Iwai Brewery

Iwai Brewery in Katsunuma, Koshu City has a really fascinating origin story. It’s located on the grounds of Maruki Wine, the oldest existing winery in Japan.

The president of the restaurant group HUGE, Yoshihiro Arakawa, started using Maruki Wine as the house wine in 2013. When he visited the site, he fell in love with the view from the terrace and the place name "Iwai," and decided to open a shop here.

And the brewing director is Takuya Yanai. His philosophy is distinctive: as a restaurant company, he wanted a beer that wouldn’t interfere with the meal. He’s aiming for a beer you can keep drinking alongside food, not just finish in one glass.

Exactly. The flagship "IWAI Lager" is a pilsner made with Sorachi Ace hops, which originated in Hokkaido. At 4.5% ABV and 16 IBU, it’s restrained, but it has delicate aromas reminiscent of cypress and lemongrass, and it pairs exceptionally well with grilled dishes and Asian cuisine.

Yep, you know your stuff. Yanai said that story was part of why they chose it. They also have "IWAI IPA," which hits with citrus and tropical fruit aromas, and the unusual "IWAI Cilantro Ale," developed to pair with Thai and Vietnamese cuisine.

Because it’s still relatively new, a lot of people don’t know about it yet, so it’s a hidden gem. The biggest strength here is that the know-how from pairing food at 40 restaurants nationwide has been poured into the beer.