Dorogawa Onsen Brewery

Dorogawa Onsen Brewery in Dorogawa Onsen, Tenkawa Village has an interesting background. Its parent company is Zenitani Shokakudo, a long-established maker of the traditional Japanese and Chinese stomach medicine "Daranisuke Maru."

That's what you'd think, right? It was started by Takahiro Zenitani, the fifth generation, and what's remarkable is that there is a real connection between Daranisuke Maru and beer. Their porter-style beer called "Yama Nemuru Ale" uses the fruit of kihada, one of the plant ingredients in Daranisuke Maru.

The kihada fruit adds a distinctive gentle bitterness and herbal character. What's more, the brewing water is "Gorogoro Water," selected as one of the Ministry of the Environment's 100 Famous Waters. It is famous water that springs from the foot of Mount Omine and has long been used for convalescence by ascetic practitioners.

"Yama Warau Ale" is a New England-style pale ale with a fruity, vibrant flavor. The two beers form a contrasting duo. In addition, "Omine Shugyo IPA" is a West Coast IPA made with a double dry-hopping method, giving it grapefruit-like fruitiness and a pleasant bitterness.

It is inspired by the yamabushi who train on Mount Omine, and the beer expresses the refreshing feeling and sense of accomplishment that come after intense ascetic practice. There is also a hazy session IPA called "Onsen Night Cruising," which is a light 4.5% beer that's perfect after soaking in the hot springs.

The brewery is located in a mountain village at an elevation of about 820 meters, where lanterns light up the hot spring district and create a fantastical scene. People say it feels like "Spirited Away." The taproom is a standing-bar style, so you can casually drop in while strolling around the hot spring town.