In 1994 there was a sole microbrewery in Japan. Today, thanks to legislation changes and a new-found thirst for beer, there are well over 200 scattered around the country. There’s a definite preference towards brewpubs – bars where the beer is brewed on site – many of which are clustered in the prefectures of central Honshū, particularly in and around Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. The beers are largely subtle affairs, designed to match Japan’s delicate cuisine, but some brewers are experimenting with singularly Japanese ingredients. Look out for ales featuring sweet potatoes, yuzu (an Asian citrus plant) or red rice, and beers matured in shōchū casks.