Daichi Mori and Teenage Brewing, Japan’s Rising Star in Craft Beer

Though Teenage Brewing, launched in June 2023, is relatively new to the craft beer scene, it’s already making waves. New releases sell out almost immediately, and beer lovers line up in front of the brewery’s booth at festivals. In no time, it has become a key player in Japan’s craft beer industry.

The brewery is nestled in the quiet countryside of Tokigawa, Saitama Prefecture. The picturesque setting sharply contrasts with the hazy, hop-heavy IPA and psychedelic can designs. Founder Daichi Mori explains why he chose this spot for the brewery.

‘I knew that if I were to start a brewery, it would be in Saitama, where I grew up. Tokigawa is known for its pristine water sources. I never expected the local farmers to approach me with herbs and fruits, suggesting I use them in my beer.’

‘Beer is like music’

Before turning to beer, Daichi Mori spent over 30 years in the music industry, and he still runs his own label, kilk records. In 2013, he opened a live music venue, Hisomine, near Miyahara Station in Saitama. Wanting to offer something different from other venues, he started serving craft beer.

‘A few years earlier, I tried Brew Dog’s Punk IPA, and its bold flavor and innovative packaging blew me away. That’s when I fell into the world of craft beer, soon curating unique selections for the bars I managed.’

After years of combining music and craft beer, Mori had a revelation.

‘I realized the joy of discovering that a craft beer I bought for its packaging tasted amazing is similar to the thrill of finding that a record I picked for its cover is great. That’s when I understood: beer is like music! I knew the new path I had to take.’

A calling born from crisis

Mori’s decision to become a brewer came during the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced concert venues and restaurants to rethink their operations. He first enrolled in short courses to learn beer history and brewing basics. In 2021, he apprenticed at Beer Brain Brewery in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture.

Two years later, Teenage Brewing opened with an 820-liter brewing tank and six fermenters of the same capacity. Quickly overwhelmed by demand, the brewery added three 1,800-liter fermenters in July 2024. While most new breweries brew once a week, Mori’s operates with two brews weekly. During peak periods, they even brew twice a day in double batches.

What draws fans to Teenage Brewing lies in the name Daichi Mori gave his brewery, having reinvented himself in his forties. ‘I want to brew with the same freedom and spontaneity as a fearless teenager,’ he reveals.

Behind the scenes, Teenage Brewing operates with a talented, international team led by Mori, head brewer Kisetsu Oikawa, Czech brewer Vit Karusek, and Masahito Takeuchi. Heading into their second year, their goal is clear: to continue surprising craft beer lovers with innovative creations brewed with the same carefree spirit and energy as a new musical act.

‘It’s all about creating with the same freedom as music. In my heart, I’m still like a teenager who’s just started his first band,’ Mori concludes.