Rokko Beer Brewery

Did you know the Rokko Beer I mentioned earlier actually has a second factory?

Manabu and his father Ikuo built it together in 2018. They needed more production capacity to seriously expand their canned beer lineup. It is in Arino-cho, Kita Ward, Kobe City, the same area as the main plant, at the foot of Mount Rokko.

For Rokko Beer cans, they deliberately let the beer overflow during bottling before sealing the lid. That pushes the oxygen in the bottle out to the absolute minimum. Its oxygen level is lower than that of major manufacturers, so the flavor does not deteriorate as much even at room temperature. To achieve that quality in cans too, you need proper equipment.

In a single brew, they make about 6,000 cans' worth, or 2,400 liters, over about a month. It is not mass production, but it has started appearing in supermarkets and convenience stores, which has greatly widened the gateway to craft beer.

The second plant has a bottle shop attached, so you can buy directly from the brewery. It is open from 10:00 to 17:00 and closed on Sundays. Limited-edition beers sometimes appear, so it is worth a visit.

As a boy, Manabu encouraged his father to go independent by saying he should do what he loved, and now he has given shape to the expansion of that dream. It is a beer story of two generations of a family, isn't it?