Biwako Iimichi Beer
- Address
- Koka City, Shiga, 235 Minakuchi-cho Sambonyanagi
- Area
- Shiga Koka City
What kind of brewery is Biwako Iimichi Beer?
Hop BroBiwako Iimichi Beer is brewed by Shiga Brewery in Koka City. Shiga Brewery itself was founded in 1926, making it a long-established brewery, and it is also the sake brewer behind "Kibimusume."
MugiWow! So a sake brewery also makes beer! If it started in the first year of the Showa era, that's almost 100 years, right?
Hop BroExactly, it's almost 100 years. And what's interesting is that this region has a tradition called the "Mugishu Festival" that has continued for over 500 years, where barley-brewed sake is offered at shrines. In other words, this land has a very deep connection with barley beer and sake.
MugiBarley alcohol for 500 years!? I had no idea there was such a history...
Hop BroThere are three standard varieties: "Clear," a Kölsch type; "Strong," an Altbier type; and "Hototogisu," a special version made with local Asamiya tea. Asamiya tea is one of Japan's five major premium teas.
MugiTea beer! I only associated Koka with ninjas, but it's famous for tea too.
Hop BroAll of them are unfiltered and unpasteurized, with restrained carbonation, so the flavor of the barley comes through directly. It really reflects the brewery's stance of wanting people to appreciate the grain's character without masking it with carbonation.
MugiLow carbonation is pretty unusual. So it's meant to let you properly taste the barley, right?
Hop BroThere's also an attached restaurant called "Beer Restaurant Suga-gura," which was renovated from part of the brewery, and you can drink freshly made beer there. Beer in a brewery setting is especially nice. The brewing water comes from natural spring water that rises from the foothills of Asunodoyama.
MugiFresh beer in a brewery restaurant! I'd love to try the tea beer "Hototogisu" there in person. It sounds like you could enjoy sake there too.
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