We are in the middle of the rainy season.
The temperatures are not as high as in midsummer, but the humidity is high, and the unique muggy heat of the rainy season continues.
What you crave when it gets hot is a cold beer. From now on, there will likely be more opportunities to enjoy beer outdoors at summer festivals and other events.
The event "BEER SMILES" held at Achi Terrace Kurashiki was perfect for overcoming the muggy heat, as it allowed for tasting various craft beers.
Attracted by the craft beers available outdoors, I participated with excitement. Let me introduce the events of the day.
What is BEER SMILES
"BEER SMILES" was an event held at Achi Terrace Kurashiki on June 21 (Saturday) and June 22 (Sunday), 2025.
Five craft beer breweries from western Japan, centered around Okayama Prefecture, gathered to offer their carefully crafted beers. Each brewery provided tasting sets and small S-size beers, making it easy to compare and a must-visit event for beer lovers.
In addition to beer, there were also plenty of Japanese sake and non-alcoholic drinks, so many families were seen enjoying the event together with their children.
There was a rich variety of food stalls offering Japanese and Western snacks that pair well with alcohol. Please check the image below for details on the stalls.
I visited on the first day of the event, June 21 (Saturday).
The Events of the Day
On June 21 (Saturday), the event was held under cloudy skies with the characteristic damp air of the rainy season.
I arrived at Achi Terrace Kurashiki around 6 PM. The seating and tables in the dining area were almost full, and every customer was enjoying their beer.
Enjoying Unique Craft Beers like Cola and Cherry Blossom
The first place I headed to was Rokushima Beach Brewery located on Rokushima in the Kasaoka Islands.
I was drawn to beers that featured the natural hijiki seaweed in "Drum Can Conference" and the "Oyster Stout" made with oysters, but I chose the Mame Mame Beer "TA-COLA de ALE" made in Shodoshima.
Mame Mame Beer is a brewery located in Shodoshima. At this event, Rokushima Beach Brewery provided it as a guest beer.
The beer, made based on the popular craft cola "Tako-Rola" from Shodoshima, has a color that closely resembles cola. When I took a sip, I could taste the sweet flavor and spices unique to cola, making it easy to drink even for those who are not fond of beer.
While enjoying my beer, I looked for some snacks.
The sounds of sizzling and the enticing aromas wafted from various stalls, making the time spent choosing snacks quite exciting. The event was lively, but it seemed that no stall had long lines to wait in.
I decided on my first snack from the takeout yakitori shop Yakitori Nacchan located in Mizushima.
I was lucky to encounter a shop I had been wanting to try someday at the event.
Some skewers had already sold out, but I was glad to be able to order my favorite "onion skewers." While waiting for them to be grilled, customers kept coming in and placing orders without interruption.
Just watching the yakitori being carefully grilled over charcoal makes for a great snack.
By the time my yakitori was ready, I had finished my beer, so I hurried to buy a second one before the yakitori cooled down.
Next, I chose Good Wolf Brewery. This was the farthest brewery participating in the event, coming from Nara Prefecture. The area of Higashiyoshino Village in Nara Prefecture is known as the place where the last Japanese wolf was captured, which is now extinct.
Taking this opportunity, I decided to enjoy some craft beer from afar and ordered a set of two types. I could choose from six different craft beers, so I asked the staff for recommendations and decided to try "Rorou" and "Sakura."
Rorou is a pale ale that has the aroma of Yoshino cedar from Higashiyoshino Village. It has a floral and refreshing taste, making it perfect for summer drinking. Sakura has a strong salty flavor that reminds one of sakura mochi and salted cherry blossoms, making it a unique craft beer.
The more distinctive the flavor, the more fun it is to feel like you are "drinking craft beer!"
I quickly sipped my beer while nibbling on the onion skewers. The juicy and fluffy yakitori was rich in flavor, perfectly pairing with the bold craft beer.
Relaxing and Sharing with Friends
Since I was with a friend who had come from Kanto, I recommended the local beer Mabi Chikurin Brewery to my friend, saying, "Since we are in Kurashiki..."
My friend chose a craft beer called "Kusai no Yuuhi", which has a beautiful red color. The red color is derived from the pigment of red daikon, and it is said to represent the sunset visible from Mabi.
I took a sip from my friend, and it had a subtly sweet and rich flavor that was delicious.
I also ordered Bingo Fukuyama Brewing College's "Forest Lager." This craft beer uses rice from the Kamiyama Highlands and has a clean taste without any off-flavors.
When ordering this beer, I also communicated my preferences to the staff and asked, "Which one do you recommend?" Interacting with the staff while searching for a beer that suits my taste is perhaps one of the joys of such beer events.
Tasting the beers I ordered with my friend and sharing comments like "It's easy to drink" and "I might like this" was exciting.
As I enjoyed the beer and snacks, I noticed that the sun had set, and a cool breeze began to blow.
Drinking beer in the night breeze felt several times more delicious than usual. Beer from a mug is tasty, but drinking beer from a plastic cup has a summer festival vibe that personally excites me.
Until the event ended at 9 PM, BEER SMILES was bright and lively.
Conclusion
Since the craft beer sizes were selectable, I was able to compare various types. This consideration is not often seen at regular food and drink events, and it was appreciated by those who wanted to try different varieties.
There were also many food stalls, so beer lovers, families, and those who wanted to enjoy a proper meal were all enjoying the event.
I feel like I understood a bit of the origin of the event name "BEER SMILES," which allows people to smile through beer.
As summer fully arrives, I look forward to enjoying outdoor drinking events while staying hydrated.
BEER SMILES Data
| Name | BEER SMILES |
|---|---|
| Date | June 21 (Saturday) and 22 (Sunday), 2025 From 11 AM to 9 PM *On the 22nd, until 8 PM |
| Location | 3-9-1 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | Free |
