Horyuzan Brewery

Did you know there’s a brewery in Kurihama, Yokosuka, where a Buddhist priest makes beer? It’s called Horyuzan Beer.

The brewer, Yohei Todo, is a priest in the Jodo Shinshu Otani-ha school, and his family temple is Horyuzan Saiko-ji, which was founded in 729. But his background is incredible too: in high school he wanted to become a cook or bartender, then after graduating from brewing school he spent three years at a winery in Hokkaido, made sake in Wakayama, ran a restaurant, and started brewing beer in 2021.

And the flagship lineup is intense too. It’s the "Yuigadokuson" series, taken from a saying of the Buddha, and there are four varieties, one for each character: "Yui", "Ga", "Doku", and "Son".

"Yui" is a saison, fermented at a warm 34°C, with a spicy aftertaste. "Ga" is an IPA where the bitterness of hops and the toasty aroma of malt are richly balanced. "Doku" is a stout with coffee-like roasted notes. "Son" is a pale ale with a sweet pear-like aroma blended with citrus.

Another highlight is that they use "Hashirimizu," one of Japan’s 100 Famous Waters, for the brewing water. For limited-edition beers, they also use local plums and mandarin oranges. Also, Todo himself lives with a developmental disability, and he aims to create a workplace where people with disabilities can work. He even built the interior and counter himself.

It’s in the Kurihama shopping street, just a 2-minute walk from Keikyu Kurihama Station. They also appear at the Kawasaki Beer Festival, and their beers are available as hometown-tax return gifts, so ordering some before you go is a good idea.