2016 Poll on Japan's Best Craft Breweries

In early 2015, a Japan-based RateBeer member asked people who frequent the Japan forum group of the Rate Beer site to take part in a survey to determine the best breweries in Japan. That fellow has since moved out of Japan, but this year another member created the same survey.

Each participant was asked to give his/her top ten breweries, ranked in order from one to ten. Points were awarded from 10 down to 1 for positions 1 to 10. Some participants chose to focus on how well they felt the breweries did 2016 alone; others voted based on their impressions over several years.

And… drumroll please! Here are the results for 2016:

1. Shiga Kogen Beer (Tamamura-Honten) (117 points)

2. Kyoto Brewing Company (103)

3. Yorocco Beer (101)

4. Y Market Brewing (84)

5. Fujizakura Brewery (69)

6. Shonan Beer (Kumazawa Brewing) (60)

7. Oni Densetsu (Noboribetsu) (56)

8. Oku Noto Beer (Nihonkai Club) (52)

9. Zakkoku Kobo Microbrewery (34)

10. Devil Craft (33)

11. AJB (Anglo-Japanese Brewery) (19)

12. Baird Brewing Co. (14)

13. Thrashzone Brew Labo (12)

14. Ushi-Tora Brewing (11)

15. Baeren  (10)

16. Ise Kadoya  (8)

17. Brewery Songbird (7)

17. Daisen G Beer (7)

17. Atsugi Beer Company (7)

20. Swan Lake (Hyouko Yashiki No Mori Brewery) (6)

21. Mojiko Retro Beer (4)

21. Hitachino Nest (Kiuchi Brewery) (4)

24. Locobeer (3)

24. Yo-Ho Brewing Company (3)

26. Outsider Brewing (1)

26. Oh! La! Ho (1)

The top ten list looks somewhat similar to last year's. However, Minoh, Swan Lake, and Thrashzone Brew Labo, dropped below, while both Oku Noto Beer (Nihonkai Club) and Devil Craft broke in.

Shiga Kogen retained its top position, despite some trouble with bottling and sanitation. Their 10th anniversary beer, Sono Ju, as well as Takashi Imperial Stout are very highly regarded.

There was lots of praise for Brewery Songbird, which was the only new brewery on the list for 2016.

One big surprise: Minoh Beer, rated at #9 last year, did not receive a single vote and dropped off the list completely.

More people participated in the poll last year, and so this year's list included fewer breweries (26 compared to 37 last year)

For comparison, below are the rankings for 2015.

2015 ranking

1. Shiga Kogen (Tamamura-Honten) (191)

2. Y. Market Brewing (150)

3. Kyoto Brewing Company (113)

4.. Fujizakura Brewery (78)

5. Yorocco Beer (59)

6. .Zakkoku Kobo Microbrewery (55)

7. Thrashzone Brew Labo (43)

7. Swan Lake (Hyouko Yashiki No Mori Brewery) (39)

9. Minoh Beer (35)

10. Oni Densetsu (Noboribetsu) (34)

10. Shonan Beer (Kumazawa Brewing) (34)

11. Oku Noto Beer (Nihonkai Club) (28)

12. Daisen G Beer (25)

13. AJB (Anglo Japanese Brewery) (24)

14. Baird Brewing Co. (23)

15. Ise Kadoya (19)

16. Devil Craft (17)

17. North Island Beer (15)

17. Ushi-Tora Brewing (15)

18. Iwate Kura Beer (13)

19. Baeren (12)

19. Locobeer (12)

20. Outsider Brewing (9)

21. Yo-Ho Brewing Company (8)

22. Hideji Beer Brewery (6)

22. Oh! La! Ho (6)

23. Chateau Kamiya (Ushiku Beer) (5)

23. Hitachino Nest (Kiuchi Brewery) (5)

23. Sankt Gallen Brewery (5)

24. Aqula (3)

24. Johana Beer (3)

24. Mojiko Retro Beer (3)

25. Atsugi Beer Company (2)

25. Bayern Meister Bier (2)

25. Coedo (Kyodo Shoji Koedo Brewery) (2)

25. Hida Takayama Beer (2)

26. Tazawako Beer Brewery Pub (1)