Hakone Jibeer

Did you know about Yamakawaya, the company behind Hakone Jibeer? It actually traces its roots back to a footwear shop founded in 1907.

They obtained a liquor sales license in 1957 and became Yamakawaya Co., Ltd., but craft beer brewing only started in August 2022. Apparently it had been a dream for more than 10 years. They kept nurturing the idea of "making local products and energizing the local community," and finally made the decision during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In February 2022, they established Hakone Beer LLC and started brewing in Sengokuhara. Their standard lineup is built around two core beers: India Pale Ale and Belgian White. Both are unpasteurized draft beers. A key feature is cold crashing to settle the lees and create a clean finish.

Another interesting one is "Lemon Ale" made with lemons from Odawara. The concept of energizing the region with local ingredients is clearly reflected in the beer.

What's more, the label design was inspired by Hakone's yosegi-zaiku woodwork, and it incorporates the colors of Lake Ashi's blue, the Hayakawa's green, Mount Kintoki, and the outer rim of the Hakone volcano. You can feel the local pride in every detail.