Amakusa Sonar Beer

What kind of brewery is Amakusa Sonar Beer?

hop excitedHop Bro

Did you know there’s a brewery in Amakusa run by a working hairstylist?

mugi surprisedMugi

What! A hairstylist making beer? What do you mean?

hop normalHop Bro

That’s Shinya Araki of Amakusa Sonar Beer. He was born in Amakusa and spent 13 years as a hairstylist in Omotesando, Tokyo. While he was in Tokyo, he was struck by the beauty of Belgian beer and decided, "I want to make beer that can only be brewed in Amakusa with my own hands." After training in brewing at Nichinan Beer in Miyazaki, he opened his brewery in 2020.

mugi movedMugi

From hairstylist in Omotesando to brewer in Amakusa... What an incredible career change. And he even uses "SONAR," the name of his salon, for the beer too, right?

hop proudHop Bro

Exactly. He still runs the salon, so he’s juggling both jobs. And the brewery’s biggest strength is Japan’s westernmost hop field. On about 2,000 square meters of land they grow 17 varieties organically, including Nugget, Cascade, Eldorado, Chinook, and Centennial.

mugi surprisedMugi

Seventeen varieties?! It’s rare to find a brewery that grows its own hops, right?

hop happyHop Bro

What’s more, his father used to be a loquat farmer and supports the agricultural side. They also recycle the spent grain from brewing into compost and return it to the fields, so it’s truly a farm-and-brew operation run by father and son.

mugi movedMugi

That partnership with his father is touching... So, what kinds of beers do they make?

hop excitedHop Bro

Their flagship, WhitePearl, is a Belgian White made with 100% home-grown hops and Amakusa’s specialty pear citrus, using both the peel and the juice lavishly. They use Amakusa groundwater as-is, without any water adjustment. They’re also known nationwide for their smoothie sour ales, which are brewed with a unique recipe built around seasonal fruit.

mugi excitedMugi

A Belgian White with pear citrus! It really feels like Amakusa’s ingredients all in one glass.

hop thinkingHop Bro

Their hazy IPA Native Dancer uses Incognito hops and has an ABV of 6.5%, while their West Coast Pilsner SONAR DROP has an ABV of 5.5%. The lineup is pretty bold overall. Maybe it’s the hairstylist’s sensibility, but even the beer’s appearance and naming have a distinctive aesthetic.

mugi happyMugi

Hair stylist, brewer, and hop farmer all in one. It’s so unique. If I go to Amakusa, I definitely want to drink WhitePearl!

Signature beers: WhitePearlNative DancerSONAR DROP
Amakusa Sonar Beer unveils Yes, a smoothie sour made with local citrus
BreweryAmakusa Sonar Beer New Release

Amakusa Sonar Beer unveils Yes, a smoothie sour made with local citrus

Kumamoto Amakusa City
Amakusa Sonar Beer to Start Selling New Product to Wholesale Accounts from 3 PM on June 2
BreweryAmakusa Sonar Beer New Release

Amakusa Sonar Beer to Start Selling New Product to Wholesale Accounts from 3 PM on June 2

Kumamoto Amakusa City
Amakusa Sonar Beer Introduces TDH Hazy IPA "Kudaranai," Brewed with Three Dry-Hopping Rounds
BreweryAmakusa Sonar Beer New Release

Amakusa Sonar Beer Introduces TDH Hazy IPA "Kudaranai," Brewed with Three Dry-Hopping Rounds

Kumamoto Amakusa City
Amakusa Sonar Beer to Release New Beer 'Kudaranai' on May 28
BreweryAmakusa Sonar Beer New Release

Amakusa Sonar Beer to Release New Beer 'Kudaranai' on May 28

Kumamoto Amakusa City
Amakusa Sonar Beer Announces New "Opacity" at 3:00 PM on May 14
BreweryAmakusa Sonar Beer New Release

Amakusa Sonar Beer Announces New "Opacity" at 3:00 PM on May 14

Kumamoto Amakusa City
Saraeru to Host a Six-Beer Simultaneous Tap Opening Event with Amakusa Sonar Beer on May 8
BreweryAmakusa Sonar Beer Event

Saraeru to Host a Six-Beer Simultaneous Tap Opening Event with Amakusa Sonar Beer on May 8

Kumamoto Amakusa City
Amakusa Sonar Beer Introduces "BANANA SPLASH," a Collaboration with WITCH CRAFT MARKET
BreweryAmakusa Sonar Beer New Release

Amakusa Sonar Beer Introduces "BANANA SPLASH," a Collaboration with WITCH CRAFT MARKET

Kumamoto Amakusa City
Amakusa Sonar Beer Announces New Product Sales Start at 3:00 PM on April 7 via Instagram
BreweryAmakusa Sonar Beer New Release

Amakusa Sonar Beer Announces New Product Sales Start at 3:00 PM on April 7 via Instagram

Kumamoto Amakusa City
Amakusa Sonar Beer Introduces a Craft Beer Event Around Sasebo Port
BreweryAmakusa Sonar Beer Event

Amakusa Sonar Beer Introduces a Craft Beer Event Around Sasebo Port

Kumamoto Amakusa City
Amakusa Sonar Beer to Release New "shiftmoutere" on March 27
BreweryAmakusa Sonar Beer New Release

Amakusa Sonar Beer to Release New "shiftmoutere" on March 27

Kumamoto Amakusa City
Amakusa Sonar Beer Announces Modern WCP "SONAR DROP"
BreweryAmakusa Sonar Beer New Release

Amakusa Sonar Beer Announces Modern WCP "SONAR DROP"

Kumamoto Amakusa City
Amakusa Sonar Beer to Release New Brew at 3:00 p.m. on March 19; General Sales Start at 5:00 p.m.
BreweryAmakusa Sonar Beer New Release

Amakusa Sonar Beer to Release New Brew at 3:00 p.m. on March 19; General Sales Start at 5:00 p.m.

Kumamoto Amakusa City
Amakusa Sonar Beer unveils Hazy IPA "Native Dancer"
BreweryAmakusa Sonar Beer New Release

Amakusa Sonar Beer unveils Hazy IPA "Native Dancer"

Kumamoto Amakusa City
AMAKUSA SONAR BEER to Begin Selling New Release at 3:00 p.m. on February 27; General Sales Start at 5:00 p.m.
BreweryAmakusa Sonar Beer New Release

AMAKUSA SONAR BEER to Begin Selling New Release at 3:00 p.m. on February 27; General Sales Start at 5:00 p.m.

Kumamoto Amakusa City

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