Izumo Taki Brewery

In Taki Town in Izumo, there’s a brewery on a hill overlooking the Sea of Japan. It’s called Izumo Taki Brewery.

The owner, Akira Ishida, is from Masuda City. When he came to Izumo on a transfer, he fell in love with this town’s cobalt-blue sea and the setting sun. His motivation was really simple: “I want to drink beer I brewed myself while watching this sunset.”

Nearby Kirara Beach has even been selected as one of Japan’s 100 Best Sunset Spots. Their flagship American Pale Ale is truly a sunset-colored beer. It’s characterized by the richness of British malt and the refreshing aroma of citrus hops.

What’s interesting is “Bi Beer.” It’s a fruit beer made by combining hōrai persimmons, a specialty of Taki Town, with “Tamashio,” a seaweed salt made from seawater from the Sea of Japan. Since the yeast isn’t filtered out, it’s said to be rich in vitamin B and minerals, and it’s been getting attention for its skin-beautifying effects.

They also have a “Beautiful Skin Agreement” with six local businesses, including inns, spice specialty shops, and confectioners, all centered on the theme of beautiful skin. And “Bayberry Tea Golden” is a mellow beer made with yamamomo tea from Taki Town, which is also popular.

In the future, they’re apparently aiming to grow hops and barley themselves on fallow fields too. If they can make a beer entirely from ingredients grown in Taki, that would be something really special.