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.
On tap at Craft Beer Live 2015. Blonde Twins 5.6% 30 IBUs It pours a cloudy light gold with a minimal light white head. The nose is sweet wheaty candy. Med-full bodied that a with very wheaty taste and a somewhat rough earthy character. A good blonde, though by this point in the evening my palette was getting shot...
Tap at Craft Beer Live 2015. Grassy, minty nose, citrus, wintergreen. Crisp and refreshing, great hops, light dry malts. Light spiciness from the yeast without and really funkiness. None of the fake US saison spice or sweetness. Crisp and great.
Tap at Craft Beer Live 2015. Bright, glowing gold. Fruity nose, lemon, orange. bisctuiy malt, crackers. Nice prickly finish, not so bitter. Very high drinkability.
Hazy yellow milky white color. Tart citrusy nose with some sansho. I am guessing Yuzu and sansho. Super light body, slightly tart. Well balanced. Highly refreshing. Nice lingering citrusy finish. Wow, fantastic beer to drink on a hot summer day. Excellent
Himitsu is Kyoto Brewing Co.’s collaboration with Luc Bim LaFontaine. On tap at Bungalow. It’s a cloudy pale gold in color with a creamy white head of foam. The nose is a wheaty lemon with clove notes. Zesty lemon and spicy cloves with a very dry finish on a light body. Think a spritzy wheat beer with a dose of lemon seltzer. Very easy to drink though I want a bit more body. I’m not sure if Bungalow followed the requested CO2 levels the brewery set though... ----2nd timer also at Bungalow---- Himitsu which I’ve learned is a Gose? The nose is coriander, white pepper and maybe some citrus. Very zesty body, the taste is earthy sweet a bit tart or sour with citrus and salt in the finish. Knowing the style actually makes me enjoy it more. Good stuff.
On tap at cbm Koenji. Clear golden color with a nice soapy white head that lasts. Great citrus bouquet on the nose with orange, grapefruit and iyokan with some pine and resin too. Active carbonation. Slightly watery mouthfeel. Citrus pith bitter with some sweet orange (mikan maybe?). Bitter finish that lingers. Really nice first beer.
On tap at Kyoto Brewing Co.’s launch party. A cloudy straw gold with a filmy white head. It has a great fruity hop bouquet with a lovely soft rounded mouthfeel. Wonderfully complex taste of zesty grapefruit, prickly pine and pithy citrus. Really great first batch. I love the body on it, it’s easy drinking for 6% - dangerously so.
Tap at Tadg’s. Cloudy orange gold with a low, fine head. Nose if grapefruit, oranges, and a bit of tropical fruit, pineapple, crackers and bread. A touch of grass too. Juicy, hoppy flavor, with nicely bready malts to give backbone but no where near overly sweet. Dry finish without huge bitterness. Amazingly drinkable. Well done first release.