Niseko Lupicia Brewery

What kind of brewery is Niseko Lupicia Brewery?

hop excitedHop Bro

Niseko Lupicia Brewery has a fascinating backstory. You know LUPICIA? The tea specialty shop.

mugi surprisedMugi

Wait, the LUPICIA that sells tea? They're brewing beer?!

hop normalHop Bro

Yeah. The spark was when Chairman Hiroki Mizuguchi encountered local beer culture in Europe and was impressed by the idea that beer has the power to bring people closer together. In 2020, they moved the company headquarters entirely from Tokyo to Niseko and launched the brewery.

mugi movedMugi

They moved the whole company from Tokyo!? That's seriously committed...

hop proudHop Bro

The brewing team is distinctive too. Plant manager Hiroaki Rachi came from R&D at a major food manufacturer and had done microbial research in Hokkaido. The early team also included Yabuki, a former pastry chef, so it's basically a group of food professionals who went all in on beer.

mugi surprisedMugi

A pastry chef turned brewer! I wonder if they're designing beer flavors with a confectionery mindset.

hop excitedHop Bro

They use an unfiltered method with Yotei Mountain spring water and ship 300,000 bottles a year. The flagship "Niseko Words" is a Hazy IPA at 6.5% ABV, and they also have a tea-shop-only beer called "Earl Grey Darjeeling."

mugi happyMugi

What! A tea company making tea beer is just too convincing!

hop normalHop Bro

They also make a very limited smoothie ale called "Matcha," and it really feels like Lupicia's tea expertise has merged completely into beer. They even have fruit-forward beers like "Raspberry Black," so their approach is pretty unconventional.

mugi excitedMugi

A matcha smoothie ale! That would look amazing on social media... I want to drink it!

hop happyHop Bro

In Niseko, there's a food resort facility called "Villa Lupicia" with a restaurant and boutique, where you can taste freshly brewed beer on the spot. A drink while looking out at Mount Yotei must be something special.

mugi movedMugi

A tea company moved its headquarters to Niseko, makes beer with Mount Yotei's water, and even sells tea-inspired beer... the story is just too strong not to love!

Signature beers: Niseko WordsEarl Grey DarjeelingMatchaRaspberry BlackHokudai Apple

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