With summer in full swing in Japan, every weekend features a beer festival somewhere. Different cities hosting festivals on the same weekend is not even unusual anymore. You, just like many brewers, may find yourself torn between your choices of which festival to visit. In our opinion, the Tochigi Craft Beer Festa is one that you should definitely consider (and we’ve been to quite a few festivals over the last ten years…).
Held this July 20th through the 22nd in Utsunomiya City’s Orion Square, the first big highlight of the festival is the 9 breweries that call the prefecture home: Ushitora, Nasu Kogen, Sapporo Nasu Factory, Preston Ale, Tochigi Micro Brewery, Blue Magic, Nikko Brewing, murmur, and Romantic Village. Craft beer importers Kobatsu Trading, as well as AQ Bevolution, which is based in the prefecture, will also be pouring. It’s an intimate group, but there will be plenty of selection (over 100 varieties). Discerning drinkers may even get a sense of Tochigi’s terroir. Most of the breweries proudly use local products in their beer.
The Tochigi Craft Beer Festa furthermore features something called the “Craft Beer Challenge”, which is unique among Japan-wide festivals. Consumers chosen through a lottery system are conceiving recipes and brewing with the nine participating Tochigi breweries. During the festival, these original beers will be poured and votes taken on which is the best. Brewers and drinkers become one in this unique program.
Another great reason to visit will require some explanation: gyoza. As we recounted in the Japan Beer Times (issue #24), Utsunomiya is the de facto gyoza capital of Japan. And through family ties, AQ Bevolution is connected to one of the country’s best gyoza producers. Gyoza will definitely be served at the festival so bring your appetite and high expectations. At the AQ Bevolution booth, ask which beers they recommend you pair with their gyoza. Alternatively, a number of the other craft breweries in the prefecture make beer specifically to pair with gyoza. If gyoza is not your thing, there will be a handful of other food vendors there and no chance of your going hungry! Food options range from Chinese to Italian–plenty of diversity for the diverse flavors of beer being poured.
We also like the laid-back vibe of the festival. Sure, all-you-can-drink formats over a couple of hours have their appeal if you want to drink a lot, but over the years, we’ve gravitated increasingly toward these neighborhood affairs. You can sit down with your friends to eat, drink and talk at your leisure, paying as you go (vendors accept tickets, which can be purchased in advance for discounts, or at the venue). There is also a stage which will host entertainment and other attractions. Expect evenings to be festive.
These are just a few of the highlights of the event. All things considered, perhaps the obvious draw is this: where else can you sample the entire prefecture’s beer? The second question is: do you want to? Of course you do. You won’t be sorry you went.
Venue:
Orion Square
8-3, Enomachi, Utsunomiya-shi, Tochigi 320-0802
http://www.orion-square.com/
Time:
7/20: 15:00-21:00
7/21: 11:00-21:00
7/22: 11:00-17:00
