Kagawa Brewery

Kagawa Brewery's "Sanuki Beer" started in 1996, making it Kagawa Prefecture's first local craft beer.

What's more, the parent company is interesting: Rexam, an electronics manufacturer headquartered in Osaka. They had precision electronic control and metalworking technology, and they entered the beer business because they thought it could be applied to temperature control in brewing.

No, really. To recreate the flavor of German beer in Japan's hot, humid climate, temperature control is essential. And the brewmaster, Taichi Yamane, is an impressive guy too. He originally worked in electronics manufacturing at the same company, but when the beer business launched in 1996 he was transferred, trained at Asahi Breweries, and the next year was appointed production manager as Kagawa Prefecture's first Braumeister.

They follow Germany's Beer Purity Law, so their principle is to compete using only hops, malt, yeast, and water. Kölsch is golden with a fruity, refreshing character, and Super Alt is a copper-red, authentic German-style beer with a deep bitterness.

There's a wheat beer called "Kukai," and it was a major hit after Yamane himself designed and brewed it for the brewery's 10th anniversary in 2006. It has acidity and a gentle sweetness, with a fruity aroma.

And it's unpasteurized and unfiltered, so the yeast is alive, giving it an unmatched fresh feel. They also have a uniquely named beer called "Father Returns," which uses caramel malt and roasted malt for a rich yet crisp taste.