Craft beer is popular all over the world. Craft beer is a unique beer made by a small brewery, and is supported as handmade beer and craft beer. Aichi Prefecture also has shops and breweries that offer a wide variety of craft beers.

This time, we will introduce an original craft beer proposed by a team of brewers from Toyohashi City. Members working at breweries all over the country gather and work to liven up their hometown of Toyohashi through craft beer.

I asked them not only about craft beer, but also about their thoughts on the local community.

Craft beer brewing with members from Toyohashi

"ToyoHashi City Craft" is a group of four brewers from Toyohashi who are active all over Japan and propose original craft beer. Each member is a young brewer working at breweries in Tokyo, Wakayama, Tokushima, and Kanagawa.

Mr. Ryo Suzuki (CRAFTROCK BREWING, Tokyo)

He has 10 years of brewing experience. He loves local beer and wanted to make his own beer, so he entered the craft beer industry. He continues to make more than 100 types of beer, and is in charge of beer recipe proposals at "ToyoHashi City Craft".

https://craftrock.jp/brewpub/

Takumi Kaneko (Nomcraft Brewing, Wakayama)

After graduating from university, he traveled around Australia, Canada, Portland, etc. as a backpacker. Aridagawa in Wakayama Prefecture and Portland have partnered to launch "Nomcraft Brewing" centering on urban development with craft beer. In charge of public relations for "ToyoHashi City Craft".

https://nomcraft.beer

Takahiro Kawai (RISE & WIN BREWING, Tokushima)

After studying beer making in Australia, he decided to go to "RISE & WIN BREWING" in Tokushima Prefecture. It is attracting attention from all over the country as a place where you can experience craft beer and zero waste. In "ToyoHashi City Craft", he is in charge of team management from the idea.

https://www.kamikatz.jp

Hiroki Teshima (Yokohama Bay Brewing, Kanagawa)

He likes craft beer, and went to Yokohama Bay Brewing, a craft beer maker in Yokohama, five years ago. Currently, as a brewer, he makes a variety of beers. In charge of planning and sales at "ToyoHashi City Craft".

https://www.yokohamabaybrewing.jp

– Please tell us how you met this member.

Mr. Teshima:“The four of us are from Toyohashi, but we all worked as brewery staff in different parts of Japan, so we didn't know each other at all before we started this project. We met when a friend introduced us. In 2019, there was a pedestrian paradise (aka hokoten) event in Toyohashi City, where a beer festival was held. The four of us met for the first time at that time and hit it off.”

Mr. Kawai: "I also wanted to revitalize the area with craft beer. Especially in Toyohashi, there are very few breweries and shops where you can drink craft beer compared to the population. Craft beer is attracting attention nationwide. I thought it would be a shame that Toyohashi doesn't have a craft beer culture, so I searched for something we could do and decided to try making a craft beer that was unique to Toyohashi."

– I want to liven up Toyohashi! It was the desire of the four people to revitalize the region.

Mr. Kaneko:"Craft beer culture in Toyohashi is still lagging behind. Craft beer is interesting and fun! I hope to convey this message to everyone in my hometown. We make craft beer in different parts of Japan, but with "ToyoHashi City Craft" we want to express what we enjoy through craft beer."

Mr. Suzuki:“We were talking about how we wanted to make our hometown more exciting, and craft beer was our way of expressing ourselves, so we thought, 'It would be fun to make beer'! However, as we made more and more original craft beers, the people of Toyohashi became more and more excited, which made us very happy.”

The first original craft beer sold out in a week!

– And this craft beer was born in the first step. The unique packaging is eye-catching.

Kawai:“The first original craft beer was released as 'ToyoHashi City Craft' on January 31, 2021. This "ENDORFIN" has a solid body derived from malt, a sweetness of caramel, lychee from three types of New Zealand hops, a sweet tropical scent like guava and a refreshing scent like lime, and a finish of young grass. A sharpens taste and bitterness will put together the whole thing."

Mr. Suzuki: "This is a craft beer that uses IPA (India Pale Ale), which is loved around the world. It has a strong hop flavor and a bitter taste, but it has a well-balanced taste."

– What was the reaction to this craft beer?

Mr. Teshima: “We wanted our local Toyohashi people to enjoy craft beer, so we were able to have it placed at a local friend’s shop or liquor store. In addition, there was a staff member from Toyohashi in Tokyo, and many people who were interested in this craft beer contacted us and wanted to carry it, and it sold out in about a week. "

Kaneko:“Collaborating with local artists is another feature of ToyoHashi City Craft. This label was also drawn by a local artist in Toyohashi. We also like the colorful design. It is a great feeling to think about what kind of beer we want to make, make it, sell it with our own hands, and then see it sell out.

Mr. Kawai: “Especially, restaurants in Tokyo, who were born in Toyohashi, had a great response. Through this craft beer, they talked about their love for Toyohashi!”

The second original craft beer
Sold out in no time!

– Please tell us about your thoughts and feelings about the second original craft beer.

Mr. Teshima:"The second beer is a craft beer named "ELIXIR" which is made from CBD. CBD is a natural substance found in the cannabis plant that is being researched worldwide for its effects on the body's regulatory functions, immune regulation, emotional suppression, and relaxation. The alcohol content has been reduced to create a flavor that can be enjoyed in the summer. ”

Mr. Suzuki:"In planning the second round, the four of us came up with the theme of 'a light, very drinkable drink that can be consumed at festivals' in our conversations. The premise was that it would be very interesting to incorporate CBD in a drink that would be very unique to us. It is low in alcohol content, refreshing, and has a distinct bitterness. We decided to take on the challenge of using an interesting ingredient, and so it was born."

Mr. Kaneko:“The point is that the label was also drawn by a local female artist in Toyohashi. We are a brewing team that does not have a brewery, so we have created a craft beer movement with unique beer recipes and logos."

Mr. Kawai:“We released it this time and manufactured a larger quantity than the first batch, but it was a great success, selling out in no time. We were able to get it placed in certain stores so that people in Toyohashi could enjoy it more than last time. Through 'ELIXIR,' we were able to feel the connection with Toyohashi."

– It was a big thing for everyone to feel the connection of Toyohashi.

Mr. Suzuki: “When we sold this second edition, we were all talking about having the local Toyohashi place more emphasis on it. , I think more than half of the sales volume was sold in Toyohashi city.I was happy that it was consumed locally, and I was surprised that my parents bought it!"

Mr. Suzuki:"Although we need to brush up on the types and contents of the beer we make, we believe that craft beer is one of the ways to revitalize the region, and we want people to enjoy it as a culture! Since I'm working in the beer industry, so it would be great if I could properly convey the appeal of beer."

Mr. Teshima:"In order to sell 'ELIXIR', we actually went back to our hometown Toyohashi and visited various stores such as 'ichigoyaichie', a popular grocery store in Toyohashi, and 'Michi no Eki Toyohashi' to convey our thoughts. As soon as the product went on sale, many people who drank "ELIXIR" posted about it on SNS, and we felt a lot of excitement.”

Future prospects

Mr. Kaneko: "I think that 'ToyoHashi City Craft' is a place where we can express what we want to create. I want to release original craft beer four times a year, but I want to have fun making it with everyone while deciding the recipe and direction of beer! I think. ”

Mr. Kawai: “Even though we are far from our hometown, we love our hometown! While doing what I want to do, I would like to add a “ToyoHashi City Craft” feel to it and create a variety of craft beers. ”

Mr. Suzuki: “I think that the second installment became the core of 'ToyoHashi City Craft'. Interesting, fun, and stylish. I would like to continue to do things that cannot be produced elsewhere. In the future, I would like to collaborate with local companies to revitalize the area. ”

Mr. Teshima: “I would like to be a team that spreads the charm of craft beer, as well as being a “creator” who makes craft beer. As a brewer from Toyohashi, I would like to continue sharing the fun of craft beer. I would like to actively collaborate with companies and artists, so if you are interested in brewing original craft beer, please feel free to contact me! ”

An original craft beer made by a young brewer from Toyohashi. I love my hometown, Toyohashi, so I want to liven up the city through craft beer! It was impressive that he talked to me. I'm looking forward to the releasing of the original craft beer in the future.