Tsukioka Brewery

Tsukioka Brewery is Shibata City's first brewery, and it's right in the middle of Tsukioka Onsen. It's just a 10-second walk from the foot bath, Yutami.

Exactly. And the backstory is interesting too. It started when three people in Shibata City got together saying they wanted to connect people through beer. There was Shinsada, a sake sommelier; Miyake, a chef and the manager of Tamari Station; and Watanabe, an executive at the local company Han'ya.

It opened in November 2020, and when they launched crowdfunding, they aimed for 1 million yen but raised three times that amount. And their flagship, Tsukioka Emerald Ale, is especially distinctive. Tsukioka Onsen has one of the highest sulfur contents in Japan, and the water looks emerald green, so they recreated that color with muscat grape juice in this fruit ale.

It's a light 4% ABV, so it's perfect for a drink after bathing. It also won bronze at the Japan Great Beer Awards in both 2021 and 2022. Even people who aren't fond of beer bitterness can enjoy its smooth taste.

They also make After-Bath Pale Ale, Tsuki no Kajitsu IPA with grapefruit juice, and the fruity Tsukioka Weizen Natural. The Weizen, in particular, won gold at the Japan Great Beer Awards. They also released a limited gose called Moon and Sea -TSUKIOKA SHIO LEMON-, made to go with the Shibata Oyster Bar event in Shibata.

At the attached KITCHEN GEPPO, you can also eat sausages and burgers made with seasonal Niigata ingredients. Their concept is "Taste Communication," and this brewery values the connections created through beer.