Garyu Brewing Wins Four Awards Including Gold at JGBA 2026; Yawatahama Mikan Ale Takes Gold
Garyu Brewing, based in Ozu, Ehime, announced the results of the Japan Great Beer Awards 2026 on Instagram on March 3, 2026. The brewery won a total of four medals: one gold, one silver, and two bronze, led by a gold for its Yawatahama Mikan Ale.
Hop BroBreaking news! Garyu Brewing in Ozu, Ehime, won four awards at JGBA 2026, and its Yawatahama Mikan Ale took gold!
MugiWhat! Four awards is amazing! Is the mikan ale sweet like juice?
Hop BroThat's the clever part. The gold-winning Yawatahama Mikan Ale is a Belgian-style fruit beer, designed to layer the bright aroma of mandarin oranges over yeast-driven floral notes.
MugiBelgian-style... design... suddenly it sounds scientific! What does that even mean?
Hop BroSimply put, it's like taking a Belgian-style beer with spicy aromas as the base, then adding the refreshing character of Yawatahama mandarin oranges. It's more of an "aroma-driven" beer than a sugary one.
MugiOhh, that sounds like it would go well with food too! What were the other award-winning beers?
Hop BroSilver went to Galaxy Black, and bronze went to Ozu Persimmon Hazy IPA and Retropia Garyu IPA. They picked up medals across black beer, hazy beer, and IPA, so the lineup is strong overall.
MugiLineup? Like baseball? But yeah, the styles are all so different that I want to taste them side by side!
Hop BroAnd Garyu Brewing is based in a red-brick warehouse, using local ingredients as adjuncts while promoting "craft beer x community revitalization x disability welfare." It's moving to see how that community-rooted approach is clearly reflected in both the flavor and the awards.
MugiDecision made! The Nan'yo roadside stations or STAND SEVENs in Matsuyama, and they're available online too, right? Tonight we're toasting with Garyu Brewing!
Garyu Brewing (臥龍醸造) won four medals at the Japan Great Beer Awards 2026, one of Japan's leading beer judging competitions. In a post made at 10:00 on March 3, 2026, the brewery announced its award-winning beers, centering on the fact that its flagship fruit beer took gold.
Award-Winning Beers
- Gold: Yawatahama Mikan Ale (Belgian-Style Fruit Beer, keg category)
- Silver: Galaxy Black
- Bronze: Ozu Persimmon Hazy IPA
- Bronze: Retropia Garyu IPA
According to the post, the gold-winning Yawatahama Mikan Ale has been refined repeatedly since its debut in 2023. The brewery says the result reflects its ongoing effort to bring out the character of mandarin oranges from Yawatahama, Ehime.
Garyu Brewing is based in the red-brick warehouse in Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture (the former site of the Horie Silk and Cocoon Warehouse), and continues to brew using local specialty products as adjunct ingredients. On its official website, the brewery promotes a concept of "craft beer x community revitalization x disability welfare," highlighting beers made with locally sourced ingredients. The award lineup this time includes not only mandarin oranges but also beer names that evoke Ozu's local ingredients, making the brewery's community-based approach clearly visible in the results.
In its award post, the brewery directed customers to sales locations in Ehime Prefecture, including roadside stations in the Nan'yo area, retail spots in Matsuyama, and the Matsuyama store STAND SEVENs. It also said the beers can be purchased online, and demand for comparative tastings is likely to grow even further following the awards. Garyu Brewing's next move, combining local fruit with style design, is also worth watching.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroBreaking news! Garyu Brewing in Ozu, Ehime, won four awards at JGBA 2026, and its Yawatahama Mikan Ale took gold!
MugiWhat! Four awards is amazing! Is the mikan ale sweet like juice?
Hop BroThat's the clever part. The gold-winning Yawatahama Mikan Ale is a Belgian-style fruit beer, designed to layer the bright aroma of mandarin oranges over yeast-driven floral notes.
MugiBelgian-style... design... suddenly it sounds scientific! What does that even mean?
Hop BroSimply put, it's like taking a Belgian-style beer with spicy aromas as the base, then adding the refreshing character of Yawatahama mandarin oranges. It's more of an "aroma-driven" beer than a sugary one.
MugiOhh, that sounds like it would go well with food too! What were the other award-winning beers?
Hop BroSilver went to Galaxy Black, and bronze went to Ozu Persimmon Hazy IPA and Retropia Garyu IPA. They picked up medals across black beer, hazy beer, and IPA, so the lineup is strong overall.
MugiLineup? Like baseball? But yeah, the styles are all so different that I want to taste them side by side!
Hop BroAnd Garyu Brewing is based in a red-brick warehouse, using local ingredients as adjuncts while promoting "craft beer x community revitalization x disability welfare." It's moving to see how that community-rooted approach is clearly reflected in both the flavor and the awards.
MugiDecision made! The Nan'yo roadside stations or STAND SEVENs in Matsuyama, and they're available online too, right? Tonight we're toasting with Garyu Brewing!
