Shirakaba Resort Lakeside Plaza

Do you know Shirakaba Resort's Lakeside Plaza? They brew local beer at the directly operated factory inside the Ikenotaira Hotel. It started in 1997, so it has nearly 30 years of history.

Exactly. And they got started by inviting Master Brewer Mr. R. Muenker, who had 35 years of experience in Munich, Germany. It's beer made in Tateshina, with the know-how of someone who was trained in Germany itself.

Mr. Muenker provided technical guidance and handled everything from plant design to brewing. The two main labels are "Shirakaba Tateshina Pilsner" and "Shirakaba Tateshina Dunkel," and the malt, hops, and yeast are all imported directly from Germany. The only thing from Tateshina is the underground water from Mount Tateshina.

It has the toasty aroma of roasted malt, but the heavy bitterness often found in dark beers is kept in check, so it goes down smoothly. The Pilsner is crisp and authentically German. Drinking it by Lake Shirakaba at an altitude of 1,400 meters makes it even more exceptional.

The brewery is inside the plaza, and you can see the brewing equipment through the glass. It's a resort-only experience: you can drink while watching the beer being made.