Niseko Brewery

Niseko Beer has a pretty unique origin. Local volunteers from the chamber of commerce youth division got together and said, "Let's build a brewery in this town," then launched it in 2014. The representative, Shigeru Sakurai, is originally from Tokyo and moved here after falling in love with Niseko.

And the brewery building is actually the former Niseko Town Chamber of Commerce hall. The first floor is the brewery, and the second floor is the restaurant. It's a nano-brewery run by just two staff members, handcrafting a dozen-plus varieties a year.

Their flagship Yamabuki Pilsner is brewed with natural water from the Niseko mountain range, so the quality of the water comes through clearly. Zansho Pale Ale is also a regular. And the most distinctive one is Ezo Porter, which is flavored with Hokkaido salmon flakes, kelp, and shiitake mushrooms.

The idea of pairing Japanese dashi ingredients with a porter is incredible. The richness of the roasted malt and the savoriness of the salmon flakes overlap to create a flavor unlike anything else. It's truly beer that can only be made in Niseko.

They also make things like Rose Bière with local grapes and Pumpkin Ale with pumpkin. Sakurai's stance is to brew the beer he himself wants to drink, and he values drinkability. They've also won awards in competitions.