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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7.6/10 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.
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

6.8/10 Appearance 3 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7.5
From a craft beer stand at Kyoto station. Mild smell of abbey yeast. Muddy brown colour, off-white head. Aroma of sweet malt, abbey yeast, faint pepper. Soft plentiful carbon. Lightly sweet, lightly bitter.
Tried from Draft on 19 May 2026 at 02:50

7.5/10 Appearance 9 Aroma 7.5 Flavor 7.5 Texture 6 Overall 7.5
KBC Sharaku Oatmeal Stout 5.5%

Deep black with thick lightly tan foam and a savory stout aroma. Full bodied but with a slightly tongue prickling carbonation. If this was on nitro or cask, I feel the body would be stellar.

Dark chocolate, light mole notes and roastiness. Yum.

Easy drinking with a great label.
Tried from Can at Kyoto Brewing Company on 17 May 2026 at 13:40

8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8.5 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
I wasn’t sure if I’d had the 2026 version so for 600¥ I decided I couldn’t pass it up.

KBC Haru no Kimagure 2026

The lush greenery of recent weeks definitely means spring is here but the last few days has the summer heat knocking on the door (I guess that’s why Natsu 2026 just dropped). Great mouthwatering hop bouquet on a medium body with a semi-dry finish.

As always solid stuff.
Tried on 17 May 2026 at 05:59

7.6/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8.5 Flavor 7.5 Texture 7 Overall 7
KBC x JRA Wide Run Hoppy Lager

This beer is only sold at the taproom or the racecourse. It’s a matte gold with thick white foam and a slightly sweet herbal hop bouquet.

Medium to full bodied with dry finish and prickly mouthfeel. The taste starts off with mild tutti-fruity hop notes before ending with a slightly eggy lager flavor.

Alright.
Tried at Kyoto Brewing Company on 17 May 2026 at 05:53

8.3/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8.5 Texture 8 Overall 8.5
Taster showing pale gold with half a finger of clean white foam.

The nose shows light to moderately intense notes of passionfruit.

The palate is well carbonated and light bodied. Moderate passionfruit intensity throughout but well rounded and dry with a very mild pilsner bitterness on the finish. Refreshing and nice.
Tried from Bottle on 16 May 2026 at 10:44

7.1/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 8 Flavor 6.5 Texture 7 Overall 7
Can, mail order from the brewery. Very hazy pastel yellow with a medium, thick head. Kiwi hop nose, white grape, passion fruit, orange, grapefruit, biscuits, also slightly resinous. Resiny flavor, grapefruit, tropical fruits. Somewhat thick and heavy body. Nice hops. I was hoping/expecting that it wouldn't be hazy. In the mood for a clear, old style NZ IPA...
Tried on 16 May 2026 at 08:15

7.3/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7.5
Can from the brewery, mail order. Bright, pale yellow, hazy, with a low, fine head. Big hop nose. white grape, funky tropical fruits, dankness, even some dashi-like umami notes. Quite unique. Light malt, big hop flavor. Quite dry and light, but lots of tropical and citrus fruits and dankness coming through. Body is light and a bit thin, as a session usually is. Good summer beer, but I don't think these mega hops are really making anything better than it used to be.
Tried on 15 May 2026 at 14:30