Managing director (Asia) of the company, David Croll, has helped sell UK craft brews from Brewdog, Harviestoun and Mikkeler in Japan and believes the time is now right to bring Japanese brews to the UK.
“The craft beer revolution is in full swing in Japan. It is fantastic to be able to share some of these amazing brews with other fanatics around the world,” he said.
The three breweries are: the Minoh Beer brewery run by the Ohshita sisters in Osaka; Brimmer Brewing, which is based just outside of Tokyo and the Baird Brewing Company, run by husband and wife team Bryan and Sayuri Baird based in Numazu.
The first shipment is on its way and includes: Rising Sun Pale Ale, Numazu Lager and Teikoku IPA from Baird Brewing and a pilsner, an imperial stout and a pale ale from Minoh.
The Number One Drinks Company was founded in August 2006 to import and distribute whiskies from some of Japan’s smaller, independent distillers, including the Chichibu, Hanyu and Karuizawa brands.