Kyoto Brewing Company
Commercial Brewery
in
Kyoto,
Kyoto,
Japan 🇯🇵
Associated Venue: Kyoto Brewing Company
Contact
Description
A wise friend once told us to “brew the beers you want to drink.” We took that advice to heart. While there are many great beers brewed in Japan, we still felt that there was something missing--no one brewery that fully satisfied all of our beer desires. We started KBC to fill that desire, believing that there were many others out there who felt the same way and would rally behind our products.
For our inspiration, we looked to the two brewing traditions that excited us the most: American and Belgium.
American craft beer has done more to change the face of the brewing world in the last 30 years than anything else out there. New hops, new styles, new hybrid beers, new extremes of high (and low) ABVs and IBUs. This is what we aspire for; never being afraid to try something new just because it hasn’t been done before or someone tells you that it can’t be.
Belgium is much more steeped in history and tradition, but is just as willing to continue doing what works for them, not what others tell them they should do. Effects from different yeast, both selected and wild; different taste sensations from the sweet, to the dry, the light, the heavy, the bitter and the sour, Belgian beer has been hugely varied and complex in both its methods of production and results.
While beers from both of these traditions are interesting on their own, we feel that combining our favourite aspects from both produce a more unique and rewarding product.
Our house yeast is a Belgian strain. The majority of the hops we use are American. Combining both in interesting and unique ways makes for inspired beers, flavourful products, and a really fun brewing experience. This is our starting point. Where our journey will take us and what beers we will make in the future, we do not yet know.
For our inspiration, we looked to the two brewing traditions that excited us the most: American and Belgium.
American craft beer has done more to change the face of the brewing world in the last 30 years than anything else out there. New hops, new styles, new hybrid beers, new extremes of high (and low) ABVs and IBUs. This is what we aspire for; never being afraid to try something new just because it hasn’t been done before or someone tells you that it can’t be.
Belgium is much more steeped in history and tradition, but is just as willing to continue doing what works for them, not what others tell them they should do. Effects from different yeast, both selected and wild; different taste sensations from the sweet, to the dry, the light, the heavy, the bitter and the sour, Belgian beer has been hugely varied and complex in both its methods of production and results.
While beers from both of these traditions are interesting on their own, we feel that combining our favourite aspects from both produce a more unique and rewarding product.
Our house yeast is a Belgian strain. The majority of the hops we use are American. Combining both in interesting and unique ways makes for inspired beers, flavourful products, and a really fun brewing experience. This is our starting point. Where our journey will take us and what beers we will make in the future, we do not yet know.
7.4/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Can from Isetan Kyoto. Deep amber-orange to light brown, hazy, with a low, thick head. Lovely malt in the nose, toasty and nutty, light caramel, estery fruits, citrus and spice from the hops. Malty, toasty flavor, burnt caramel, spicy hops, orange, with a dry, bitter finish. Bready, toffee, not too sweet. Light, crisp, Medium body. Nice take on the style.
Tried
on 07 Jun 2026
at 12:04
7.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
KBC Dyed in Deep Blue
Brown ale
I believe this is another collaboration with the JRA. Deep brown with thick foam. Light roast and cocoa aroma/flavor on a fairly smooth medium body.
Brown ale
I believe this is another collaboration with the JRA. Deep brown with thick foam. Light roast and cocoa aroma/flavor on a fairly smooth medium body.
Tried
from Can
at
Kyoto Brewing Company
on 07 Jun 2026
at 07:31
7.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
Can from Seijo Ishii. Bright, clear amber-orange to brown with a fine, thick head. Nutty, toasty malt aroma, lightly fruity and somewhat spicy. Rich, dry malty flavor, burnt caramel, dark chocolate, toast, roasted nuts. Quite dark roastiness for the style. Crisp and clean. Enjoyable, with a nice underlying fruitiness.
Tried
on 03 Jun 2026
at 09:15
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8.5
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Had this early in the afternoon:
KBC x JRA Where’s my blanket?
Brett IPA 8%
Deep brassy gold with thick long-lasting off-white foam. The aroma was very farmhouse with sweet tart Brett notes.
Medium bodied with a chewy mouthfeel. The flavor matched the aroma giving me a rustic take on an IPA.
Pretty interesting and I kind of feel it’d be cool to grab one to cellar and see how it develops.
KBC x JRA Where’s my blanket?
Brett IPA 8%
Deep brassy gold with thick long-lasting off-white foam. The aroma was very farmhouse with sweet tart Brett notes.
Medium bodied with a chewy mouthfeel. The flavor matched the aroma giving me a rustic take on an IPA.
Pretty interesting and I kind of feel it’d be cool to grab one to cellar and see how it develops.
Tried
from Can
at
Kyoto Brewing Company
on 02 Jun 2026
at 12:31
7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
KBC Sensory Reglection Saison 5.5%
This deep gold saison has a thick rocky head of foam and a rich stone fruit & spicy white pepper aroma. The medium bodied brew has a rich flavor of honey, malts and notes of pepper. The label says there’s some rye malt in here.
Tasty stuff.
This deep gold saison has a thick rocky head of foam and a rich stone fruit & spicy white pepper aroma. The medium bodied brew has a rich flavor of honey, malts and notes of pepper. The label says there’s some rye malt in here.
Tasty stuff.
Tried
from Can
at
Kyoto Brewing Company
on 31 May 2026
at 08:13
8.4/10
—
Appearance 9
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 9
Overall 8.5
375 bottle, purchased at year ago at KBC's 10th anniversary festival. Pours a bright golden orange, slightly hazy, with a low, bubbly head. Tart, lactic acid nose, peaches and apricots, grapefruit, vanilla, oak. flavor has a surprising amount of sweetness left, peaches and apricot, orange and grapefriut, bailla and tannic oak. Nicely tart. Oaky, bitter finish is nice. Carbonation is perfect. A nice, subtle, oaky saison.
Tried
on 27 May 2026
at 08:36
8.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8.5
Texture 8
Overall 8
Kind of forgot it was Tuesday but managed to crack a brew after work…
KBC Irotoridori NZ Passion Fruit Pils 4.5%
Light matte gold with thick rocky white foam and a big passionfruit aroma. Medium to light bodied with a crisp finish.
This beer really highlights the passionfruit with a nice tartness while it delivers a very pils mouthfeel and body.
Great stuff, I felt like I should have this in a glass of it a little pink umbrella, a total summer beer.
KBC Irotoridori NZ Passion Fruit Pils 4.5%
Light matte gold with thick rocky white foam and a big passionfruit aroma. Medium to light bodied with a crisp finish.
This beer really highlights the passionfruit with a nice tartness while it delivers a very pils mouthfeel and body.
Great stuff, I felt like I should have this in a glass of it a little pink umbrella, a total summer beer.
Tried
from Can
at
Kyoto Brewing Company
on 26 May 2026
at 15:54
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
KBC HYOTTO EXPERIMENTAL IPA 6.5%
Brassy matte gold with thick rocky light beige foam and a bright woodsy fruity hop bouquet. Medium bodied with a slightly dry finish. The taste has slight peppery saison type notes which were reminiscent of a Belgian IPA.
Brassy matte gold with thick rocky light beige foam and a bright woodsy fruity hop bouquet. Medium bodied with a slightly dry finish. The taste has slight peppery saison type notes which were reminiscent of a Belgian IPA.
Tried
from Can
at
Kyoto Brewing Company
on 24 May 2026
at 07:30
7.4/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7
Smell of cocoa, tonka, chocolate. Black colour, beige head. Aroma of roasted malt, tonka, coffee. Soft carbon. Medium bitter, lightly sweet. Nicely balanced.
Tried
from Draft
at
Craft Beer Server Land (Akasaka-mitsuke)
on 20 May 2026
at 13:28
7.5/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Can, mail order from the brewery. Bright, clear, medium gold with a tall, fine head and effervescence. Bright citrusy aroma, iyokan peel I suppose, with bready malt, nice hops. Not sure I get the osmanthus in the nose, but it resembles citrus so it might be there too. Definitely get it in the mouth. Slightly perfumed and quite floral, not overdone. Goes well with the hops and citrus peel. Nice bready malt, touch of rye spice. Crisp and clean, with pronounced saison yeast and a nicely bitter finish. Good one.
Tried
on 19 May 2026
at 08:07