2nd Story Ale Works Information

2nd Story Ale Works : At a Glance

• Opened : October 2018
• Japanese name : セカンドストーリーエールワークス
• Location : Hata, Tokushima Prefecture
• First beer : –
• Head brewer : Patrick Brown
• Homepage : https://2ndstoryale.jp/

2nd Story Ale Works : Background

2nd Story Ale Works is a small independent brewery in Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture, on the island of Shikoku. Founded by American brewer Patrick Brown and his Japanese wife, Yuki, the brewery officially opened in 2018, bringing together American craft beer influences and the agricultural traditions of rural Tokushima. Rather than sticking to one particular style, the couple have built their reputation on experimentation, local ingredients and the simple idea that making and drinking beer should be fun. <escape></escape>

The idea behind the brewery took shape during the couple’s time living in Bend, Oregon, between 2014 and 2017. Bend is home to a thriving craft beer scene, with numerous breweries and a strong local appreciation for independent beer. Patrick already enjoyed homebrewing and went on to study brewing at university, while the couple’s experience in Oregon helped convince them that starting their own brewery in Japan was worth pursuing. They eventually returned to Yuki’s hometown of Tokushima to turn that idea into reality.

The brewery’s original home was about as far removed from a shiny, purpose-built brewing facility as you could get. Patrick and Yuki converted a garage on the family’s property into a working brewery, making use of a building that had previously served as a storage space for mandarin oranges. The name 2nd Story Ale Works has two meanings: it refers to the second floor of that original building and to the couple’s own second chapter in life. The brewery’s bottle labels continue this storytelling theme, featuring people important to the couple and connecting their personal stories with the beers themselves.

Local produce has always played an important role in the brewery’s approach. Tokushima is known for its citrus fruit, particularly sudachi and yuzu, and the Browns have incorporated these ingredients alongside strawberries, figs, shiitake mushrooms and other seasonal produce. Much of this agricultural connection comes directly from Yuki’s family and the surrounding community. Patrick has also explored farmhouse ales and the use of Brettanomyces yeast, while the brewery’s wider range extends into IPAs, stouts, saisons, lagers and experimental beers.

In 2024, 2nd Story Ale Works entered another chapter by relocating its brewing operation to a renovated former nursery school in Hata, a rural district of Tokushima. The project also created space for an onsite taproom, turning a closed community building into somewhere locals and visitors could gather over a beer. Crowdfunding helped make the project possible, reflecting the brewery’s ambition to become part of the local community rather than simply produce beer for distribution.

2nd Story Ale Works : Beer Reviews

The following are some of the beers we’ve had:

• 2nd Story Hippo Dreamland – a 5% blonde ale brewed using imported Hallertauer and Callister hops, along with locally sourced sudachi.
• 2nd Story Topsy – a 5% milk stout that uses East Kent Golding hops and locally sourced coffee beans.
• 2nd Story Yocchan Lemon – a 4.5% Berliner Weisse  brewed using locally sourced lemons.

2nd Story Ale Works : Limited & Seasonal Beers

The following are some of the limited and seasonal beers we’ve had:

• 2nd Story American IPA –  6.5% American IPA brewed using imported Amarillo, Citra, and Opal hops.
• 2nd Story Dance – a 6.5% West Coast Pils that uses German Hallertau Blanc and New Zealand Motueka hops.
• 2nd Story Double IPA – an 8% double IPA brewed using Citra, Lorel, and Cyro Mosaic hops.
• 2nd Story Imperial Choco Raspberry – a 7.5% imperial stout brewed using raspberries, with the base beer being brewed first and then, after letting it age, blending it with two other, unknown, beers.
• 2nd Story Milk Stout – a 5% milk stout brewed with Golden Promise, Black Patent, Chocolate, and Caramel malts, along with some oats, along with some coffee beans and healthy helping of lactose too.
• 2nd Story NE-IPA #3 – a 7% NE-IPA  brewed using Pilsner, Pale Malt, Oats, and wheat malt with the hops being Mosaic, Citra, Columbus, Centennial, and Cascade. It also contains locally sourced sudachi.
• 2nd Story NW Blend IPA – a 6% American IPA brewed with Cascade, Chinook, Centennial, Columbus and Citra.

2nd Story Ale Works : Details

• Address : Minamisone-13-1 Hatacho, Tokushima, 771-4266
• Phone : –
• Homepage : https://2ndstoryale.jp/
• Online store : https://2ndstoryale.jp/collections/%E7%BC%B6%E3%82%BB%E3%83%83%E3%83%88-online
• Social Media : Facebook / Instagram

2nd Story Ale Works : Location