Noboribetsu Brewery, also known as Noboribetsu Brewpub, is a craft beer brewery located in Noboribetsu, Hokkaido. They brew and sell the Oni Densetsu range of beers and are owned by the Wakasaimo Confectionery company. Noboribetsu Brewery started out as an offshoot in 1998 when the parent company wanted to take advantage of the government relaxations of the alcohol producing licensing laws, and soon after, head brewer Shibata-san took over, after doing some internships at Ise Kadoya in Mie along with Manabu-san, now head brewer at Shimane Beer Company. Every February, the company active takes part in the Setsu-bun festival, where children throw beans at a monster, or an Oni, but this festival for Noboribetsu Brewery involves Shibata-san travelling around dressed as the oni
Noboribetsu Brewery Main Lineup
The following beers are part of the all-year round line up:
- Noboribetsu Pale Ale – a 5.5% American pale ale that is dry-hopped with five different kinds of American hops.
- Noboribetsu Red Ale – a 5% English brown ale that accentuates the caramel flavours found in English beers.
- Noboribetsu Pilsner – a 5% Czech style pilsner that uses Saaz hops along with four other kinds of European hops.
- Noboribetsu White Ale – a 5% Belgian witbier that contains coriander.
Noboribetsu Brewery Seasonal Lineup
The following beers are part of the seasonal lineup:
- Noboribetsu Ki Ichigo Framboise – a 5% fruit beer that uses locally sourced raspberries in the secondary fermentation stages.
- Noboribetsu Sweet Strawberry – a 6.5% fruit beer that uses locally sourced strawberries in the secondary fermentation stages.
- Noboribetsu White Peach – a 5% fruit beer that uses the Noboribetsu White Ale as its base and locally grown peaches.
- Noboribetsu Chocolat Stout – a 7% stout that uses three different kinds of chocolate, rather than malts, to produce the chocolate flavours.
- Noboribetsu Sicilian Rouge Tomato – a 6.5% vegetable ale that contains Sicilian tomatoes, basil, and coriander.
Noboribetsu Brewery Details
Address: 96-6 Nakanoboribetsu-cho, Noboribetsu, Japan 059-0463
Phone: 0143-80-2111
Homepage (in Japanese): http://www.wakasaimo.com/shop/noboribetsubeer/