Minokamo Beer

You know, Minokamo Beer is brewed by an active firefighter.

It's by Daiki Senda, a firefighter working for the Inuyama City Fire Department. In 2019, when the national government announced a policy allowing public employees to take on public-interest side jobs, he negotiated with local authorities despite there being no precedent and established the general incorporated association 8KNOT. He got permission by serving as an unpaid board member.

Exactly. The business revenue, after expenses, is returned to Minokamo City. It's used to support children's cafeterias and sponsor fireworks festivals. The concept is that "the more you drink, the more you help solve local issues."

And the beer itself is interesting too. The standard "Nashi White Ale" uses pears from Yamanoue in Minokamo City, specifically pears that were scratched and couldn't be shipped, so it also helps reduce food loss.

They also make a "Honey Golden Ale" using honey from a local beekeeper, and a "Coffee Stout" using roasted beans from a coffee shop in Ota-juku. In every case, the people and ingredients of Minokamo take center stage. They even have a commemorative label supervised by BEAMS JAPAN called "Gold and Silver," made with Hatsushimo rice from Minokamo and ginjo sake lees from a local sake brewery.

The brewery is in Ota-juku on the Nakasendo, but Senda himself honestly says, "Because I'm balancing it with my fire service work, I still haven't reached the stage where I can say it's at its absolute best." I like that honesty. They also maintain a staff system so they can respond to emergency call-ups from the fire department, and that sincerity really comes through.