Page 32 - Thirst Magazine Issue 2 June 2017

MINOH

BREWERY

ino-o Osaka is famous for the store, Minoh beers were promoted to Osaka
Osaru (monkeys) and maple and Tokyo.
leaves. Minoh Brewery took the After the law was passed, many jumped into
monkey as its mascot and its the business of brewing. Not only was Minoh
logo is of a monkey drinking facing the lack of experience and competition
beer on their packaging. from over 300 other micro-breweries, there
Minoh Brewery was the idea of the late was also a growing resentment of craft beer
Oshita Masaji, a liquor store operator who due to the poor quality of most beers. Pressure
wanted more beer varieties in Japan. In from the big commercial breweries was great
1994, right after the law passed reducing the and Minoh chose to maintain its sales in liquor
requirement for commercial beer production stores instead of to restaurants and bars.
from a minimum annual volume of 2 million The brewing community however, was
litres to 60,000 litres, Masaji jumped at the helpful, especially Ise Kadoya whom Kaori
opportunity to look for a site to start his own learned from and improved Minoh’s beer. In
brewery. He appointed the eldest of his three 2009, Minoh received their first recognition
daughters, Kaori, to be the brewer. At that time, for World’s Best Dry Stout by World Beer
Kaori was still in college. Award. Masaji was so proud of his daughter’s
In 1996, Minoh Brewery was opened. achievement, he flew with Kaori to London to
Kaori had very basic brewing knowledge and receive the award in person. Minoh would go
received very little training before the start of on and win medals every year in the World
the brewery, her experience mainly came from Beer Awards, and even today, continue to earn
learning on the job. Through Masaji’s liquor various awards and accolades worldwide.

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