Beer, wine and whiskey! 10 alcoholic beverages to drink in Hokkaido
2024-10-17
Hokkaido produces a wide variety of alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, sake, and shochu, because of the abundance of clean water and foodstuffs that are used to make sake. Some of the alcoholic beverages are unique to Hokkaido and are not well known. In this article, we will introduce some of the sake produced in Hokkaido that you should definitely try when you visit the island.
Author of this article
Table of Contents
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beer
Sapporo Beer Sapporo Classic
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For the people of the province, "beer is a classic! "This beer is such a staple in Hokkaido that it is probably the most commonly seen beer in Hokkaido restaurants. It is probably the beer most often seen in Hokkaido restaurants.
Various types of beer are sold by Sapporo Beer. "Sapporo Classic "is sold only in Hokkaido.
Fine aroma hops are used as ingredients, giving this beer a rich hop aroma.
It has a rich but refreshing taste, and is a perfect accompaniment to Hokkaido's gourmet foods such as Genghis Khan and sushi.
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In addition, "Sapporo Classic "is sold in three varieties a year, as well as seasonal varieties, for the enjoyment of Michiganders. It may be fun to compare the drink with the regular "Sapporo Classic ".
Noboribetsu Ji Beer Oni Densetsu
This craft beer is brewed in Noboribetsu Onsen, one of the most famous hot spring resorts in Japan. It is a popular brewery that is highly regarded by craft beer lovers throughout Japan for its distinctive hop aroma and bitter flavor.
Noboribetsu water, rich in nature, is used for the brewing water. In addition, the hops are mainly carefully selected American hops, but the limited-brew beer also uses hops grown in Hokkaido, such as local Noboribetsu-grown Cascade hops and Kamifurano-grown Cascade hops.
The three standard beers are "Kin Oni Pale Ale ""Aoki Pilsner ""Aka Oni Red Ale ", all of which have won awards in competitions. In particular, "Kin Oni Pale Ale "is one that has many fans for its strong hop bitterness and refreshing citrus flavor. The IPA, which is brewed in limited quantities on an irregular basis, is also a masterpiece that always brings beer fans to their feet.
Actually, "Urabetsu Ji-beer Oni Densetsu "is produced by "Wakasaimo Honpo ", a long-established confectionery maker that produces wakasaimo, a standard souvenir of Hokkaido. Therefore, the brewery is also located at "Wakasaimo Honpo Noboribetsu Higashi Store "in Noboribetsu City! When you visit "Wakasaimo Honpo "for sightseeing in Noboribetsu Onsen, please visit the brewery in the store.
"Facility Information "
Name: Wakasaimo Honpo Noboribetsu Higashi Store (Wakasaimo Honpo Noboribetsu Higashi Store)
Address:〒059-0463 96-6 Nakanoboribetsu-cho, Noboribetsu-shi, Hokkaido
Business hours: 9:00-18:00
Regular holiday: no holiday
Parking: Available
Moon and Sun BREWING
The brewery can be said to be the one that established the popularity of craft beer in Sapporo.
The directly managed dining bar in the center of Sapporo "Moon and Sun BREWING Main Store ""Moon and Sun BREWING miredo Store "always has 10 kinds of craft beers produced at the company's own factory in the city. The variety of beers available varies depending on the day and season, so you can find a new beer every time you visit.
The store recommends the "All Flight Set ", which allows you to compare all 10 types of beer. Each beer contains 150 milliliters, and beer lovers can enjoy drinking all of them by themselves or sharing them with friends.
"Moon and Sun BREWING "also produces canned beer. It can be purchased at the company's direct dining bar and at several liquor stores in and outside of Hokkaido.
"Store Information "
Name: Tsuki to Taiyo Brewing, the main store
Address: 1-3, Minami 3-jo Higashi 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0053, Japan
Phone number: 011-218-5311
Office hours: Weekdays 17:00 - 23:00 (L.O. 22:00) / Saturdays 16:00 - 23:00 (L.O. 22:00)
Regular holiday: no holiday
whisky
Nikka Whisky Hokkaido Factory Yoichi Distillery
The Yoichi distillery of "Nikka Whisky "is located about 1 hour by car or 1 hour and 10 minutes by train from the center of Sapporo. It produces a wide range of whiskies from affordable to high-end lines, including "Yoichi Single Malt ", a representative of Japanese whiskies that are now popular around the world, "Takezuru ""Black Nikka ".
At such "Nikka Whisky Hokkaido Factory Yoichi Distillery ", you can visit the Whisky Museum, the whisky factory, and the house of Masataka and Rita Taketsuru, the couple who modeled the main character of the 2014 (Heisei 26) morning drama "Masan ".
Another great feature is that visitors can enjoy tastings. The free tasting includes single malt Yoichi, Super Nikka, and apple wine, while the paid tasting offers a wide variety of whiskeys.
You can buy "Yoichi ""Takezuru "and others throughout Japan, but there are many blended whiskies and other "Nikka Whisky Hokkaido Factory Yoichi Distillery "limited edition sakes available for sale. If you are a whisky fan, please visit there and taste a variety of valuable sakes.
"Facility Information "
Name: Nikka Whisky Hokkaido Factory Yoichi Distillery
Address: 7-6 Kurokawa-cho, Yoichi-cho, Yoichi-gun, Hokkaido 046-0003, Japan
Phone number: 0135-23-3131
Hours of operation: 9:00-16:15
Closed: December 25 - January 7 every year
Parking: Yes
Akkeshi Distillery
Although a new distillery established in 2016, it is an up-and-coming whiskey distillery that is now attracting attention from around the world, having won the world's best blended whiskey category in an international competition in 2020.
Atsugishi-cho is a port town that is cool, humid, and prone to sea fog throughout the year. To the northeast is the Bessambegyu Marsh, an ideal environment for making whiskey such as Islay malt. "At the Atsukishi Distillery ", "the whisky is made like Islay malt using traditional Scottish methods "and, like distilling techniques on Islay, water through peat is used as the brewing water and the whisky is matured in a place where it is exposed to sea breezes. The equipment used for aging is also imported from Scotland.
"The whisky from the Atsugishi Distillery "has a low production volume and is very rare, making it difficult to purchase whisky unless you win a lottery sale. However, you can always taste it at some bars in Hokkaido and at "Roadside Station, Atsugishi Taste Terminal, Conchiglie "in Atsugishi-cho, a town near Kushiro City, where "Atsugishi Distillery "is located.焼酎
Kiyosato Potato Shochu
Potato shochu has a completely different flavor from the common potato shochu made from sweet potatoes, with a clean taste and a natural sweetness unique to potatoes.
In 1975, Japan's first potato shochu was produced in the Okhotsk town of Kiyosato at "Kiyosato Shochu Brewery "in Kiyosato Town, Okhotsk, using potatoes from Hokkaido, which accounts for about 78% of domestic potato production.
The signature product "Kiyosato, Hokkaido "is the first shochu made by "Kiyosato Shochu Brewery ", made from the clear spring water and potatoes at the foot of Mt. Shari. It is made with white malted rice and has a subtle sweetness and gentle flavor.
And one that has many fans across the country is "Hokkaido Kiyosato <barrel> ". This amber-colored potato shochu has been stored and aged for about a year in white oak barrels, which are also used to age whiskey, and the color and flavor of the wooden barrels have been incorporated into the shochu. It is a popular product that has a matured aroma similar to the aroma of whiskey, but is easy to drink and has no harshness.
Tantakatan
Shiso shochu is now a popular shiso shochu liqueur well-known throughout Japan "KITTAKATAN ". It was born when a shiso farmer in the town of Shiranuka, a neighbor of Kushiro City, where red shiso is grown, offered to commercialize the product after he himself drank shiso juice mixed with shochu.
It has a refreshing flavor with a permeating aroma of shiso, making it easy to drink even for those who do not like shochu. It is best drunk chilled, especially on the rocks or with soda in summer.
When it was first released, it was sold only in Hokkaido, but its popularity quickly spread due to its refreshing taste, and it is now sold nationwide.
wine
Hokkaido Wine Otaru Niagara
The "Otaru Niagara "series is one of the leading domestic Niagara wines.
The wine is made from fresh grapes, not wine grapes, and has a fresh, fruity flavor like muscat. Because it is sweet and easy to drink, this series has many fans even among those who do not usually drink wine.
"Otaru Niagara "series has three types. The lineup includes: "Otaru Niagara ", a slightly sweet wine made from 100% domestic Niagara grapes; "Otaru Tokusen Niagara ", a dessert wine made from fully ripe Hokkaido Niagara grapes with a rich flavor; and "Otaru Fully Ripe Niagara ", a dessert wine made from fully ripe Hokkaido Niagara grapes. The lineup is as follows.
Several restaurants in Otaru City are offering "Otaru Niagara ", divided with blue curacao and ginger ale and served with a lemon slice "Otaru Nama Wine Ball Niagara ". Why not try it during your visit to Otaru?
Hosui Winery
"Hosui Winery "is located in Iwamizawa City, about an hour's drive from Sapporo. "To be honest, many people have never thought that domestic wines are not as good as foreign wines... "I would recommend this winery to such people.
"Many of the wines at Hosui Winery "are homegrown, with many German varietals, and a large selection of varietals that are not often seen at other wineries.
Especially popular is "RICCA Chardonnay ". It is a crisp Chardonnay with aromas of green apple, citrus, and herbs, and a good balance of sweetness, acidity, and bitterness. It is highly rated by wine lovers and is a must-try wine when visiting Hokkaido.
"Facility Information "
Name: Hosui Winery
Address: 364-3 Hosui-cho, Iwamizawa-shi, Hokkaido 068-0837
Phone number: 0126-20-1810
Business hours: 10:00-17:00
Closed: Every Wednesday from January to March
Parking: Yes
liqueur
Fukuji Sake Brewery Minakoli
This yogurt sake is made from 100 percent Hokkaido milk and is produced by Kushiro City's only sake brewery "Fukushi (Fuku Tsukasa) Sake Brewery ". It is recommended by locals, and locals also swear by this sake.
It is a thick, thick liquor with a sweet taste, yet characterized by the refreshing acidity of yogurt. Of course, you can taste the flavor of alcohol, but the refreshing taste makes it easy to drink. The first time I drank it, it was so delicious that I drank half the bottle at once (laughs).
It is a great Hokkaido souvenir that can be enjoyed by both those who like alcoholic beverages and those who are a little less inclined to drink.
summary
Hokkaido, with its high-quality water, a climate similar to that of Europe, the home of alcoholic beverages, and abundant raw materials, is home to a wide variety of alcoholic beverages of all genres. These are just a few of the sake products we have introduced here. We hope you will find your favorite one on your next trip to Hokkaido.
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