Minoh Brewery

Minoh Beer started back in 1997 when Masaji Oshita, who had originally run a liquor shop in Suita, declared, "We're going to make beer!" and launched the brewery.

And his daughter Kaori had been helping at the brewery since she was in junior college, and by 1998 she was already put in charge as plant manager. Then in 2012, after her father passed away unexpectedly, Kaori took over as president.

Every year there's a memorial project called "Masaji Beer," where brewers all over Japan make beers dedicated to her father. It really shows how much he was loved throughout the industry.

Their flagship, "Minoh Stout," is in a class of its own. It won World Beer Awards gold three times, in 2009, 2014, and 2016. Its hallmark flavors are reminiscent of coffee and bitter chocolate. Their W-IPA also won gold in 2006, 2013, and 2017. In total, they've earned eight World Beer Awards golds.

"Yuzu White" won gold in the fruit wheat beer category at the 2012 World Beer Cup. It uses local yuzu, and in summer they team up with nearby farmers for peaches, while in winter they use yuzu. They also make experimental beers using wild yeast and sake rice koji.

They've just released a spring-limited beer called "Blooming IPA." It's a pint that layers the spiciness of Belgian yeast with the vibrant aroma of American hops. Also, their directly operated WAREHOUSE location has started hosting an event called "Beer Garage Marche," turning it into a place where you can enjoy not just beer, but also wine and food.