Brewery Tumugi

This is Kumejima's first brewery, "Brewery Tumugi." It was founded by Yoko Shimabukuro, who moved to Kumejima from Ibaraki.

She visited Kumejima 17 years ago, fell in love at first sight, and decided to move right away. Now she lives there with her island-born husband and their two sons. The name "Tumugi" comes from Kumejima-tsumugi, and it carries the meaning of wanting to brew beer that weaves bonds between people.

A defining feature is that they use plenty of local Kumejima ingredients. "Getto Saison" is a saison-style beer made with getto, a plant native to Okinawa. Sweetness and spiciness coexist, with citrus aromas layered with spice notes, making it quite complex.

"Tropical Ale" uses Kumejima-grown passion fruit, giving it a sweet-tart freshness like tropical juice. And "Brown Sugar Porter" is a dark beer made with Kumejima brown sugar. The flavor of the brown sugar blends with the depth of the porter.

They also make a pale ale using yabunikkei, a tree in the laurel family that grows wild on Kumejima. It tastes like the forest. There are always five beers on tap, and when one runs out it's replaced, so you can discover a different beer every time you visit.

A brewery taproom opens on Friday and Saturday nights. You spend Kumejima nights with Tumugi beer alongside homemade snacks. It's the kind of time you can only taste on a remote island.