Repubrew

Have you heard of Repubrew in Numazu? It's an "ekimae brewpub" with a beer factory underground, just a 2-minute walk from JR Numazu Station.

The founder, Shoma Hata, graduated from a brewing technical school and trained for four years at a Shizuoka brewery before launching the company at age 25. The spark came from a visit to San Diego in the U.S., where he was shocked to see brewpubs scattered throughout the city and people drinking craft beer there as casually as they would at a cafe.

Their flagship beer, 69 IPA, is a West Coast IPA with a strong citrus aroma like pink grapefruit and mango. They started selling it in cans in 2019, so they achieved nationwide distribution before the canned craft beer boom really took off. That's real foresight.

Numazu Hazy IPA is tropical and citrusy, while CONIX BRUT IPA is a distinctive style with champagne-like elegance. WILD FUNKYARD CHERRY is a sour beer with cherry and oak barrel aromas. They use Mt. Fuji spring water for brewing, and since they make more than 60 varieties a year, you'll discover something new every time you visit.

What's more, they built their second factory, "Natural Roots Studio," in Mishima in 2021, raised 7.6 million yen through crowdfunding, and installed solar panels. Three-quarters of the factory's electricity comes from solar power. True to the name, which means "Republic + Pub + Brew," it's a brewery with a strong spirit of making things together.