Johana Beer

Johana Beer (城端麦酒, Jōhana Bīru) is a small craft brewery based in Nanto, Toyama Prefecture, Japan. It was established as part of a local town-revitalization effort and obtained its brewing license in May 2001, beginning sales in July of the same year. The brewery operates as a yugen-gaisha (limited company) and produces a range of seasonal and year-round beers. Under Japanese law, its products are classified as happoshu (low-malt beer) rather than beer, because the brewery holds only a happoshu license, which requires a minimum annual output of 6,000 liters, whereas a beer license would require 60,000 liters. The brewery is known for its colorful seasonal products and for its flagship beers such as Mugiya Ale and Hakama Ale. It gained wider recognition after winning three awards at the 2005 International Beer Cup. The brewery also organizes the Tanabata Beer Festa Toyama and has developed a famous blue beer, Great Blue, sold as a summer seasonal. Its products are sold through its own shop, online, and at various retailers in Japan.

Johana Beer was founded as part of a town-revitalization initiative in Johana, Nanto, Toyama Prefecture. The brewery obtained its brewing license in May 2001 and began selling beer in July 2001. However, the early years were difficult: at local festivals, it sometimes sold only three cups, and customers complained that the beer was not tasty. The brewmaster, Masaru Yamamoto, took the feedback seriously and worked to improve the recipes. In fiscal 2001 and 2002, the brewery failed to reach the required annual production of 6,000 liters for its happoshu license, and the tax office warned that the license would not be renewed. Yamamoto then set a goal to create a "second beer, not just a beer" and developed fruit beers such as "Sakura" using peaches and "Kaede" using cassis. These became popular and helped the brewery exceed 7,000 liters that year. In 2005, following advice from business partners and fans, Johana Beer entered the International Beer Cup and won three awards: a gold in the Free Style category for Mugiya Ale, a silver for Johana Hakama Ale, and a bronze in the Fruit Beer category for Kaede. This increased its recognition. In 2008, it began co-organizing the Tanabata Beer Festa Toyama with Ooya Brasserie (Toyama City). To attract visitors to the first festival, the brewery developed a blue beer, which was featured in the Kitanippon Shimbun newspaper and led to a surge in advance ticket inquiries and attendance. The blue beer, named "Great Blue," has been sold as a summer seasonal every year since. The brewery continues to operate, selling its products through its own shop, online, and at various retailers.

• 2008

  Co-organized the first Tanabata Beer Festa Toyama; developed blue beer Great Blue.

• 2005

  Won three awards at the International Beer Cup.

• 2002

  Developed fruit beers Sakura and Kaede, helping exceed 7,000 liters.

• 2001

  Obtained brewing license in May and began selling beer in July.

• 2001

  Early struggles: low sales and poor reception at local festivals.

Local craft brewery focused on seasonal, colorful beers and community revitalization.

• Mugiya Ale

  Flagship ale, won gold at 2005 International Beer Cup.

• Hakama Ale

  Flagship ale, won silver at 2005 International Beer Cup.

• Kaede

  Fruit beer with cassis, won bronze at 2005 International Beer Cup.

• Sakura

  Fruit beer with peaches.

• Great Blue

  Blue summer seasonal beer.

1. 1城端麦酒 official websitejo-beer.com
2. 2城端麦酒 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
3. 3Johana Beer - Wikidatawikidata.org