Nara Brewing Co. Taproom Visit Report | Nara, Japan

Hi there! I’m Riho, a craft beer enthusiast.

Here’s my report on Nara Brewing Co. (奈良醸造), visited as Riho Brewery No.81!

🏠 Nara Brewing Basic Info

🍺 Brewery	Nara Brewing Co. (奈良醸造)
📍 Location	Nara City, Nara Prefecture (奈良県奈良市)
🍺 Type	Brewpub / Taproom
📷 Instagram	View post

🍺 Visit Report

📝 Summary

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🏆 WBC 2026（ワールドビアカップ）ダブル金賞受賞

2026年4月22日（フィラデルフィア開催）、ビール界のオリンピックとも称されるワールドビアカップ（WBC）2026にて、奈良醸造が2部門で金賞を獲得しました。

• 🥇 FUNCTION（カテゴリ26: アメリカン・ベルゴスタイルエール部門）金賞
• 🥇 LIGHTHOUSE（カテゴリ18: セッションビール部門）金賞 — 日本初・アメリカ以外では史上初の快挙

今大会は世界50か国から8,166銘柄がエントリーし、38か国255名の専門審査員がブラインドテイスティングで評価。日本勢は金5・銀4・銅3の計12メダルを獲得しましたが、その中でも奈良醸造のダブル金賞は2010年以来16年ぶりの1ブルワリー複数部門同時制覇となる歴史的快挙です。

特にLIGHTHOUSEのセッションビール部門金賞は日本のブルワリーとして初であり、アメリカ以外のブルワリーが同部門を制したことも例を見ない異例の受賞です。

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Where is Nara Brewing located?

It’s located in Nara City, Nara Prefecture (奈良県奈良市). Check the official website for the latest access info.

What kind of beers can you drink at Nara Brewing?

The taproom offers mainly the brewery’s own beers. The lineup varies depending on when you visit, so check their official website or social media for the latest info.

What’s the atmosphere like at Nara Brewing’s taproom?

It’s a space where you can enjoy beer while viewing the brewing equipment — a dream setting for craft beer fans. See the report above for details.

Do I need a reservation for Nara Brewing?

No reservation is needed, though crowding varies by season. Check the official website for the latest info.

What are Nara Brewing’s hours?

Hours may change, so please check the official website before visiting.

⚠️ Disclaimer

This article is based on the author’s 2023 visit. Menu, prices, and hours are subject to change. Check the official website for the latest info.

🚃 Access & Hours

Nearest Station	About 15 min walk from Kintetsu Nara Line “Shin-Omiya Station”
Bus	Take a bus from JR Nara/Kintetsu Nara Station, get off at “Koku Jieitai-mae”
Parking	Coin parking nearby (absolutely no drinking and driving)
Open Days	Taproom open days are announced on official social media (irregular schedule)
Official Site	narabrewing.com(check open days before visiting)

Nara Brewing is a warehouse-type brewery in a residential area, so it can be easy to get lost on your first visit. Search “Nara Brewing” on Google Maps for the pin location and use navigation to find it.

🍺 Recommended Beers

Nara Brewing is a small-scale brewery that continuously releases high-quality beers, earning high marks among craft beer fans. Here are the beers that particularly impressed me during my visit.

ROUND

Nara Brewing’s flagship Hazy IPA. Generously loaded with Citra and Mosaic hops, it features juicy tropical fruit aromas. Soft on the palate with gentle bitterness — a go-to first pour for Hazy IPA fans.

SAHARA

A session-strength pale ale with a light mouthfeel but solid hop aromatics. With its modest ABV, it’s the perfect second beer when you’re settling in for a few rounds at the taproom.

Limited Release Series

One of Nara Brewing’s greatest strengths is the variety of limited releases. They experiment with diverse styles including sour ales, stouts, and Belgian-influenced beers — every visit brings new discoveries. With N glasses allowing small pours, I recommend trying every variety that catches your eye.

📍 Nearby Attractions

When visiting Nara Brewing, combine your trip with nearby tourist spots and food.

• Todai-ji Temple & Nara Park — Classic tourist spots within walking distance of Kintetsu Nara Station. The perfect flow: interact with the deer, then cheers with a beer
• Naramachi Area — A charming area lined with old machiya townhouses. Fun to stroll with many cafes and shops
• Nara Local Sake — Nara is considered the birthplace of Japanese sake with many sake breweries. A luxurious route to experience both beer and sake brewing culture in one day
• Mochiidono Shopping Street — A shopping arcade near Kintetsu Nara Station. Great for food walks and souvenir hunting

🍺 How to Buy Canned Beer

Nara Brewing beers are available at the taproom as well as at craft beer specialty shops and online stores nationwide. Release info is announced on Nara Brewing’s official Instagram, so following them ensures you won’t miss new releases. The taproom also offers cans for takeaway, though large bottles have a rule requiring at least two people to open them.