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.
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7
KBC Sharaku Scottish Ale 5%
Nice dark ruby brown with a thick beige head of foam. It has a nice malty tobacco and figs aroma. Full bodied, sweet but balanced. Nice stuff.
Nice dark ruby brown with a thick beige head of foam. It has a nice malty tobacco and figs aroma. Full bodied, sweet but balanced. Nice stuff.
Tried
from Can
at
Kyoto Brewing Company
on 20 Jan 2026
at 15:22
7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
Of course, I’ll kick things off with the coffee beer:
KBC Sharaku Coffee Brown Ale 5%
This great looking ruby brown pour with tan foam has a really nice sweet coffee aroma. Light bodied and dry with mild tobacco and treacle notes. Solid.
KBC Sharaku Coffee Brown Ale 5%
This great looking ruby brown pour with tan foam has a really nice sweet coffee aroma. Light bodied and dry with mild tobacco and treacle notes. Solid.
Tried
from Can
at
Kyoto Brewing Company
on 19 Jan 2026
at 15:13
7.3/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Finally got around to drinking this as I’m. It the biggest saison guy…
KBC 1 Grain, 10,000 Glasses Saison 6%
Deep Amber gold with thick off-white foam and a rich marmalade and spices aroma. Full bodied with a bit of heat. This feels like a heavier more rustic take on a saison than I’m used to seeing from KBC. Nice stuff.
KBC 1 Grain, 10,000 Glasses Saison 6%
Deep Amber gold with thick off-white foam and a rich marmalade and spices aroma. Full bodied with a bit of heat. This feels like a heavier more rustic take on a saison than I’m used to seeing from KBC. Nice stuff.
Tried
at
Kyoto Brewing Company
on 16 Jan 2026
at 15:55
8.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Holy spot on Pilsner!
KBC x Yokohama Bay Brewing Gensen
Imperial Bohemian Pilsner 7%
Great looking clear deep yellow gold with thick foam and a floral/herbal hop bouquet. The medium to light body is very crisp with dusty Pilsner malts and a slightly non-standard fruity berry twist but it works really well.
Great stuff.
KBC x Yokohama Bay Brewing Gensen
Imperial Bohemian Pilsner 7%
Great looking clear deep yellow gold with thick foam and a floral/herbal hop bouquet. The medium to light body is very crisp with dusty Pilsner malts and a slightly non-standard fruity berry twist but it works really well.
Great stuff.
Tried
from Can
at
Kyoto Brewing Company
on 07 Jan 2026
at 14:24
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7.5
Texture 6
Overall 8
This is a great hazy pale ale with juicy hops and notes of prickley pear. The carbonation is a touch aggressive but overall it’s a great beer.
Tried
from Can
at
Kyoto Brewing Company
on 06 Jan 2026
at 05:43
8.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 8
Texture 7
Overall 8
Let’s try this again!
KBC Irotoridori NZ Pils 5.5%
Crysdd Rd al clear gold with 1 cm of dense foam that leaves some lacing behind. The aroma has the same prickly pear woodsiness as the NZ Pale ale but the medium bodied brew is much crisper with a smoother mouthfeel.
The taste has some juicy elements but overall this is just a totally crushable beer.
KBC Irotoridori NZ Pils 5.5%
Crysdd Rd al clear gold with 1 cm of dense foam that leaves some lacing behind. The aroma has the same prickly pear woodsiness as the NZ Pale ale but the medium bodied brew is much crisper with a smoother mouthfeel.
The taste has some juicy elements but overall this is just a totally crushable beer.
Tried
at
Kyoto Brewing Company
on 06 Jan 2026
at 05:39
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8.5
Flavor 8
Texture 7
Overall 8
KBC x Paint Palette Route 420 IPA 7%
Matte Orange with wispy white foam and a dank prickly pear aroma. It’s got a touch of hop burn in the flavor but is big time hoppy and juicy.
Solid stuff, I’ve gotta get down to Paint Palette in 2026.
Matte Orange with wispy white foam and a dank prickly pear aroma. It’s got a touch of hop burn in the flavor but is big time hoppy and juicy.
Solid stuff, I’ve gotta get down to Paint Palette in 2026.
Tried
from Draft
at
Kyoto Brewing Company
on 28 Dec 2025
at 03:04
7/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 6.5
Well I’m on holiday for another week and as it was just 500¥ it was a no brainer…
KBC 6 Day Weekend
Matte gold with fizzy white foam. Seltzer like carbonation and lightly eggy Belgium notes with white pepper. Light easy drinking stuff.
KBC 6 Day Weekend
Matte gold with fizzy white foam. Seltzer like carbonation and lightly eggy Belgium notes with white pepper. Light easy drinking stuff.
Tried
from Draft
at
Kyoto Brewing Company
on 28 Dec 2025
at 03:02
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Tap at Komachi. Slightly hazy gold. Huge aroma of pot. Wow. Resiny and rich, with citrus and pineapple too. Flavor is lots of citrus, grapefruit and lemon, with lots of pot too, and pineapple and other tropical fruit. Intense, with a full body. Love it.
Tried
on 28 Dec 2025
at 02:34
9.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9.5
Texture 9
Overall 9.5
Those looking for a Japan-made Christmas beer look no further!
KBC nails another Belgian-inspired style.
KBC The More the Merrier Celebration Ale 9%
Made with nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and cloves. I’m thinking this is either their take on a Belgian Christmas ale or their take on Sierra Nevadas Celebration ale. It’s a purplish brown with thick beige foam and a banana bread and soft spices aroma.
Full bodied, smooth and full of spices but with some molasses type sweetness and brown sugar buns to balance things out.
I’ve gotta say this is great and I hope I can pick some up to cellar for the future in case they don’t make it next year. Bar none the most on point Christmas beer I’ve had from Japan.
Excellent.
KBC nails another Belgian-inspired style.
KBC The More the Merrier Celebration Ale 9%
Made with nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and cloves. I’m thinking this is either their take on a Belgian Christmas ale or their take on Sierra Nevadas Celebration ale. It’s a purplish brown with thick beige foam and a banana bread and soft spices aroma.
Full bodied, smooth and full of spices but with some molasses type sweetness and brown sugar buns to balance things out.
I’ve gotta say this is great and I hope I can pick some up to cellar for the future in case they don’t make it next year. Bar none the most on point Christmas beer I’ve had from Japan.
Excellent.
Tried
from Can
at
Kyoto Brewing Company
on 23 Dec 2025
at 15:45