Otaru, Hokkaido Prefecture - Hokkaido

 

 

Japan’s northernmost prefecture, Hokkaido, beckons with promises of crystal-clear air, stunning scenery, and fresh seafood. Journey to this island of abundant nature and wide-open skies—and be sure to make a stop in the port city of Otaru while you’re at it. Located on the west coast of the prefecture, the city has many historical buildings, one of Hokkaido’s best nightscapes, and the picturesque Otaru Canal, still lined with warehouses from the port’s bustling past.

 

Located among the old warehouses is a brewhouse producing authentic German beer and serving hearty German-style cuisine. This is Otaru Beer’s Otaru Soko No. 1 brewery. Just how did authentic German brewing methods find their way to this corner of Japan? Drop by for a brewery tour to find out—and then sit back and enjoy a tipple or two.

 

Historic Beer in a Historic Setting

 

 

 

 

German beer may be the last thing you would expect to find in a northern Japanese port city, but since 1995, Otaru Soko No. 1 has been brewing and serving up pilsner, weiss beer, and dunkel beer. In that year, a German brewmaster was brought in to ensure an authentic method of production in both spirit and practice, one which is over 250 years old. The method remains virtually unchanged, watched over by the brewmaster, who is in fact a descendent of the method’s originator.

 

But why the emphasis on traditional methods? It all comes down to a belief that the old way results in a finished product that is superior to beer produced using modern, mass-production technology.

 

A Brewery to Match the Brew

 

 

Otaru Beer is made at two facilities in Otaru—the Otaru Zenibako Brewery, which can be found on the outskirts of town and produces bottled beer for over-the-counter sales and beer for business use; and the Otaru Soko No. 1, which is adjacent to the canal.

 

 

Otaru Soko No. 1 makes good use of the city’s early architecture. Its stately stone walls are as worthy of admiration as its refurbished interior. Built in 1924 and used as a warehouse for many years, the former storage building is distinguished by its timber framing and high ceiling, which give it a spacious, airy atmosphere.

 

 

In the center of the floor space, golden mash tuns shimmer, drawing the attention of visitors as they enjoy their beers.

 

 

 

 

Savor Incredibly Delicious, Exceptionally Rare Beer

 

 

Otaru Beer is unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere in Japan. The traditional German production method causes the beer’s shelf life to be short and its sensitivity level, sky-high. In fact, you won’t find any of the brewery’s beer available beyond a hundred-kilometer radius of the brewery.

 

This is because, unlike for most beer, the yeast is not removed at the end of the manufacturing process. While this leads to a rich flavor and high nutritional value, it also means that the beer is sensitive to temperature and vibration. Should the beer become too warm—it tops out at twenty-four degrees Celsius—or get bounced around too much, the yeast will die.

 

 

The takeaway? Take advantage while you are in Otaru! Since Otaru Soko No. 1 opens at 11:09 a.m., beer aficionados have plenty of time. Authentic German beer with a lunch of German cuisine? Cheers to that!

 

 

Dive into Authenticity with a Brewery Tour

 

 

Before downing a brew, set aside about twenty minutes to get better acquainted with your beverage by taking a tour. Between 11:10 a.m. and 5:40 p.m., free tours are held every thirty minutes. Join one to hear all about beer as well as the brewery’s history, ingredients, and manufacturing methods.

 

 

Raise a Glass to the Main Lineup

 

 

Otaru Soko No. 1 produces pilsner, dunkel, and weiss beers, which are available in bottles over the counter and in stores and on draft at restaurants.

 

 

The bubbly weiss has a banana-like fruitiness and goes well with dishes without too strong a flavor of their own, like pretzels and weisswurst, a white sausage with herbs and spices.

 

 

For a rich, caramel flavor and creamy foam, a dark brown dunkel is the way to go. Being substantial, it is best enjoyed with appetizers such as sausages or terrine and with meat dishes.

 

 

Salads, potato dishes, pasta, pizza, paella, and more round out the food menu, with something to match every taste.

 

Beyond Beer

 

 

Dive into the world of beer cocktails, which have been popular in Germany for over five hundred years. Himbeer, made with weiss and raspberry syrup, and waldmeister, an herbed beer cocktail of weiss and woodruff syrup, are two not to be missed.

 

The brewery also produces a lightly carbonated apple cider whose subtle sweetness lets the pleasant tartness of the apples shine through.

 

 

Designated drivers and visitors preferring nonalcoholic drinks will find oolong tea, coffee, and alcohol-free beer.

 

 

Among the historical warehouses that border the Otaru Canal, delight in historically authentic German beer and delicious German cuisine. Take the opportunity to savor flavors that hark back 250 years, and become familiar with the methods brought to Japan from halfway around the world. Kampai! Or rather, Prost! Here’s to good food, exceptional drink, and stunning surroundings.

 

 

 

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  Author

  

  Author: Helen

  Helen hails from a small town in Central Canada. Shortly after completing an honors degree in history, a desire to study karate in its birthplace drew her to Japan. Since arriving in 2006, she has earned her second dan in Goju-ryu karate, fallen head-first into Japanese culture by way of cross-cultural marriage, and written about Japan for a variety of publications. She loves traveling by Shinkansen, curling up under a heated kotatsu blanket, and eating anything with mochi.

   

   

   

   

   

 

 

 

 

 

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All information is correct as of the time of writing.
Please check for the latest information before you travel.