Oirase Brewery

Oirase Brewery was founded in 1997, so it has been a real veteran in Aomori's craft beer scene for quite a while.

Head brewer Hiroshi Suzuki. He originally worked for the Towadako Furusato Revitalization Corporation, and as part of a mission to learn beer-brewing techniques, he studied in Germany and the Czech Republic. He brought back Czech-trained skills and launched Oirase Brewery.

That's why the styles are so authentically European. The standard Pilsner is Czech-style with a crisp finish; the Dark Lager is Bavarian-style with roasted aroma and rich body; the Amber Lager is Vienna-style; and the Weizen is fruity with little bitterness.

"Seiten no Hekireki" is a beer made with Aomori's brand rice; "Awawa-" is a fruit ale with the aroma of apples and just 3% alcohol, so it's light. They also release a limited-time "S.P.L" IPL, a lager with citrus and tropical notes.

It's inside the roadside station "Oirase Roman Park," and there's a restaurant attached. You can drink the beer with pizza baked in a stone oven handmade by artisans from Tsugaru Kanayama Ware. The brewing water comes from underground springs in Hakkoda, sourced from the headwaters of the Oirase Stream.

It looks like they also hold a March Saturday-night event called "OIRASE Saturday Night," so you can enjoy a special experience drinking at the brewery after dark.