Koza Beer Workshop

Koza Beer Workshop is Okinawa's first brewpub. What's more, the brewer, Yasuhiko Ohama, has an interesting background: he's the third-generation owner of "Toyama Saketen," founded in 1965, and in his grandfather's day it was a liquor brewery that made habushu, snake liquor.

While carrying Belgian beer at the liquor store, he was apparently struck by the variety of beer. Then, after reading an article about Koenji Bakushu Kobo in Tokyo, he had an awakening: "You can brew beer in the middle of town too!" He trained for a year and a half at Kibidote Shita Beer Brewery in Okayama, and opened the brewery on the second floor of the liquor store in 2014.

Ohama's belief is, "I want to be something like the neighborhood bakery," so he's selling craft beer starting at 530 yen. He rotates five to six varieties all the time, and the fact that all the brand names come from Koza and Okinawan culture is irresistible.

"Typhoon IPA" is, as the name suggests, a bold, rich, pleasantly bitter beer. "Sanshin Pale Ale" has a comfortable balance of sweetness and bitterness, making it a standard type. "Akokuro Evening Ale" takes its name from an Okinawan dialect word meaning twilight, and has a round, soft mouthfeel. "Black Belt Stout" is a black beer made with roasted malt.

Ohama also played rugby in high school and made it to Hanazono for the national tournament, and the brand name "Koza Rugger Lager" comes from that, haha. "BIG BEACH Cream Ale" is a fruity beer inspired by summer beaches, and that's also a popular one.

Ohama has also started selling bottled beer because he wants it to serve as a calling card that makes people say, "Koza is such an interesting town." He's brewing with the spirit of Koza on his shoulders. There's also a second location in Kumoji, Naha.