Kick back with a cold one! 6 local brews from Osaka♡

There’s nothing like a cold refreshing beer on a hot summer day. And summer is certainly here! So what are some local beers that will quench your thirst and give you a taste of Osaka? Let’s take a look…

■What is craft beer? Is it the same as ji-biru?

Craft beer has surged in popularity over the past few years in Japan. The term is used for a unique beer that is brewed in relatively small batches under the guidance of a master brewer. The microbrewery producing the craft beer is often independently owned.

The word ji-biru (地ビール) is primarily used to describe craft beer, but the literal meaning of this term is “local beer”. Beer from a specific region is fun to drink while you’re visiting and can make a great gift to bring home for family and friends.

■The basic types of beer

The wonderful thing about drinking craft beer, is that you get to taste a whole rainbow of flavors. Worldwide there are over 100 different types of beer!

Generally speaking beer can be divided into two groups—lagers and ales—depending on the fermentation process. But when you get into the nitty gritty details, there are so many more different kinds of beer we can’t possibly describe them all here. This list of 7 types of beer covers the basics and will give you a general idea of what to expect from the beers at the top of the drink menu.

Pilsner (ピルスナー)

This golden lager gets its name from the Pilsen region, in the Czech Republic, where it was first brewed. Pilsner goes down crisp and finishes with a light hoppy bitterness. It’s the most-consumed type of beer worldwide, and in Japan it claims about 90% of the market.

Pale Ale (ペールエール)

Pale ale was created in the eighteenth century England. This beer was significantly lighter than the usual brown ales that were common at the time. The rich hop and malt flavors give pale ale a distinctive taste with mild bitterness. It’s a good beer to start with if you are new to drinking craft beer.

IPA (アイピーエー)

You may already know this, but IPA stands for Indian Pale Ale. It’s a strong beer and is very hoppy. Additional hops were first added to pale ale to prevent it from souring while it was being shipped to the English colony in India. The distinct strong flavor of this beer is addicting and it is extremely popular with craft beer enthusiasts.

Weizen (ヴァイツェン)

Brewed using at least 50% wheat to barley malt, this beer comes from Southern Germany. It has a distinctive sweet grainy aroma and subtle flavor. It’s a good beer for those who prefer to avoid bitter beer and it goes down smooth.

Fruit Beer (フルーツビール)

Fruits like cherries or lemons are added to beer during brewing, but the exact timing may differ. Fruit syrups can be used as well. This gives the beer a fruity flavor and an attractive color. In Japan, many fruit beers are made with locally grown fruit from the brewing region, like yuzu or other citruses

Stout (スタウト)

Stouts have robust rich flavors, sometimes likened to roasted nuts or chocolate. The beer itself is extremely dark so it is also known as Black Beer.

Barley Wine (バーレーワイン)

Barley Wine is aptly named because it is supposed to be aged for an extended period, up to 10 times longer than other beers. Like wine, it has a high alcohol content. Its strong flavors and bitterness give it a complex flavor profile.

Each kind of beer is different so it’s fun to taste-test them all and discover which is your favorite. Even if you don’t like one type of craft beer, you may like another. And if you’re lucky you may like them all.

■Osaka Beer—Buy it! Drink it! Compare them all!

Now that we’ve laid out the basic types of beer, let’s get into some of the best Osaka beers out there. Here are 4 beers from Osaka that are on the market today and 2 bars that serve a selection of amazing craft beer!

【4 Craft Beers from Osaka】

●Making Osaka Proud—Minoh Beer

Minoh Beer made a name for itself by winning the gold at World Beer Cup (WBC) and has since taken home award after award. The brewery was established in 1996 in Minoh, an area in northern Osaka Prefecture known for its picturesque waterfall and stunning autumn leaves. Minoh Brewery carefully crafts beer for the every day beer lover. It stands out among regional beers and makes a great gift from Osaka. Their lineup includes pilsner, stout, pale ale, weizen,  double IPA, their trademark Osaru IPA, seasonal domestic peach weizen, and yuzu white.

This wheat malt brew gives off sweet banana-like aromas. It looks heavenly in a glass with thick white foam topping the light golden ale. 

Take one sip and you’ll notice the soft fruity aromas and smooth finish. The sophoisticated flavors will win over even hesitant craft beer-drinkers.

・Style: Ale (Weizen)
・Ingredients: Malt, hops
・Alcohol content: 5.0%
・Volume: 330ml
・Price: ¥418 (tax included)

The pride of Minoh Beer, this stout has taken first place in countless competitions. Coffee-like bitterness and fragrant aromas are matched perfectly with creamy rich flavors for a well-balanced brew. The clean aftertaste makes it go down smooth and its easy to drink one after another. If the bitter flavor of black beers that have turned you off before, try this one because it’s relatively mild. It’s a great introductory beer to the world of black beer.

・Style: Ale (Stout)
・Ingredients: Malt, hops
・Alcohol content: 5.5%
・Volume: 330ml
・Price: ¥418 (tax included)

●Japan’s first bathhouse brewery—Kamigata Beer

When Miyuki Onsen (a bathhouse located in Higashi-yodogawa-ku) was renovated, it was turned into a brand new brewery. It maintains all of the charms of a sento (Japanese bathouse), but with a twist. Instead of relaxing in a tub, customers relax with a pint. It’s custom to drink a bottle of milk after getting out of the bath in Japan, however these milk bottles are filled with beer. The name Kamigata was taken from the term used to refer to the Kansai region, including Osaka and Kyoto, during the Edo period (1603-1867). Kamigata Beer brews a number of delicious drinks include pale ale, blonde ale, IPA, and fruit beer (lemon). 

This IPA lives up to its name. Called hazy because of its dark cloudy color, it looks like a substantial beer. Take a sip and you can taste the citrus tones followed by a balanced bitterness. This is a beer for people who like a mixture of sweet and bitter. 

・Style: Hazy IPA
・Ingredients: Malt, hops
・Alcohol content: 5.9%
・Volume: 330ml
・Price: ¥800 (tax included)

●Brewing for 200 years—Kotobuki Beer

Kotobuki has a 200 year history of making sake and in 1994, when brewery regulations became more lenient, they began brewing beer. Their beer is specially created to be palatable for newcomers to the craft beer scene and to match well with Japanese cuisine. Their many years of brewing experience shine through, as they make beer to pair with meals, using some of the techniques they use to refine sake. This beer is easily recognizeable by the frog on the label. 

Their lineup includes kölsch, amber ale, pale ale, coffe brown ale, and more.

Kotobuki has received 4 awards in a row at the Japan Beer Festival and the gold award at the Asia Beer Cup. They put their sake brewing skills to the test in making this original happōshu (low-malt beverage similar to beer). It’s a dark cloudy gold with a hoppy flavor that melts into fragrant fruitiness, reminiscent of sake. It actually has sake inside, which is why it pairs so well with Japanese cuisine. If you like sake, this is beer is a must! 

・Style: Kijo ale (original style)
・Ingredients: Barley malt, sake, hops
・Alcohol content: 5.0%
・Volume: 330ml
・Price: ¥800 (including tax)

All of these beers have unique flavors and are easy to drink. I recommend you try them all! My personal favorites are the stout from Minoh Beer and Kamigata’s Yukemuri Hazy. They’re the most original, in my opinion, and are special brews that you won’t find anywhere else.

The other great thing about these beers is that they’re available to order online so you can have them delivered right to your door. Have fun tasting all the different flavors from the convenience of your home.

【2 Bars Serving Local Brew】

Sample a whole variety of local brews and craft beers. These two bars in Osaka have a great selection to choose from. 

●Savor the Flavors of Minoh Beer at BEER BELLY

Beer Belly has a direct relationship with Osaka’s very own Minoh Beer so the home brew is extremely fresh. The bar has a fun urban feel because the interior is styled after a basement brewery in Brooklyn. 

Beer Belly has all the Minoh Beer classics on tap including pilsner, stout, pale ale, weizen, plus the limited release Masaji Golden Ale. They also serve great bar food like sausages, fried foods, and the savory Edobori Burger.

●Up-and-coming Osaka Beer at ONE’s BREWERY PUB

This new brewery opened in Osaka’s Nishi-ku in 2019 and strives to make the most drinkable beers.  In 2020, they opened ONE’S BREWERY PUB to serve their customers directly in Higashi-shinsaibashi. 

Refreshing beers with unique flavors like the kölsch, a beloved style from the German Kern region, amber ale, and a light floral session IPK(India Pale Kölsch) are on tap. Order some fried dishes and sausage on the side to munch as you go. 

*Business hours are subject to change. Please confirm on the official website.

■Order online and drink at home★

It’s surprising how many breweries exist in Osaka. Each has its own unique style and the varieties of locally produced craft beer are astounding.

All of the beers I’ve written about above are produced in Osaka and you can buy them online. So even if you aren’t located in or near Osaka you can have them delivered within Japan. Just because you can’t visit an Osaka bar, or are staying home during Covid, don’t let that stop you from enjoying all the wonderful beers Osaka has to offer♪

Kanpai!