The landscape of the Kiso River around Inuyama was named "Japan Rhine" by Shigetaka Shiga, a geographer of the Taisho era, in reference to the Rhine River in Germany."Inuyama Lorelei Beer" has been brewed for more than 20 years in Inuyama, which has a friendship city affiliation with Sankt Goarshausen, Germany, on the banks of the Rhine River.

At the Inuyama Lorelei Beer Brewery and Restaurant, you can not only enjoy draft beer delivered directly from the adjacent factory, but also the elaborate cuisine. This time, we will introduce you to Inuyama Lorelei Beer Brewery and Restaurant in detail!

Named after the German Lorelei legend
Inuyama Lorelei Beer

Inuyama Lorelei Beer Brewery and Restaurant is a restaurant where you can enjoy draft beer made at the adjacent brewery, as well as dishes that go perfectly with beer.

At lunch time, a buffet with 30 to 40 different dishes is available, and at night, a wide range of dishes can be enjoyed, from meat dishes such as sausages and spare ribs to seafood, fried dishes, pasta and pizza, and local delicacies such as dote-ni (beef sinew stewed in miso and mirin) and dengaku (grilled tofu dressed with sweet miso paste).

Inuyama Lorelei Beer was born in 1998 after inviting a female Braumeister from Germany and receiving full-scale technical guidance on beer brewing. Today, Blaumeister, who inherited the technique, continues to protect the taste of beer.

"Lorelei", which is also the name of the beer, comes from the "Lorelei legend" handed down in the Rhine river basin in Germany. The city of Sankt Goarshausen, a city on the banks of the Rhine in Germany, and the city of Inuyama have a friendship city relationship, so they named the traditional German beer "Inuyama Lorelei Beer."

What is the legend of Lorelei?

Rhine and Lorelei

The famous Rhine River representing Germany is called "Father Rhine" in German, and the Upper Middle Rhine Valley is also registered as a World Heritage Site. Lorelei is a huge rock with a height of about 130 meters near the town of Sankt Goarshausen in the Rhine river basin.

Because of the fast current and many rocks on the river bottom near Lorelei, many boats used to have accidents. This led to the legend that a boatman was enchanted by a beautiful fairy girl who lived in Lorelei, and the boat sank into the river whirlpool.

The Lorelei legend has been the subject of many poems, songs, and operas, and many people may know "Lorelei" by the poet Heine and composer Zircher. Inuyama Lorelei Beer is named after the desire to offer people a moment of enchantment like the beautiful fairies of Lorelei.

Commitment to Inuyama Lorelei Beer

Beer server where draft beer is poured

Inuyama Lorelei Beer was born in 1998. Inuyama Lorelei Beer was made by asking Ms. Nadia Becker, who was active as a female Braumeister in Germany to receive full-fledged technical guidance on beer brewing. More than 20 years after its birth, the commitment and passion for making beer has not changed.

The malt and hops, which are the raw materials of beer, are carefully selected, mainly from Germany, and the brewing water, which has a great effect to the taste of beer, uses underground water from Kiso. The naturally brewed water pumped up from 70 meters underground from our own well gives the beer a mellow taste.

Another characteristic of Inuyama Lorelei is that it is made using an unfiltered (non-heated) method. You can enjoy the deep richness and fruity aroma, and the original taste of beer. In addition, it contains a lot of nutritious beer yeast, so it is also recommended for health-conscious people. At restaurants, it's nice to be able to drink unfiltered beer on draft (draft), which has a short shelf life and is difficult to handle.

3-4 types of beer are always served

Inuyama Lorelei Beer Weizen (left), Pilsner (right)

At Inuyama Lorelei Beer Brewery and Restaurant, you can always enjoy 3 to 4 types of local beer. The lineup includes pilsner and weizen, which are standard in Japan, as well as one or two special beers brewed for a limited time, depending on the season. While many local beers have strong individuality, we purposely stock traditional German beers that are familiar to Japanese people, so many people regardless of age or gender can enjoy them.

Bottles are also sold, so if you like it, how about buying it as a souvenir?

Cheers in a creative and open space!
Attractive dishes that go well with beer

The building of Inuyama Lorelei Beer Brewery and Restaurant was designed by Kisho Kurokawa, a famous architect who also designed the National Art Center, Tokyo and Toyota Stadium.

The main feature of this restaurant is its open space, inspired by a German beer hall. The hall's ceiling is a 7-meter-high atrium, and a bamboo grove extends all around behind a large glass wall.

Sunlight gently pours in through the atrium windows, and the large triangular roof is reminiscent of the venue for Oktoberfest, a major German event.

And, with a seat by the window, you can enjoy a relaxing view of the bamboo grove spreading out before you. It is a luxurious experience to enjoy delicious beer and food surrounded by beautiful greenery.

The restaurant is a true blend of Japanese and Western styles, with a "Western" space inspired by a German beer hall and the "Japanese" atmosphere of a typical Japanese bamboo forest. It has something in common with Inuyama Lorelei Beer, which brews traditional German beer with the underground water of the Kiso River.

There is also a grand piano in the restaurant, and live music is performed on weekends. Two to three times a month, you can dine in an event-like atmosphere while listening to piano or band performances.

Lunch buffet with 30 to 40 different dishes at all times

At Inuyama Lorelei Beer Brewery and Restaurant, you can enjoy a buffet every day during lunch time. There are always 30 to 40 types of dishes on offer. They offer a full lineup of dishes, from main dishes to rice, soup, and desserts.

The most popular menu item is the special curry. The curry is prepared in the restaurant and contains junmai sake and mamoromi (rice wine) as secret ingredients. The mild, deep, rich flavor is followed by a spicy, addictive taste.

Koyumi-Tsuru Sake Brewery, which operates Inuyama Lorelei Beer, has been making sake since ancient times, so it can be said that it is a secret ingredient unique to sake breweries.

There is also a full menu that goes perfectly with beer, such as tender beef tendon stew with Hatcho miso sausage.

Depending on the dish, the seasoning is slightly stronger, which is a nice consideration for those who enjoy beer.

Many families and groups visit on holidays, as there are plenty of menus that children like, such as fried chicken, potatoes, and desserts.

Cheers with our proud local beer!
Have a fun time at Inuyama Lorelei Beer Brewery and Restaurant

Inuyama Lorelei Beer Brewery and Restaurant is a restaurant where you can enjoy delicious food and local beer in an open space. The main store and the Marunouchi store (satellite shop) in Inuyama Castle Town are the only places where you can enjoy draft beer of Inuyama Lorelei beer, which is made using traditional techniques using underground water from the Kiso River.

When you go sightseeing in Inuyama, why not stop by and stretch your legs a little?