Summer is the season when you crave an ice-cold drink. As someone who enjoys alcohol, beer is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of summer drinks.
In July 2024, during a spell of scorching hot days, a craft beer festival called “Craft Beer Glass” was held at Kurashiki Mirai Park. Nine breweries from inside and outside the prefecture gathered for this event, where visitors could enjoy a wide variety of distinctive craft beers.
Drawn to a beer event that seemed perfect for summer, I invited a friend and went along.
Here’s a look at Craft Beer Glass, where we enjoyed a wide selection of craft beers and delicious snacks.
The information provided was accurate when this article was published in September 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is “Craft Beer Glass”?
“Craft Beer Glass” was a craft beer event held on Saturday, July 27, and Sunday, July 28, 2024.
Nine distinctive breweries from inside and outside the prefecture set up booths, offering visitors the chance to enjoy carefully crafted beers in the summer evening breeze.
Many of the breweries from outside the prefecture came from the Kansai and Kinki regions, making it a treat for beer lovers to compare craft beers from elsewhere in Japan that are rarely available locally.
The participating breweries were:
- Kibi Dote Shita Beer (Okayama)
- KawazuBrewing (Okayama)
- Mabi Chikurin Beer (Okayama)
- Milestone Brewing (Hyogo)
- Izushi Shiroyama Beer (Hyogo)
- Hanaten Brewery Holiday Beer (Osaka)
- Sento Brewery Kamigata Beer (Osaka)
- Good Wolf Beer (Nara)
- Bluewood Brewery (Wakayama)
The food vendors offered plenty of variety, with everything from Japanese and Western snacks to ethnic cuisine and sweets. The lineup looked sure to satisfy both people who wanted to share a variety of snacks over beer and those who wanted a hearty meal.
Check the image below for the participating food vendors.
There were also vendors that appeared on only one of the two days, Saturday the 27th and Sunday the 28th.
The main venue was Kurashiki Mirai Park, next to Ario Kurashiki. The event was held at a convenient spot where visitors could easily drop by after shopping at Ario Kurashiki or MITSUI OUTLET PARK Kurashiki.
Craft Beer Glass stayed lively with crowds until the event ended. Here’s what it was like on the day.
What the event was like
It was a scorching hot day on Sunday, July 28, so I headed to the venue in the early evening, when the temperature seemed likely to ease a little.
Many people were already there, including families who seemed to have come after shopping. Excited by the rows of vendors, I looked around to decide what to order.
Sharing snacks and sipping craft beer
First, I went looking for a craft beer to quench my thirst.
One booth that caught my eye as I walked by was “Hanaten Brewery Holiday Beer,” which had come from Osaka. I wasn’t sure how to read the name, so my friend from Osaka, who was with me, explained, “Hanaten is pronounced ‘Hanaten.’”
Intrigued by craft beers made with unusual ingredients such as plum and lemongrass, I decided to get my first drink from Hanaten Brewery.
I was curious about all of them, so I bought a set of four beers to compare. The craft beers were served with fine, creamy foam and looked delicious even just to look at.
I met up with friends who had bought beer from another brewery, and we couldn’t wait, so we toasted at the side of the path.
The craft beers I ordered from Hanaten Brewery had distinctive flavors but were easy to drink, and all four tasted new to me. My favorite, “Katen Ale,” was made with three herbs: star anise, lemongrass, and rose red, and had a lovely, fragrant aroma.
It was fun swapping beers with my friends and tasting each other’s.
Next, I went looking for snacks. Drawn by the delicious aroma, I stopped at “IhoriCafe” for its wood-fired pizza.
The pizza oven was shaped like a familiar character and looked like it would make delicious pizza. Since pizza seemed easy to share, I ordered a Margherita.
A few minutes after ordering, I picked up the freshly baked Margherita and hurried to a table while it was still hot.
Tables and chairs were set up throughout the venue, so there was no shortage of places to eat. There was also an area where small children could play in the water, so parents with children could enjoy their meal with peace of mind while keeping an eye on them.
The snacks my friends had bought were laid out on the table, and we toasted for the second time.
First, I tried the Margherita while it was still warm. The thin, light crust was easy to eat, and the tangy tomato and melted cheese made me want to drink more beer.
The yangnyeom chicken (sweet-and-spicy fried chicken) from “Korean Street Food NOWA” had a crispy coating and an irresistible sweet-and-spicy sauce. The strongly flavored chicken paired perfectly with the bold craft beer.
The two kinds of herb sausages from “FLAGO” were served freshly grilled. It was a treat to be able to enjoy authentic sausages outdoors—something you can only do at an event. The sausages were delicious right down to their juices.
All the snacks were generous portions, just right for sharing. I was glad we came as a group.
Refilling our craft beers in the evening breeze
The delicious beer and food kept the conversation flowing, and before we knew it, the sky had grown dark. Perhaps more people started arriving as evening fell; the venue was getting livelier by the minute.
For another craft beer, we decided to buy one from “Sento Brewing Kamigata Beer,” which had caught our eye on the vendor list. The shop’s exterior had a retro feel, and reminded me of the counter at a public bathhouse.
With a rubber duck watching over us, we picked up the “Wood-Fired Brown” we had ordered. Made with smoked malt, this beer has a rich flavor and a satisfying body.
True to its name, Kamigata Beer is made at a brewery created by renovating the site of a former public bathhouse. Learning about the brewery’s origins made it feel even more distinctive and gave the beer added depth.
To go with the beer, we had shrimp bread from “Onomichi Ebi Pan,” which my friend bought for us. The shrimp bread is made with shrimp paste spread over thick-cut baguette. I don’t often have bread as a snack, but its rich flavor and toasty aroma made the beer go down easily.
As we chatted with our friend and alternated between beer and snacks, the event’s closing time was suddenly just around the corner.
It’s a shame we couldn’t try all the craft beers this time, but I hope we’ll come across them again at another event in Kurashiki.
From the Writer
Craft Beer Glass was held until 9 p.m. The venue stayed lively right to the end, showing just how popular craft beer events are.
With so many vendors, there were plenty of things we wanted to try but didn’t get the chance to. I hope we’ll get to try them at another event in the city someday.
This was a beer event, but there were more children at the venue than I expected. I think one of the special attractions of events held at commercial facilities is that families can enjoy them after shopping.
Food and drink events are held regularly at the outdoor event plaza at Kurashiki Mirai Park and Ario Kurashiki. They’re easy to drop by while shopping, so be sure to check the event listings and come along.
Craft Beer Glass details
| Name | Craft Beer Glass |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, July 28, 2024 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Location | 12-1 Kotobukicho, Kurashiki City |
| Admission (tax included) | Free admission Beer and food sold separately |
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