Garyu Brewing

Ozu's Garyu Brewing is the first full-scale craft beer brewery in the Nan'yo area, but the story behind the beer is a little special.

It comes from Garyu-no-fuchi, a scenic spot in Ozu. And the brewery itself is amazing too. It's been renovated from a Taisho-era red-brick silk cocoon warehouse, a historic building that used to be a silk mill. It had been slated for demolition as part of a housing development, but they saved it and turned it into this brewery.

It's run by Arai Co., a food container manufacturer, and the theme is 'craft beer x community revitalization x disability welfare.' Their group company, Yume Tamago, has supported people with disabilities for many years, and the starting point was the wish to 'make beer together with people with disabilities.'

The brewing manager, Mr. Kubota, is a veteran who came to Ozu after gaining experience at a long-established brewery in Tokyo, and the beers he makes make great use of Ozu's local ingredients.

'Ozu Silk IPA' combines silk powder from Ozu with wheat and oats, and as the name suggests, it has a smooth, silk-like mouthfeel. 'Nagahama Kiwi IPA' is a fruity brew made with kiwis from local Nagahama, and its bitterness is gentle, so it's easy for beer beginners to enjoy.

The Kiwi IPA also uses off-grade fruit, so it's a sustainable effort in partnership with local Nishimura Farm. Drinking freshly brewed beer surrounded by Taisho-era red brick is the best, especially when paired with a walk around Ozu's old town streets.