Yamaguchi Hagi Beer

Yamaguchi Hagi Beer is fair to call one of the pioneers of craft beer in the Chugoku region. Founded in 1996, it started selling "Chonmage Beer" the very next year.

It was founded by Takayoshi Ohnaka. He had originally worked for a major beer manufacturer, and the spark came when he encountered microbrewery culture during a business trip to the United States.

Exactly. When the Liquor Tax Law was revised in 1994 and small-scale brewing became possible, he said, "I'll do this in my hometown of Hagi." He imported brewing equipment from the United States and built everything from scratch. Hagi is also the place where the Choshu Five of the late Edo period went to Britain to learn, so maybe that drive to bring back overseas techniques is part of the local character.

The Chonmage Beer series is a classic top-fermented ale made only with malt, hops, water, and yeast. It comes in four varieties: pale ale, alt, wheat, and IPA. Its defining traits are a fruity aroma along with a clear, easy-to-drink finish.

On the other hand, they also have a lineup that makes use of local ingredients. Natsumikan Hagi Ale blends barley grown in Yamaguchi Prefecture with summer orange juice, and Yamada Nishiki Lager is a beer made with Yamada Nishiki sake rice. It even took first place in the rice-based beer category at the World Beer Awards.

What's more, they've kept the basic brewing method unchanged for about 30 years, yet their prices are about 100 to 150 yen lower than typical craft beers. They stay true to the classic style while still being easy to pick up. That's the presence of a veteran.