Enjoy the long autumn nights with some carefully selected craft beer! | 10 beers recommended by Hakuba skiers

As we feel relieved that autumn has arrived, we suddenly realize that this year's (2023) Mid-Autumn Festival is on Friday, September 29th.
While we look forward to the new snow mountain season that will be here in just two months, why not enjoy the long autumn nights with some craft beer? STEEP has introduced craft beers from snowy regions before, but this time we asked two exceptionally knowledgeable and similarly built individuals—snowboarder Kenji Kato, rumored to be the biggest craft beer drinker in the Hakuba area, and Sho Shimizu, a staff member at THE NORTH FACE GRAVITY HAKUBA—to recommend some truly delicious beers.

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Kenji Kato's Best 5 Selections

Carpe|Noctem​Vertere

VATERE brews craft beer with a relaxed atmosphere in Okutama. This is a collaboration with Australia's Mountain Culture Beer Co. The Oat Cream Hazy IPA is a juicy beer with a creamy mouthfeel that will have you asking for more after each sip

【VERTRE】　http://verterebrew.com/
VERTERE is a small brewery located in Okutama, Tokyo. Surrounded by the lush greenery, refreshing air, and clean water of Okutama, they brew beer at their own pace, focusing on the theme of "who to drink with, where, and how."

Akane Red Ale | Mugi Zakkoku Kobo

Mugi Zakkoku Kobo is a microbrewery in Ogawamachi, Saitama Prefecture, that makes beer using ingredients grown on its own farm and from local organic farms. It's pretty mind-blowing. I love how they make their ingredients from scratch, which reminds me of a garage brand called "board." To put it in perspective, they're constantly releasing beers with a mind that overlaps with the craftsmanship of Yukibana. Their new releases always have exciting concepts that make you want to drink them

[Mugi Zakkoku Koubou]　https://www.craft-beer.net/
This brewery was founded in 2003 in Ogawa Town, a town rich in nature with a rural landscape in Outer Chichibu. It also has a taproom, and as a small beer shop in town, you can easily enjoy beer and food menus made with local ingredients.

BOOG FOOT | TAKAO Beer　

TAKAO Beer is located at the foot of Mount Takao, Tokyo's Holy Mountain. Their beer brewing is rooted in the local community, with deliveries made by bicycle and waste malt dregs recycled into the fields. This "BIG FOOT" in particular is a mixed culture beer created in collaboration with apparel brand Tacoma Fuji Records. Their Cold IPA, which can be described as a rebellious spirit against the mainstream, is an exquisite beer that will have you singing, "I can't stop, I can't stop!"

【TAKAO BEER】　https://www.takaobeer.com/
Located in a town at the foot of Mount Takao, a popular hiking spot in Tokyo, this beer maker was started from scratch by the local residents. They use a lot of locally sourced ingredients, including malt, hops, fruits, spices, and yeast, and reuse spent grain from the brewing process as compost and animal feed. They aim for a circular beer-making system with no waste. Another characteristic is that they incorporate outdoor sports, music, and art into their beer-making process.

Gifts | Secret Beer

This brewery in Mie Prefecture opened in 2022. It's a beer that you'll want to keep secret from others, hence the name "Himitsu Beer." Honestly, this is a beer you'll want to tell everyone about. Their farmhouse ale is especially delicious. Is this "gift" a commemoration of their 2nd anniversary or not? It's a heavily hopped DDH (double dry hop) beer made with a relaxed theme. Ah, I want to drink it again

【HIMITSU BEER】　https://www.instagram.com/himitsu_beer/
This brewery was established in 2022 in Ise, Mie Prefecture, by classmates who are also brewers. The name "Himitsu Beer" (Secret Beer) comes from the wish that because it is truly good, people will tell their loved ones, "This is a secret, but I'll tell you!" and that good word will spread. "We are a brewery that creates a place to belong. We cultivate the soil, sow seeds, cultivate culture, and brew the local climate. We deliver beer that makes you feel the vibrancy of life," is the concept behind their brewing.

Chaco | Passific Brewing

This brewery in Chigasaki, Shonan, has roots in Nagano. It's only in its second year, but it's going strong. It's a must-try! The owner, Riku, has walked long trails in America, and the brewery is filled with a backstory of mountains and travel. Every beer brewed by these nice guys and girls is surprisingly delicious. This "Chaco" is an excellent West Coast IPA that perfectly captures the current IPA trend! It even made me think, "Well, if I drink this, maybe I don't need to drink anything else?"

[Passific Brewing]　https://www.instagram.com/passificbrewing/?hl=ja
"A brewery that travels with beer, crossing seas and mountains." The reason why "Passific" is spelled with an "S" is because "Pass" means "mountain pass" in English. Based in Chigasaki, Shonan, they brew beer while cherishing their connections with local cities.

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Shimizu Sho's Best 5 Selections

original｜son of THE SMITH

Sanoba Smith's flagship hard cider, "Original," is crafted by Hakase, a mad scientist in the brewing world born in Maruko (now Ueda City, formerly Maruko Town), using apples lovingly grown in Omachi and Komoro cities in Nagano Prefecture. The tartness of the apples and the soft nuances of sake yeast make it a refreshing and soothing drink. The company handles everything from apple production to brewing, making it a truly craft drink. Hakase's ideas extend beyond cider to include beer, wine, and distilled beverages. His ideas, brimming with knowledge and experience, have led to the creation of a succession of drinks that could be considered new genres

【son of THE SMITH】　https://hardcider.shop-pro.jp/
Son of the Smith was born as a joint and gypsy cidery of Ozawa Fruit Farm in Omachi, Nagano Prefecture, and Miyajima Apple Orchard in Komoro. "Hard cider" is a sparkling alcoholic beverage made from apples. It has long been a beloved alcoholic beverage in the United States, a country with many apple-producing regions. Based on the influences and ideas received during a trip to Oregon, USA in 2015 to explore hard cider and craft beer, they produce their own original hard cider, handling everything from concept design to product development in-house.

YAMATOUMI batch No: 3｜Yamatoumi｜

Shinanomachi and Kamakura. This gin is made from a large amount of herbs carefully cultivated by two cool, handsome middle-aged men in two locations. The first impression when I drank it was, "It tastes like the fields!". The herb fields come to mind. No matter when the bottle is released, the botanicals burst in your mouth so much that you wonder, "Is this really gin?" There are so many ways to mix it that even though you want to sip it carefully, it disappears in no time. It is produced in small quantities each time, so if you find it, keep it right away!

【Yamatomi】　https://www.instagram.com/yamatoumi_farm_and_distill/
YAMATOUMI is a distillery founded in Shinano-machi, on the shores of Lake Nojiri in northern Nagano Prefecture, in a renovated 145-year-old farmhouse. They obtained a spirits manufacturing license in February 2023 and produce distilled spirits using many of their own home-grown herbs.

Black Sword | Yorocco

Was dark beer really this easy to gulp down? Was it even this delicious? A shocking drink, a dark IPA. I panicked a little when I drank it for the first time, lol. It has a rich roasted flavor, but is just as crisp as its name suggests. It's simply delicious! Not just Black Sword, all of Yorocco's beers have a strong character and pack a punch. This is a brewery with deep roots in the local community, and in line with their brand concept of "Drink Local," they brew their beers using "local fruits and hops."

【YOROCCO BEER】　https://yorocco-beer.stores.jp/
Yorocco Beer opened in Zushi in 2012. Gradually increasing production, it relocated to Kamakura in 2019, where it remains today.

Thug Life｜Barbaric Works

It's more than a Pale Ale, but less than an IPA. But it's so easy to drink, with such a burst of hops that it almost feels like an IPA. It starts with a "wow" feeling and goes down smoothly, but the hop aroma still lingers. The brewers may look tough and have strong personalities, but deep down they're all delicate, kind, and nice guys. This is a beer that reflects the brewers' personalities

【Barbaric WORKS】　https://barbaricworks.stores.jp/
A brewery that has been operating in Shonan, Chigasaki since 2016, with the theme of gently accompanying various cultures. It has an attached brewpub "Gold'n Bub" where Barbaric Works beers are served daily.

Welcome to the Jungle | Matsumoto Brewery x Yuyaboys

This beer is a collaboration between Matsumoto Brewery and "Yuya Boys," a group formed by fellow managers from around the country, led by Yuya Hayashi, manager of the beer bar "Watering Hole" in Yoyogi, Tokyo. I'm not sure if it's Axl Rose or Slash, but the ingredients dissolved in the liquid all pack a punch and are incredibly loud in the mouth. But it's well-rounded and has a sense of groove. It's a fun drink that conveys high energy. I think you'll probably be able to shout after drinking it. It makes your mouth feel like you're welcomed to the jungle. In short, it's a tropical, bitter, and thoroughly delicious beer

[Matsumoto Brewery]　https://matsu-brew.com/
Matsumoto Brewery was founded in 2016 with the philosophy of "making you, the town, and ourselves happy and energetic with delicious beer," and a strong desire to contribute to the local community.
They are committed to creating creative, high-quality craft beers.

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