RICE HACK BREWERY

RICE HACK BREWERY is really interesting. They make ORYVIA, a 100% rice beer that doesn't use any malt at all.

Technically it's classified as happoshu, but it really does hold up as beer. They use a unique brewing method adapted from sake production, blending several types of domestically grown table rice. It's gluten-free, so people with wheat allergies can drink it too.

Yasuo Doguchi. Before this, he worked in research and product development for a major confectionery company. In 2016, while studying sake after earning his sake sommelier certification, he became concerned that Japan's rice consumption was continuing to decline. From there, he learned brewing techniques in Australia and chose the path of making beer from rice.

What's more, they use defatted rice bran from the rice oil production process, a local specialty of Kuwana City, along with broken rice from polishing, so it also helps reduce food loss. Their slogan is, "Let's hack society with RICE," and that's exactly what they're doing.

The ORYVIA series has five varieties. "Rin" is the ultimate 100% rice lager, brewed with lager yeast and spices. "Miyabi" is a bottle in which the rice is slowly brewed to an amber color and layered with multiple aroma hops. "Sawa" is finished refreshingly with coriander and juniper berries. It is also distinctive in that it is designed to pair with Japanese cuisine.