Ise no Kuni Beer

Walking the streets of Ise I was happy to see Ise Kadoya's beer (especially Sinto Beer) in many of the shops. Often times I am surprised by how many local jibeers (microbrews) are not available even in the towns where they are made! Sinto Beer was for sale just about everywhere, even from street vendors! I also saw one street vendor who was selling Ise Kadoya's Pale Ale on tap for 500 yen a cup.
I wanted to buy several of Ise Kadoya's bottled beers, but the 900 yen price tag kept me from buying too many. Of course I had to get one to bring back and let Nate drink. But, 900 yen is pretty steep for a 500ml beer. Contrast that to London Pub Towser ( My mind has been changed--thanks Tokyo friends!) where a 20 oz. (592ml) of Real Ale costs 1000 yen from a hand tap...and it's hard to justify spending that much on a bottled brew. Plus, we were heading to Biyagura brewpub to drink it on tap later.

We walked the streets a bit more and came up an interesting find at Takahashi Liquor Shop, near Ise Shrine. Inside the store I immeditely noticed a new jibeer that I wasn't familiar with. Staring us in the face were a 100% organic Helles and Dunkel made by Ise no Kuni Beer. We asked the man at the shop (Takahashi-san?) where the brewery was, and he said that it wasn't too far away. While he was saying this he was taking a picture of me, my girlfriend, our beers, and his finger.

These beers were only 380 yen a pop and considering the fact that we could get two for less than one Ise Kadoya Brew, we couldn't pass them up. The Dunkel was ok, not too great and not too bad--very oridnary. The Helles however, was quite good. Helles style beers are not my favorite, but this was one excellent. Add to it that Helles is a much cooler name than Dunkel, and you have a winner.

The website listed on the bottle says www.ji-beer.co.jp. (Not to be confised by our new name!) If you go to that site, you can't find any of these particular bottles there. Maybe they were old ones that we bought and they recently changed the labels? Don't know for sure--but I do know that you can buy some 100% organic malt from their site!

I can't find anything on the web about Ise no Kuni Beer in English, and quite possibly this is it. The beer was good, but it paled in comparison to Ise Kadoya's beers later that afternoon.

Anyone else have any info to share about this mysterious brew???