomichi, and the saison style itself traces back to the “farmhouse beers” once brewed for consumption during summer work in the fields. The result is meant to be light, refreshing, and distinctly expressive of its ingredients.

According to the brewery’s notes, the aroma right after brewing leans toward yeast-driven pickle-like notes, while time in the tank brings out a more mellow, melon-like character. That changing aroma profile is part of the appeal: the beer does not taste static, and its expression shifts with maturation.

Current lineup

The brewery’s official lineup lists the following beers:

- Onomichi Ale: freestyle light ale, 5% ABV
- Cucumber Saison: field beer, 4% ABV
- Lime Gose: contemporary gose, 4% ABV

For visitors walking around Onomichi, a stop here offers a straightforward way to taste the brewery’s core range. Onomichi Ale provides the house baseline, Cucumber Saison brings the seasonal cucumber-driven side, and Lime Gose adds a citrus-leaning option for those who want something sharper and saltier.

What makes Onomichi Brewery stand out is its clear focus on local ingredients without forcing the concept. The beers are distinct in style, but they all stay connected to the same place. Cucumber Saison, brewed each summer, is one of the best examples of that approach.