Hare no Kuni Brewery
- Address
- Okayama, 636-4 Fukumoto, Wake-gun Wake Town
- Area
- Okayama Wake Town
What kind of brewery is Hare no Kuni Brewery?
Hop BroIn Wake Town, Okayama, there’s a brewery founded by a young local brewer who returned home after time away. It’s Hare no Kuni Brewery.
MugiA return home! What kind of person is he?
Hop BroHis name is Hiroki Mandai. He used to work for a trading company, but quit when COVID hit and set off on a solo trip around Japan in a camper van. During that journey, he became convinced that he wanted craft beer to be his career, so he switched to a brewery in Fukuoka, and later went on to serve as brewmaster at a brewery in Tottori.
MugiFrom trading company employee to driving around Japan in a camper van to brewmaster? That sounds like a movie!
Hop BroFrom there, he returned to his hometown of Wake Town and opened his own brewery. He also runs a BEER STAND & SHOP just a 4-minute walk from JR Wake Station.
MugiA beer stand right by the station is great! What kinds of beers do they have?
Hop BroTheir flagship beer, Ichigeki, is a West Coast IPA with 7.5% ABV and 75 IBU. Just like its name suggests, it hits hard, with a great balance of bold bitterness and tropical aroma. They also sell it in cans.
MugiIchigeki! Even the name sounds punchy! I want to try it!
Hop BroWhat’s more, he grows his own hops on family land. Wake Town is famous for wisteria, and they’ve also been working on collecting wild yeast from wisteria flowers to use in beer. They also use local apples and blueberries as adjuncts, so it feels like they’re pouring all of Wake Town’s ingredients into their beer.
MugiYeast from wisteria flowers? Brewing your hometown into beer like that really hits me. I want to visit!
