By MAKI HOSHII/ Staff Writer
May 17, 2022 at 07:00 JST
The triangle roof of JR Doai Station in Minakami, Gunma Prefecture, is said to be modeled after Mount Tanigawadake. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
MINAKAMI, Gunma Prefecture--A variety of craft beers aged for more than a year in Japan’s deepest railway station will be served on May 21, and one brewer admits he does not know what to expect.
About 250 liters of craft beer brewed by 10 breweries in Tokyo and elsewhere are now sitting in canisters about 70 meters below ground at JR Doai Station here.
The temperature there remains around 10 degrees year-round, making it an ideal environment for aging beer.
“But this is our first attempt, so it could turn out to be deeply disappointing,” said Yasuharu Takeuchi, 50, president of Octone Brewing based here.
Takeuchi in 2020 came up with the idea to store beer at the operation office on the underground platform for outbound trains at the station.
At that time, craft beer brewers were suffering due to suspended operations in the bar and restaurant industry during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
At an online meeting with members of Brewing For Nature, a group of brewers who work together for the natural environment through beer brewing, Takeuchi said it might be interesting to age beer at Doai Station.
The other brewers agreed.
Consent was gained from East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) through Village Inc., which operates glamping (glamorous camping) facilities at Doai Station and other locations.
In December 2020, the brewers hauled their beer canisters to the station and took the 486 steps down to the platform for the long-term aging process.
The beer will be served at a glamping facility directly connected to the station that offers views of the Tanigawa mountain range and the sounds of the murmuring Yubisogawa river.
“Doai is a perfect place to enjoy the nature of Minakami,” Takeuchi said. “I hope visitors will be interested in nature and the environment as they drink beer.”
The group intends to donate 3 percent of the proceeds from the Mogura Beer Camp event to the Nature Conservation Society of Japan.
For inquiries, visit the official website at (https://brewingfornature.cbgeeks.com/work/mogurabeercamp2022/).
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