Shonan Beer
- Address
- Kanagawa, 7-10-7 Kagawa, Chigasaki City
- Area
- Kanagawa Chigasaki City
What kind of brewery is Shonan Beer?
Hop BroTo talk about Shonan Beer, you first have to know about Kumazawa Sake Brewery. It was founded in 1872, Meiji 5, and it is the only brewery left in the Shonan area.
MugiMore than 150 years! But why would a sake brewery make beer?
Hop BroThe sixth-generation brewery head, Mokichi Kumazawa, went out of his way to find a brewmaster from Germany in 1996 and bring him to Chigasaki. From there, they went through trial and error to create "Shonan Beer." A sake brewery incorporating German techniques like that is not something you see every day.
MugiThey invited a craftsman all the way from Germany!? That level of commitment is amazing...
Hop BroAnd they got results too. Their German-style dark beer called "Schwarz" won gold at the 2008 World Beer Cup. A Japanese brewery taking gold in the German-style dark beer category at a world competition is pretty thrilling. They now make about 40 different varieties a year.
Mugi40 varieties!? A German-trained dark beer that became number one in the world is so exciting...
Hop BroEverything is brewed with underground water from the Tanzawa mountain range, and because it's unfiltered and unpasteurized, the yeast is still alive. And the amazing thing is, it's not just about the beer. The grounds are like another world. There's brewery cuisine "Tensei," renovated from a sake brewery building from the Taisho era; "MOKICHI TRATTORIA," built from a 450-year-old traditional house relocated here; and "mokichi cafe," a traditional house brought over from Aomori over the course of eight years...
MugiBeer in a 450-year-old traditional house...! At this point it's basically a theme park.
Hop BroThey even have a bakery and a sausage workshop on the grounds, and every spring they hold an event called "Sakagura Fest" with sake, food, and music. It's truly amazing how a brewery in Chigasaki has built such a rich cultural world.
MugiSakagura Fest, I'm definitely going! Touring the old houses, drinking Schwarz, eating freshly baked bread... that's the perfect day off!
Shonan Beer announces temporary closure and introduces Hop Kotan Brewing's `nonnno`
Shonan Beer’s Kumazawa Sake Brewery to Hold Sakagura Fest 2026 on April 11 and 12
articles about bars serving beers from Shonan Beer
Gambrinus in Kokubunji announces 12 draft beers and summer programs
KEG NAGOYA taps Shonan Beer IPA and three more guest beers
Sakura Taps posts July 22 weekday pairing set and tap list
MOKICHI FOODSGARDEN features Shonan Beer's Kamakura Herb Saison
Shonan Beer Introduces Summer Orange Ale at Its Chikashitsu Shop
CraftBeerSpot Hathor lines up 16 taps on July 22 with Brown Ale and Coffee IPA
CraftBeerSpot Hathor taps Isekadoya Brown Ale and more on July 22
Gambrinus in Kokubunji announces 11 taps and summer plans
Sakura Taps adds DPA and Camouflage to its July 21 tap list
Craft Beer Spot Hathor in Osaka Kyobashi posts a 12-tap lineup
Chigasaki craft beer spots in
Breweries
Chigasaki BEER & Villa Kanagawa 4-12986-153 Naka-kaigan, Chigasaki City
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