karuizawa Q

There's a brewery called karuizawa Q in Naka-Karuizawa, Karuizawa, and it's pretty interesting. It was started in 2022 by the owner behind the long-loved local restaurants 'Bird' and 'Sakaba 8' in Karuizawa.

Apparently, a plan they'd been nurturing for about five years came to life when a female brewer joined the team. The first floor is the brewery, and the second floor is the taproom 'GOOD AFTERNOON.' The name comes from the owner's wish to make daytime drinking part of the culture.

What's more, it opens at noon, and besides 10 counter seats, the table seats offer a panoramic view of Mt. Asama. There are 10 taps running all the time, pouring beer straight from the tank.

The beer lineup is bold too. 'Heaps Good!' is an NZ IPA made with New Zealand hops, and has tropical, lime-like aromas. They also have a Mexican lager called 'Ryuda,' which is them taking on styles that are rare for Japanese breweries.

They also have a saison called 'Lazy Afternoon,' and I love how the name itself captures the idea of leisurely daytime drinking. They also offer beers with Japanese-inspired names like 'Kanata,' 'Meguri,' and 'HARMONIA.'

The food is developed by Chef Nanzan with the concept of 'pairing with beer,' so one of their strengths is the food pairing experience, which only a team with restaurant backgrounds can offer.