Hello from the Younode PR Team! Autumn has arrived in Sapporo. The mornings and evenings are getting chilly, but the pleasant daytime breeze makes this a lovely season for a walk.
This time, we'd like to share a visit to the Sapporo Kaitakushi Brewery exhibition hall, just a short walk from our office! It was one of those places we had always been curious about but had never actually stepped inside, so we decided to take a look. Admission is free!
Established in 1876: Exploring the Roots of Japanese Brewing
We visited the exhibition hall at the Sapporo Kaitakushi Brewery, located within Sapporo Factory. This historic site is where the original Kaitakushi Brewery was founded in 1876 as part of the Hokkaido Development Commission's work. It is also the birthplace of Sapporo Beer.
The exhibition occupies a relatively compact space on a single floor, with panels explaining the history of Sapporo Beer.
What stood out most was the story of how Sapporo became the brewery's home. The Hokkaido Development Commission originally planned to brew beer on a trial basis in Tokyo and move production to Hokkaido if it proved successful. However, Hisanari Murahashi, who was responsible for preparing the brewery's opening, learned that authentic German-style brewing required a cold environment and large quantities of ice. He submitted a proposal arguing that the brewery should be built in Hokkaido from the start, overturning the leadership's decision and making construction in Sapporo a reality.
What remarkable dedication: putting the practical needs of brewing and the local environment first, and challenging an existing decision to find the right location!
A Refreshing Break in a Historic Setting
Since we were stopping by during the workday, we limited our visit to the exhibition. Even so, the displays gave us a sense of the atmosphere of those early days.
At the neighboring brewery pub, BREWERY1876, visitors can apparently try Kaitakushi Beer Unfiltered, a modern take on the brewery's original flavor. Leaving the yeast in the beer without filtering it is said to give it a rich taste… We'd love to come back on a day off and enjoy a leisurely glass! (Yes, we're tempted.)
Having a historic spot so close by reminded us of another reason we enjoy our current office location.
Closing Thoughts
Discovering a little local history and the passion of the people behind it, just a short walk from our office, made for a refreshing break!
As we enjoy the comfortable autumn weather, we'll keep looking after ourselves and working together on development and building our services throughout the second half of the year.
We hope you'll look forward to our next update!
References
- Facility: Sapporo Kaitakushi Brewery
- Official website: Sapporo Kaitakushi Brewery
- Neighboring pub: BREWERY1876
