Founded in 1999, Yokohama Beer is the oldest brewery in the city. For over 25 years, its seasoned brewers have crafted clean, easy-to-drink beers appreciated by locals and far-flung fans alike. The brewery actively collaborates with the community to connect people and expand cultural ties through beer. Notable initiatives include the beer bike that cruises through Minato Mirai, a running club, and joint activities with local universities. Any time there’s something fun going on in the city, you’re likely to find Yokohama Beer there.
One such initiative is the “Brewers One Series”, a special project where each Yokohama Beer brewer creates a unique, limited-edition beer that expresses what they personally want to make. For this series, I spoke with three brewers, Shoichi Ida, Kazuki Kato, and Yuko Nogaki, about their thoughts and aspirations for the project.
Head brewer Shoichi Ida began working at Yokohama Beer as a college student and has been a brewer for ten years. When the previous head brewer moved on, the team wanted to create a platform for creative challenges, which led to the launch of this series. His aim is to create flavors not typically found in Yokohama Beer’s standard lineup. While exploring what kind of beer he personally wanted to drink, he came across a yeast called “Philly Sour” and decided to use it. Believing that fruit might express his unique style, Ida aspires to become associated with sour beers. As an evolution of their 2022 “Dreaming Grapefruit Sour” he created “Awakening Grapefruit Sour” using pink grapefruit and blood oranges. The playful naming suggests a storyline: “Awakening” follows “Dreaming.” Next, he brewed ErdBEERe, a Weizen-style beer (a Yokohama Beer staple) infused with strawberries. The sweet and tart profile of Weizen pairs perfectly with the fruit.
Kazuki Kato, also a head brewer, is keen to experiment while building on Yokohama Beer’s strength in traditional styles. In the Brewers One Series, he aims to surprise with trendy styles and new challenges, often choosing styles he hasn’t brewed alone before or ones he’s always wanted to try. With “Marshmallow Freak”, a pastry stout, Kato focused on expressing the marshmallow flavor without actually using marshmallows. Despite its high alcohol content, the beer remains easy to drink and distinctly “Yokohama Beer”. It has earned high praise so far. Kato enjoys setting personal challenges and fulfilling them; he intends to continue crafting daring new styles infused with Yokohama Beer’s essence.
Yuko Nogaki, a staff brewer, based her beer “Tokonagi” on the Irish Red Ale style (naturally enjoyed in Ireland). She aimed for an approachable, easy-drinking beer that avoids being “too much” of any particular flavor or aroma. She carefully built the recipe with balance in mind. Her inspirations sometimes come from beers she drinks at other establishments. Preferring beers that go down easily, Nogaki says she’s interested in creating light-bodied beers like rice lagers. Interestingly, she decided on her beer names through conversations with AI.
The day before each Brewers One Series release, Yokohama Beer hosts a tap opening event at their first-floor beer stand, drawing crowds of fans eager to experience these new styles. Production is typically around 950 liters, with about 800 cans released. Some may be served at local bars or shops, but quantities are limited; there’s a good chance you’ll never encounter the same beer again. Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with Yokohama Beer’s adventurous brews.