Karuizawa Brewery

The story of Karuizawa Brewery is on a different scale. Its founder, Yaiji Wada, born in 1938, built a giant company called Dover Wine Trading, which makes alcoholic beverages for confectionery, entirely on his own. He is the chairman of a company whose liquors are used by more than 80% of Western-style confectionery shops in Japan.

Wada became independent at 31 and succeeded in the liquor business, but he had actually held onto the dream of making authentic beer for more than 20 years. Even when the Liquor Tax Law was revised in 1994, his main business was too busy for him to enter the market.

The turning point came in 2011. After handing over the chairman role to his successor and visiting the Hiroshi Senju Museum Karuizawa, he was deeply moved by a work by Hiroshi Senju called "On a Night of Falling Stars." He said, "I want to make beer from this painting." He got moving after turning 76.

Senju also said, "Mr. Wada's aspiration to make delicious beer points in the same direction as my aspiration to paint beautiful things," and his works are used on THE Karuizawa Beer cans and bottle packaging. At the factory entrance, his 대표작 "Waterfall" is displayed, making the place feel like an art museum.

The brewing team is also seriously stacked. In addition to three veteran brewers from major manufacturers, there are four PhD and master's degree holders from national universities. The brewing water is spring water from Mount Asama. "Seiryo Hisen Premium" is a 100% malt beer with a refreshing aroma and a sharp bitterness, and it's one of the flagship beers.

In addition to the standard "Premium Clear" and "Premium Dark," they also make Weiss, Alt, black beer, "Karuizawa Ale ," and even yuzu craft beer. The seasonal "Ouka Ranman Premium" and "Winter Journey" feature Hiroshi Senju's artwork that changes with the season. The bottles are also crafted with Italian twist caps and a double frosted finish.