We’re right in the middle of the rainy season.
It isn’t as hot as midsummer, but the humidity is high, and the muggy weather typical of the rainy season continues.
When the weather gets hot, what you want to drink is a “cold beer.” With summer festivals and other events coming up, there will probably be more opportunities to enjoy beer outdoors.
“BEER SMILES” was held at Achi Terrace Kurashiki. The event offered a chance to sample different craft beers and was just the thing to help beat the muggy heat.
Drawn by the prospect of enjoying craft beer outdoors, I was excited to attend. Here’s what it was like on the day.
The information provided was current when this article was published in June 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is BEER SMILES?
BEER SMILES was an event held at Achi Terrace Kurashiki on Saturday, June 21, and Sunday, June 22, 2025.
Five craft breweries from western Japan, mainly Okayama Prefecture, came together, offering a chance to enjoy their carefully crafted beers. Each brewery offered tasting sets and small S-size beers, making it easy to sample different varieties and creating an irresistible event for beer lovers.
There was also a great selection of sake and non-alcoholic drinks, not just beer, and many families came to enjoy the event with their children.
There was plenty of food on offer, too, including Japanese and Western-style snacks that pair well with drinks. Check the image below for details about the vendors.
I visited on the first day of the event, Saturday, June 21.
What it was like on the day
Saturday, June 21, was cloudy, and the event was held amid the damp, sticky air typical of the rainy season.
I arrived at Achi Terrace Kurashiki at around 6 p.m. The chairs and tables in the dining area were almost all occupied, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves with a beer in hand.
Cola or cherry blossoms? Enjoying distinctive craft beers
The first place I headed was Mushima Hama Brewery on Mutsu Island in the Kasaoka Islands.
I was tempted by beers that let you taste the bounty of the sea around Mutsu Island, such as “Drum Can Meeting,” made with natural hijiki seaweed, and “Oyster Stout,” made with oysters. But I chose “TA-COLA de ALE” from Mamemame Beer, brewed on Shodoshima Island.
Mamemame Beer is a brewery on Shodoshima Island. At this event, it was featured as a guest beer by Mushima Hama Brewery.
The beer, made using “Tacola,” a popular craft cola from Shodoshima, was almost exactly the color of cola. On my first sip, I could taste the sweet flavor and spices characteristic of cola, making it delicious and easy to drink even for people who aren’t fond of beer.
While drinking my beer, I went to look for something to snack on.
The sizzling sounds and savory aromas wafting from all around made even choosing a snack exciting. The event was bustling, but it didn’t seem like you had to wait in long lines at any of the stalls.
For my first snack, I chose Yakitori Natchan, a takeout-only yakitori shop in Mizushima.
I’d been thinking, “I’d like to try this place someday,” so I was lucky to come across it at the event.
Some skewers had already sold out, but I was glad I could order my favorite, the onion-and-chicken skewer. While I waited for it to finish grilling, customers kept coming one after another to place orders.
Just watching the yakitori being carefully grilled over charcoal makes for a great snack.
I finished my beer before the yakitori was ready, so I hurried to get a second one before it had a chance to cool.
Next, I chose Good Wolf Beer. Of all the breweries taking part, it had traveled the farthest, coming from Nara Prefecture. Higashiyoshino Village in Nara Prefecture, where Good Wolf Beer is based, is said to be the place where the last Japanese wolf, now extinct, was captured.
Since it was a good opportunity to try craft beer from farther afield, I ordered a two-beer set. I could choose from six varieties, so I asked the staff for recommendations and decided on “Roro” and “Sakura.”
Roro is a pale ale scented with Yoshino cedar from Higashiyoshino Village. It has a bright, refreshing taste—the kind of delicious beer you want to drink in summer. Sakura was a distinctive craft beer with a pronounced saltiness and a flavor that brought to mind sakura mochi and salted cherry blossoms.
The more distinctive the flavor, the more it feels like, “I’m drinking craft beer!”—which is fun.
I immediately washed down bites of the onion-and-chicken yakitori with my beer. The juicy, tender yakitori had a rich flavor and paired perfectly with the full-bodied craft beer.
Taking our time and sharing with friends
I was exploring the event with a friend who had come from the Kanto region, so I recommended the local beer Mabi Chikurin Beer, saying, “Since you’ve come all the way to Kurashiki…”
My friend chose a craft beer called “Kureimo Sunset,” with its beautiful red color. The red hue comes from the pigment in red daikon radishes, and is said to be inspired by the sunsets visible from Mabi.
My friend let me have a sip, and it was delicious, with a subtle sweetness and rich flavor.
For my next drink, I ordered “Forest Lager” from Bingo Fukuyama Brewing College. This craft beer is made with rice from Jinseki Kogen and has a clean, crisp taste with no off-flavors.
When ordering this beer, I also told the staff what I liked and asked, “Which one would you recommend?” Finding a beer to suit your taste while chatting with the staff may be one of the pleasures of events like this.
It’s fun to sample the beers we ordered together and share our thoughts, saying things like, “That’s easy to drink” and “I think I like this one.”
As we enjoyed our beer and snacks, before we knew it the sun had set and a cool breeze was blowing.
The beer tasted several times better than usual as we drank in the evening breeze. Beer in a mug is delicious, too, but drinking it from a plastic cup has a summery, festival-like feel that personally gets me excited.
BEER SMILES was still lively and bustling right up until the event ended at 9 p.m.
From the Writer
The craft beer came in a choice of sizes, so we could compare a variety of types. This thoughtful option is uncommon at regular food and drink events, and was much appreciated by someone like me who wants to try lots of different kinds.
There were also many food stalls, so the event was enjoyed not only by beer lovers, but also by families and people looking for a hearty meal.
I feel I now understand a little better the origin of the event’s name, “BEER SMILES”—it brings smiles through beer.
I hope to enjoy more outdoor drinking events this summer, while making sure to stay well hydrated.
BEER SMILES data
| Name | BEER SMILES |
|---|---|
| Date | June 21 (Sat.) and 22 (Sun.), 2025 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. *Until 8 p.m. on the 22nd |
| Location | 3-9-1 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Admission (tax included) | Free |
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