Tomato Beer in Japan

By Michelle Fabio

One might think that Spain or Italy might’ve come up with this product first, but apparently Japan is the place you need to go for some tomato beer.

No, this isn’t simply adding tomato juice to a beer at the bar; Tomato Bibere is brewed from tomatoes and hops by Japan’s Echigo Beer Co.

The idea came from Isamu Waki, a pub owner in Tokyo who had been asking brewers for a tomato beer for years. Echigo’s president Hirofumi Koda finally acted on the suggestion a few years ago inspired by Waki’s enthusiasm.

But exotic beers were nothing new Read the rest of this entry »