Egret Brewery

Do you know Egret Brewery, Himeji's first craft brewery?

It means "white heron," and they took it from Himeji Castle's nickname, "White Egret Castle." The owner, Mr. Ikeuchi, has spent about 20 years working as a bartender in Himeji, and brewer Mr. Iriyama trained in brewing at Mt. Daisen in Tottori and overseas.

Exactly. Since Mr. Ikeuchi has served drinks from all over the world, he understands what drinkers want. Their flagship, "Egret IPA," is an American IPA with a satisfying balance of hop bitterness and fruity aroma.

"Magic Hour" is a Fruit IPA with a gentle orange aroma that makes it easy to drink. "Rainbow Shot" is a fruit beer made with seven ingredients, including raspberries and blueberries, and it's the kind of beer even people who don't usually like beer can enjoy.

And on top of that, they grow their own hops on the property. After brewing, they give the spent grain to local farmers as fertilizer, so resources circulate within the local community.

It's a 6-minute walk from JR Agaho Station, and the space has a glass-fronted, open feel with a solid-wood counter, almost like a bar overseas. There is also a BBQ space outside, so you can enjoy barbecue with freshly brewed beer in hand.