As we posted on this site on March 16, new tax laws in Japan now allow brewers to add various spices, fruits, and herbs to their beverages and have them recognized as “beer,” rather than labeling them “happoshu.” The laws do not allow them to brew anything that could not be brewed before, mind you—they…

(photo care of Sankt Gallen) Japanese craft breweries like Sankt Gallen have been making fruit beers for years. They’re about to get competition from the country’s industrial breweries. On April 1st the tax laws relating to beer in Japan will change, and several additives which were previously prohibited in “beer” will become acceptable. Until now,…

Beer House Ken celebrates 25 years of operation on March 25th with a collaboration beer brewed by Baird Beer. Outside the western Tokyo suburbs where this small bottle shop is located, few people besides beer geeks probably know about the establishment. It has played an understated role in the appreciation of imported premium beer and…