Matsumoto Brewery

What kind of brewery is Matsumoto Brewery?

hop excitedHop Bro

Matsumoto Brewery was founded in 2016 and has already become indispensable to the city of Matsumoto.

mugi surprisedMugi

What, its 10th anniversary already? How did it even get started in the first place?

hop normalHop Bro

The president, Koichi Hayashi, was originally a bartender and was skilled enough to win the British Embassy cocktail competition in 1997. When Hayashi held a craft beer festival in Matsumoto called "Beer Fest Shinshu" in 2014, he kept getting asked by customers if there was beer made in Matsumoto.

mugi surprisedMugi

I see, so he thought, "If there isn't any, let's make it!"?

hop happyHop Bro

Exactly. After that, he and his partners visited more than 50 breweries in Japan and abroad, and became the first in Japan to introduce brewing equipment made by ABT of Chicago, USA. As a brewing advisor, they brought in Robert Roblegrio, who runs The Great Dane in Madison.

mugi happyMugi

They're incredibly serious about this...! What kind of person is the head brewer?

hop proudHop Bro

Takumi Katsuyama. He trained at Shiga Kogen Beer and OH!LA!HO Beer, and he's accomplished enough to win gold in the American IPA category at the 2019 International Beer Cup.

mugi excitedMugi

A gold medal! What are some of the flagship beers?

hop thinkingHop Bro

"Awesome! Pale Ale" has a bright, fruity aroma, and "Castle Stout" is named after Matsumoto Castle. They also have "GOLAZO Session IPA," a collaboration with Matsumoto Yamaga FC. Since 70% of their beer is consumed within Matsumoto City, they are clearly deeply loved by the locals.

mugi surprisedMugi

They collaborate with a soccer team too! What kind of beers are they putting out?

hop excitedHop Bro

What's more, they released a one-keg-only Hazy IPA called "Dumpling" in collaboration with Other Half Brewing in New York, and they've also launched "OLD SHILLING Scottish Heavy," a traditional Scottish style. They're really pushing the envelope.

mugi movedMugi

They've come far enough to collaborate with breweries around the world... It really captures ten years of growth. If I go to Matsumoto, I definitely want to stop by!

Signature beers: Awesome! Pale AleCastle StoutGOLAZO Session IPA
Matsumoto Brewery to Hold Its 5th Brewery Festival on May 10, with Limited-Edition Beer and Carnival Games
BreweryMatsumoto Brewery Event

Matsumoto Brewery to Hold Its 5th Brewery Festival on May 10, with Limited-Edition Beer and Carnival Games

Nagano Matsumoto City
Matsumoto Brewery to Hold Its 5th Brewery Festival on May 10, Serving Draft Beer and Food
BreweryMatsumoto Brewery Event

Matsumoto Brewery to Hold Its 5th Brewery Festival on May 10, Serving Draft Beer and Food

Nagano Matsumoto City
Matsumoto Brewery to Hold Brewery Festival 2026 on May 10, with Draft Beer and Food Coming Together
BreweryMatsumoto Brewery Event

Matsumoto Brewery to Hold Brewery Festival 2026 on May 10, with Draft Beer and Food Coming Together

Nagano Matsumoto City
Matsumoto Brewery to Hold Brewery Festival on May 10, With Six Food Booths Announced
BreweryMatsumoto Brewery Event

Matsumoto Brewery to Hold Brewery Festival on May 10, With Six Food Booths Announced

Nagano Matsumoto City
Matsumoto Brewery to Hold Its 5th Brewery Festival on May 10 to Mark 10th Anniversary
BreweryMatsumoto Brewery Event

Matsumoto Brewery to Hold Its 5th Brewery Festival on May 10 to Mark 10th Anniversary

Nagano Matsumoto City
Matsumoto Brewery Releases “Kogei no Gogo 2026 Table Ale” - a lively 3.5% table ale
BreweryMatsumoto Brewery Collab

Matsumoto Brewery Releases “Kogei no Gogo 2026 Table Ale” - a lively 3.5% table ale

Nagano Matsumoto City
Matsumoto Brewery Announces Early Sales of Limited Beer for Its Brewery Festival
BreweryMatsumoto Brewery Event

Matsumoto Brewery Announces Early Sales of Limited Beer for Its Brewery Festival

Nagano Matsumoto City
Matsumoto Brewery to Hold a Brewery Festival on May 10 as a Special 10th Anniversary Project
BreweryMatsumoto Brewery Event

Matsumoto Brewery to Hold a Brewery Festival on May 10 as a Special 10th Anniversary Project

Nagano Matsumoto City
Matsumoto Brewery Begins Advance Sales of Beer Tickets for Brewery Festival
BreweryMatsumoto Brewery Event

Matsumoto Brewery Begins Advance Sales of Beer Tickets for Brewery Festival

Nagano Matsumoto City
Matsumoto Brewery to Hold Anniversary Events for Three Shops Sequentially in Late April
BreweryMatsumoto Brewery Event

Matsumoto Brewery to Hold Anniversary Events for Three Shops Sequentially in Late April

Nagano Matsumoto City
Matsumoto Brewery Ekimae Shop to Mark 1st Anniversary on April 25; President Hayashi to Serve Beer at the Storefront
BreweryMatsumoto Brewery Event

Matsumoto Brewery Ekimae Shop to Mark 1st Anniversary on April 25; President Hayashi to Serve Beer at the Storefront

Nagano Matsumoto City
Matsumoto Brewery to Release New Collaboration Beer on March 28
BreweryMatsumoto Brewery Collab

Matsumoto Brewery to Release New Collaboration Beer on March 28

Nagano Matsumoto City
Matsumoto Brewery to Hold a Commemorative Beer Party as a Special 10th Anniversary Project
BreweryMatsumoto Brewery Event

Matsumoto Brewery to Hold a Commemorative Beer Party as a Special 10th Anniversary Project

Nagano Matsumoto City
Matsumoto Brewery Honmachi location to offer one-keg-only NYC collab Hazy IPA "Dumpling"
BreweryMatsumoto Brewery Collab

Matsumoto Brewery Honmachi location to offer one-keg-only NYC collab Hazy IPA "Dumpling"

Nagano Matsumoto City
Matsumoto Brewery Announces Savory Ale "OLD SHILLING Scottish Heavy"
BreweryMatsumoto Brewery New Release

Matsumoto Brewery Announces Savory Ale "OLD SHILLING Scottish Heavy"

Nagano Matsumoto City
Matsumoto Brewery to Release Yari-Hotaka Mountain Hut Exclusive Beer 2025 Starting in July
BreweryMatsumoto Brewery New Release

Matsumoto Brewery to Release Yari-Hotaka Mountain Hut Exclusive Beer 2025 Starting in July

Nagano Matsumoto City
Matsumoto Brewery Partners with Matsumoto Yamaga FC to Release "GOLAZO SessionIPA"
BreweryMatsumoto Brewery Collab

Matsumoto Brewery Partners with Matsumoto Yamaga FC to Release "GOLAZO SessionIPA"

Nagano Matsumoto City
Matsumoto Brewery to Hold “Brewery Festival 2025” at Nomizo Brewery on June 1
BreweryMatsumoto Brewery Event

Matsumoto Brewery to Hold “Brewery Festival 2025” at Nomizo Brewery on June 1

Nagano Matsumoto City

articles about bars serving beers from Matsumoto Brewery

Matsumoto craft beer spots in