Hiwasa Beer

Hiwasa Beer is brewed here in Tania, a registered tangible cultural property in Minami Town, Tokushima Prefecture - the former kaisen-tonya, or coastal shipping wholesaler, built around 1870.

Technically, they use the storehouse on the property, but yes. The representative, Ami Kumagai, was originally a company employee developing automotive parts in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

When she visited Hiwasa on a trip in 2015, she was captivated by the starry sky and the ocean scenery. That led her to decide to move there, and she joined the local revitalization volunteer program. From there, she obtained a brewing license and opened in January 2025.

Ocean Saison is amazing. It uses seawater pumped from underground by Hiwasa's fishing cooperative as an adjunct. The minerals from the sea combine with the light character of a saison to create a flavor that can only be brewed in this place.

They also make AWABANCHA Ale, a dry beer using Tokushima's traditional fermented tea, Awa bancha, and they have one made with local yuzu too. It's truly beer brewed from the ingredients of this land.

What's more, each batch is just 200 to 300 liters, and she handles everything herself, from brewing to sales to label design. The label motif is based on the wave pattern in the transom on the second floor of Tania, and it's styled to resemble the foam in a beer glass.