Futako Beer

We also have to talk about Seta Brewery, Futako Beer's second base. The place used to be an eel restaurant.

They first used the eel shop, which had been closed for about 10 years, as a storage space, but in the fall of 2021 they renovated it into a brewery and taproom. It’s called 'Unagiya Taproom.' I like how they properly respect the place’s original history.

Because it’s an old building with a low ceiling, they had fermentation tanks custom-made to fit it and ordered them from China. Each batch is 500 L, and they also have a canning machine, so they can do in-house canning, which is a big strength. Their main Yanagikoji location had 200 L tanks, so production capacity increased dramatically.

There are table seats on the second floor, and the rooftop terrace was converted from the original clothes-drying area. It’s along Kanpachi-dori, but the back side is a quiet residential neighborhood, and Kinuta Park is nearby. The 'Unane Pale Lager' they brew here is an IPL made with lager yeast, and the '257 Brown Sugar Stout' is a unique stout made with brown sugar.

They even have their own field in Seta, where they grow hops, barley, and soybeans. Their self-deprecating line about having 'the most expensive hop field in Japan' is pretty funny. They also turn the barley into barley tea, so people who don't drink alcohol can enjoy it too.