Streetlight Brewing

Do you know Streetlight Brewing in the Soen area of Sapporo? It opened in 2022 and is the largest craft beer brewing facility in Sapporo.

It was renovated from a former food wholesaler's warehouse. What makes this brewery interesting is the backgrounds of its three founders. Representative Koichi Miyaguchi used to work as a city employee for Sapporo City Hall, and after 11 years he quit in his 30s and jumped into the world of beer.

After leaving his job, he apparently spent two years training at a beer bar to learn the industry. Another founder, Yohei Kawamura, is a "phantom brewer" who travels all over Japan and has also worked on Hobo Brewing in Fukuoka. And then there is copywriter Masashi Osaka. The three of them started a company called "Sapporo Jojo."

The trigger was the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi earthquake. Miyaguchi and Osaka, who were members of a Sapporo City policy research council, got involved in making beer using Haskap from the affected town of Atsuma. That's when they became convinced that "people can be made happy through beer."

They also visited Portland, Sapporo's sister city, and saw how a city of 600,000 people had 60 breweries serving as hubs for local interaction. That made them think, "We can do this in Sapporo too." The name "Streetlight" means a street lamp, and the idea is that when people drink, their hearts brighten, and that brightness spreads throughout the city.

They've brewed more than 70 kinds in just nine months since opening, so they're incredibly prolific. Their standard "Ai to Heiwa" is a hazy style, while "PRECIOUS ALE" is known for its gentle acidity. They mainly use American and New Zealand hops, focusing on a balanced flavor with citrus and tropical notes that never feels tiring to drink.