Naruko Onsen Brewery

Naruko Onsen Brewery is a pretty unique presence even among Miyagi's craft beers.

Exactly. It's a brewery in Fukiage Kogen, inside Onikobe Onsen, at an altitude of over 1,000 meters. It started in 1999 as a regional revitalization project, so it has more than 25 years of history.

Their biggest advantage is that they use water from the plateau as brewing water. Their flagship, "Naruko no Kaze Kogen Lager," is a Pilsner-style beer with a pleasant bitterness and a crisp, refreshing finish. It won gold in the Free Style Light Lager category at the International Beer Cup.

But the real hallmark here is how they use adjunct ingredients. "Yamabudo" uses locally grown wild grapes, giving it a cocktail- or wine-like flavor. And the most surprising one is "Yukimusubi."

That's right. They use a rice variety called "Yukimusubi," which they grow themselves in Naruko, and polish it to 65% at a sake rice mill before using it in beer. The finished beer is described as a Japanese-style champagne, with acidity, sweetness, and a clean finish.

This brewery pursues a finish where the flavor of the adjunct ingredient comes through clearly in the very first sip. That's why it's easy to recommend even to people who don't usually like beer. Soak in the hot spring, see the kokeshi dolls, and drink a plateau beer. That's the ultimate Naruko course.