Hinomoto Brewing & Beer Stand

There’s a brewery in Komagome called Hinomoto Brewing, and the representative, Daisuke Tamura, is an interesting guy. He spent more than ten years as a salaryman, then started a craft beer specialty bar in Jimbocho, and from there he went all the way to brewing his own beer.

The reason is great too. He was shocked when he saw local breweries in rural areas making beer with ingredients grown in their own regions. He thought, “If beer can support local production for local consumption, that could help revitalize agriculture too.”

That’s why Tamura set the goal of wanting all the ingredients to be Japanese-made. In the future, he even has plans to brew beers named after the local area, like “Komagome Lager” or “Rikugien Beer.”

Right now he’s also making an American Belgo-style ale using rye, and he’s released a hazy IPA in collaboration with Let’s Beer Works. It really shows the agility that only a small brewery can have.

Actually, it’s on the first floor of an apartment building right near Rikugien, and it’s basically run by one person. It’s open only Friday nights and on weekends, and neighbors stop by for a casual drink after dinner, while families even come with strollers.