Kyoto Brewing Company

Commercial Brewery in Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan 🇯🇵
Associated Venue: Kyoto Brewing Company

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南区西九条高畠町25-1, Kyoto, Japan
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.

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7.1/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 7 Overall 7
Can. Dark brown, close to black, but not. Clearly quite cloudy too, with a tall, thick, tan head. Nutty malt nose, toast, caramel, cocoa. Lightly sweet, some fruity esters, dark cocoa, peanuts, toasted bread, caramel. Slightly roasty and bitter. Well put together.
Tried on 23 Jun 2026 at 11:26

8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8.5 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Can. Mail order from the brewery. Pretty, glowing orange, cloudy, with a thick white head. Very nice tropical fruit and citrus aroma, aromatic, orange, grapefruit, passionfruit, stone fruit. Lovely nose. Somewhat sweet, nicely funky, tart and tangy. Nice tartness coming on, though not quite sour. Soft, silky, fluffy. Light carbonation. Finish is stone fruit and citrus and some bitterness that seems slightly bretty. A bit unbalanced, should probably dry out with time, but fantastic fruit flavors.
Tried on 21 Jun 2026 at 07:25

7.3/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 7 Overall 6.5
KBC Toi Toi To
West Coast IPA 8%

Big hop bouquet on a deep gold body with thick fluffy off-white foam. Loads of piney and tropical notes, sweet malts but a certain boozy heat and hop burn detracts. Alright with hints at the possibility of greatness.
Tried from Can at Kyoto Brewing Company on 14 Jun 2026 at 06:45

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.
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.
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.
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.
Tried from Can at Kyoto Brewing Company on 26 May 2026 at 15:54