Matsumoto Brewery

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

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.