Mugen Brewing

MUGEN Brewing is a brewpub in Kitahama. The head brewer, Shuhei Ito, has an interesting career-change story. He used to work in the apparel industry.

In 2019, he decided to switch careers and trained at several breweries. The trigger was the COVID-19 pandemic. In the mood of self-restraint, he keenly felt how important the bustle and excitement brought by beer can be, and that made him resolve to take the leap.

It opened in March 2024 in a basement just a 3-minute walk from Kitahama Station. The concept is, 'Let's get infinitely excited again today.' When you walk in, you can see the brewing tanks. On-site brewing started around June of the same year, and there are three original beers. The flagship is 'Infinity#1,' an easy-drinking beer even for beginners.

In addition to the three house-brewed beers, they also have 10 taps in total, including selected craft beers from Japan and overseas. Ito himself chooses the suppliers. The food is distinctive too, with a pork shoulder dish simmered in craft beer as a recommended menu item. It's supposedly so tender that it falls apart with chopsticks.

What's even more interesting is their connection with a company called Tohoku Wakuwaku Marche, through which they pair beer with Tohoku ingredients like iburigakko and beef tongue steak. You can encounter the flavors of Tohoku in Kitahama, Osaka.

They also host DJ Night events, so it's become a base for sharing culture as well as beer. It's a small 23-seat shop, but true to Ito's apparel background, you can feel the care put into how the space is presented.