Ishii Brewing
- Address
- Tochigi, 1177-10 Tonya-cho, Ashikaga City
- Area
- Tochigi Ashikaga City
What kind of brewery is Ishii Brewing?
Hop BroDo you know Ishii Brewing in Ashikaga, Toshiyuki Ishii? His career is basically like a movie.
MugiLike a movie? What do you mean?
Hop BroHe’s from Ashikaga, and in 1998 he worked for three years at STONE BREWING in San Diego, USA. STONE is a legendary brewery in the American craft beer scene.
MugiWhat! That STONE BREWING!? He trained there!?
Hop BroExactly. After that, he moved to a craft beer maker in Nagano in 2001 and became independent in 2009. Then in 2010, he launched "ISHII BREWING CO." in Guam and brewed his own brand, "Minagofu Beer." He’s someone who started brewing beer from scratch on an island no one had done it on before.
MugiSan Diego, Nagano, Guam...! That’s way too global! But why did he come back to Ashikaga?
Hop BroHe returned to Japan in 2021 because of the pandemic. Then he decided, "If I could do it in Guam, I can do it in my hometown Ashikaga," and opened Ashikaga’s first local beer brewery in July 2022.
MugiComing back home and making Ashikaga’s first beer... that really hits me.
Hop BroThe brand name is "ORIHIME," and there’s a nice story behind it. It combines the name "Hime," the cat he brought back from Guam, and Orihime Shrine in Ashikaga. The pale ale has a perfect balance of citrus aroma, malt, and hops, while the IPA puts hop bitterness and aroma front and center.
MugiHime the cat and Orihime Shrine! The name is packed with memories of Guam and love for Ashikaga. I’d love to take ORIHIME Pale Ale home as a souvenir from sightseeing in Ashikaga!
Hop BroThe brewery also does draft sales by volume, with 1 liter for 1,650 yen using a growler. Reservations are recommended, but you can go directly from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Beer brewed with Ashikaga’s water by a brewer who’s traveled the world is not something you want to miss.
