How did I get to come to this place? My wife's family live in Kusatsu city in Shiga. In the Kintetsu department store there I found a beer called Kusatsu no Yado (草津の宿), made by a brewery called Nanakai (南海) which caught my attention because I never though there was a Ji-beer maker in the area. That got me into researching Ji-beers available in Shiga prefecture. When I was making the official Gee! Beer Map, I found a restaurant I'd never heard of, called Sugakura (寿賀蔵). You know, I never thought they would be the same place.
It's a 15 minute walk from JR Kibukawa station, which is on the Kusatsu Line (change at JR Kusatsu Station on the Biwako Line). I however, as a birthday boy, went in the luxury of the family taxi with my mother-in-law, bless her.
Traditionally a nihonshu brewer, Nankai is probably best known for their 'Biwako Iimichi Beer (びわこいいみちビール)', which come in clear and strong styles. They also had one more called 'Hototogisu' which is made with the local Asamiya-cha (or tea). I had a strong on tap for lunch and took the clear and the Hototogisu home. At the moment I don't feel really qualified to talk about the beers, not until I get an official tasters license. But I'm never disappointed with Ji-beer.
On a side note, the building itself is phenomenal. 蔵 (kura) in English is a warehouse with thick, impenetrable walls. Sugakura is essentially a fortress with its own brewery inside. I'm currently hounding them for an interview. As soon as I have something worth reading, let me know.
Ji-beer Restaurant Sugakura (寿賀蔵)
Shiga-ken, Koka-shi, Minakuchi-cho, Sandaiji 244 (滋賀県甲賀市水口町三大寺244)
Tel. 0748 63 2838
Hours: Weekdays 15:00 - 22:00, Weekends 11:00 - 22:00 (make a reservation or it may be closed or the menu may be limited).
