Gotemba Kōgen Beer

Gotemba Kōgen Beer (御殿場高原ビール) is a Japanese craft brewery and beer brand based in Kamiyama, Gotemba City, Shizuoka Prefecture. The brewery is located inside the Gotemba Kōgen Tokinosumika resort complex and produces beer under the Gotemba Kōgen Beer name. It also operates brewery-affiliated restaurants where visitors can enjoy freshly brewed beer. The brewery describes itself as boasting Japan's largest brewing volume among brewery restaurants, producing approximately 400 kiloliters per year. The company was established in 1994, and in 1995 it opened a beer restaurant within Gotemba Kōgen Tokinosumika. It was originally a subsidiary of Yonekyu, a meat and food company, but after Yonekyu was integrated into Itoham, the brewery was sold to Tokinosumika Co., Ltd. On July 9, 2020, it obtained a whisky production license, and on August 3 of the same year it changed its trade name to GKB Co., Ltd. (GKB株式会社). The brewery uses malt, hops, yeast, and water as its ingredients, and benefits from the abundant groundwater from Mount Fuji. Its brewing process, from mashing through fermentation, maturation, and filtration, takes about 30 days. The brewery's symbol is the pair of copper kettles visible behind the live stage at the GRAND×TABLE restaurant. The standard lineup includes Pils, Weizen, Weizenbock, Schwarzbier, and Gotemba Koshihikari Lager, with seasonal beers also available. The brewery maintains strict temperature control of its beer servers to serve beer in optimal condition with fine, creamy foam. Gotemba Kōgen Beer is served at the brewery's own restaurants, including the beer restaurant GRAND×TABLE, the buffet restaurant Mugibatake, GKB Cafe, Gotemba Kōgen Sweets, and the yakiniku restaurant GKB-f, as well as at GKB & Village within IZU VILLAGE. It is also provided at Chimney and other Tokinosumika restaurants, and sold at supermarkets in Gotemba City.

Gotemba Kōgen Beer traces its origins to 1994, when the company was established. In 1995, it opened a beer restaurant within the Gotemba Kōgen Tokinosumika resort in Kamiyama, Gotemba City, Shizuoka Prefecture. The brewery was initially a subsidiary of Yonekyu, a Japanese meat and food products company. When Yonekyu was integrated into Itoham, the brewery was sold to Tokinosumika Co., Ltd., the operator of the resort complex. The brewery grew to become a notable craft beer producer in Japan, describing itself as having the largest brewing volume among brewery restaurants in the country, with an annual production of approximately 400 kiloliters. It uses groundwater from Mount Fuji and brews a range of styles including Pils, Weizen, Weizenbock, Schwarzbier, and a local rice lager made with Gotemba Koshihikari rice. On July 9, 2020, the company obtained a whisky production license, expanding beyond beer. On August 3, 2020, it changed its trade name to GKB Co., Ltd. (GKB株式会社). The brewery continues to operate multiple dining establishments within the Tokinosumika resort and supplies its beers to other Tokinosumika-affiliated restaurants and local supermarkets.

• 2020

  Obtained a whisky production license on July 9.

• 2020

  Changed trade name to GKB Co., Ltd. on August 3.

• 1995

  Opened a beer restaurant within Gotemba Kōgen Tokinosumika.

• 1994

  Company established.

Craft brewery restaurant with one of Japan's largest brewing volumes, offering fresh local beer within a resort complex.

• Pils

• Weizen

• Weizenbock

• Schwarzbier

• Gotemba Koshihikari Lager

• Seasonal limited beers

1. 1GKB株式会社gkb.co.jp
2. 2御殿場高原ビール - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
3. 3Gotemba Kōgen Beer - Wikidatawikidata.org