Ronjin Brewery

There's this daring brewery in Yasugi called Ronjin Brewery. It's a 2-minute walk from JR Arashima Station.

There's a long-running shabu-shabu and sukiyaki restaurant called 'Ronjin' along the moat of Matsue Castle, and they opened a brewery in Arashima, Yasugi. It's a new brewery that opened in 2024.

They use a unique Shimane-born method called Iwami-style, where they brew by modifying chest freezers. And their lineup is bold. Have you heard of 'Yasugi Ale'? It's a beer made with the broth of Yasugi's specialty loach.

During fermentation, the yeast breaks down the broth components, so a subtle umami and thickness are left behind. Since Yasugi is the town of loach scooping, it's a fitting idea. Also, their 'TOMA-SAPIENS' beer, made with fruit tomatoes, won gold in the Bottle & Can Division at the Japan Great Beer Awards 2025.

They also make a red ale called 'Arashima' using Kameji rice, a variety developed in the Arashima district where the brewery is located. I like that it bears the name of the place. What's more, this brewery also grows its own fruit tomatoes, so they're a two-hat operation in agriculture and brewing.