R Brewery Self

R Brewery Self is a very rare experiential brewery in Japan where you can actually brew your own beer.

That's right. Representative Kenta Yoshimoto has an impressive background. He originally graduated from Nippon Sport Science University as a gymnast, then worked for a travel agency and guided tours for over 150 days a year, and after that spent six years at a pharmaceutical company.

Here's the twist: in 2016, he went to Germany through his wife's connection and became deeply absorbed in brewing there. He obtained the Geselle craft qualification in 2018, completed the Doemens Master School in Munich in 2020, and became the only Japanese holder of the HWK Braumeister national qualification.

His wife is from Ryuo Town. He arrived in 2022 as a regional revitalization volunteer and said he wanted to energize the town with beer. It opened in February 2024 on the grounds of Gamono no Yu, a natural hot spring. Being able to brew and drink beer right next to a hot spring is the best, isn't it?

In the experience, you can choose the type of malt and the hop blend, and make about 15 liters of original beer, or 30 medium bottles' worth. Separately, the brewmaster also produces regular beers himself, keeping around six varieties at all times, such as Helles, Schwarz, Belgian Wit, Session IPA, Marzenbock, and IPA.

There was also a one-liter bottle of dark beer called Jubileum Schwarz, released as a crowdfunding exclusive. And the spent grain from brewing is supplied as feed to local Omi beef farmers, so they're doing regional recycling properly too.