Nikiya Brewery

Nikiya Brewery was born by taking over the fields and log house of "Tourist Farm Haradaen," which had been operating in Niki Town for over 40 years. On 1.5 Tokyo Domes' worth of farmland, they grow 450 cherry trees, grapes, plums, and even mini tomatoes, and the brewery is located right in the middle of that orchard.

And the brewer in charge, Naoto Oki, has a pretty interesting background too. He originally worked for the Hokkaido prefectural government. But he got completely hooked on craft beer, jumped into an internship at Tono Brewing in Iwate Prefecture to learn brewing, and joined Nikiya in 2021.

That really fits him when he says, "I want to become a maker who truly understands the ingredients." That's why they also grow hops in their own fields, and they use those homegrown hops in NIKIYA PALE ALE. It's something only a farmer making beer could do.

NIKIYA BLACK is a porter inspired by the deep history of Niki Town, with a dark, rich, layered flavor. NIKIYA WHITE is a Weizen with a fruity character and a soft mouthfeel. And then there's the fruit ale called "Apple and Hops," which is truly a beer that could only come from an orchard.

The farm manager, Hisashi Kobayashi, also came from another industry, having worked at Kiroro Resort and a guesthouse in Sapporo before taking the role. His seriousness about farming is on another level, like using reflectors on each cherry tree to bounce light onto it.

That's exactly what they're aiming for. At the main shop, you can enjoy seasonal farm produce, soft-serve ice cream, and beer all in one place. As Niki Town's first brewery, they're creating a new model that brings agriculture and beer together.