Etajima Works

Do you know Etajima Works? It's a brewery on Etajima, an island floating in Hiroshima Bay.

It was launched by Tetsuya Hiraoka of Hiraoka Co., Ltd., which originally handled liquor wholesale, but the location is amazing. They renovated the former rice-steaming room of Tsuda Shuzo, a long-established sake brewery founded in 1893, into the brewery.

It's a hybrid space where an old wooden warehouse and new brewing equipment coexist. Hiraoka connected with Tsuda Shuzo through a family tie, since his grandfather was involved with a liquor wholesalers' association, and by chance the managing director was a high school senior of the brewery owner, while the construction company's president was a classmate. Hiraoka himself said he felt a sense of fate.

The regular lineup has three types: Golden Ale, IPA, and Weizen. Golden Ale has a gentle flavor inspired by Etajima's sun, and the IPA was inspired by the former Naval Academy and the island's ships, with a bright citrus aroma.

It uses 55% German wheat malt, and its signature features are a banana-like fruity aroma and rich foam. And both the Golden Ale and the IPA won silver medals at the Japan Great Beer Awards 2025.

They also make seasonal brews using island hassaku citrus, olives, honey, and more. Every step, from sourcing the ingredients to completion, is done within Etajima City, so it's truly beer packed with the whole island.