[News Release] Japanese-flavored ale "KAGUA" now on sale in the United States and Korea
Share
Nippon Craft Beer Co., Ltd. (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Shiro Yamada) will begin selling "KAGUA" in the United States and South Korea.
We began selling KAGUA in Hong Kong and Singapore in September 2012, Thailand in November 2013, the UK and Taiwan in February 2014, France in May of the same year, and Macau in July, and the US and South Korea are now the ninth country in which KAGUA will be sold overseas.
KAGUA will be sold in the US through New Jersey-based Wine of Japan Import. With nearly 40 years of experience as an importer and distributor of Japanese brand beer, premium sake, and shochu in the US, the company has an excellent sales network across 40 states. Sales in the US will begin in New York and Las Vegas, with plans to expand to Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and the West Coast.
Following the US launch, KAGUA is scheduled to be released in South Korea in January 2015. In South Korea, KAGUA will be sold through Joon Trading International. Founded in 2014, the company imports and sells exceptional craft beer from the US and other countries, and KAGUA will be sold as a particularly high-end product in the company's portfolio.
[On the occasion of the launch of sales: "Japanese Craft Beer Representative Yamada Shiro"] The craft beer market in the United States is said to be worth approximately 1.5 trillion yen.[1] We are very excited to be expanding into the United States, which is leading the global craft beer market. We are confident that KAGUA's unique flavor and high-end brand concept will be well-received and accepted in a world-class city like New York. We are also looking forward to partnering with Joon Trading, which has an international perspective, a deep understanding of the Korean market, and a strong passion for craft beer, to sell our products in Korea, Japan's largest beer export market. [1] BREWERS ASSOCIATION Craft Brewing Facts, March 17, 2014 http://www.craftbeer.com/breweries/support-your-local-brewery/craft-brewing-statistics
Nippon Craft Beer Co., Ltd. aims to continue expanding its business in countries around the world and strives to provide the high-quality value of "KAGUA" to more customers.
<Summary of sales of "KAGUA" in the United States>
- Sales start: November 2014
- Products on sale: "KAGUA" White, "KAGUA" Rouge
- Local sales partner: Wine of Japan Import, Inc.
- Sales target: Retail stores and restaurants in the United States
<Overview of sales of "KAGUA" in Korea>
- Sales start: January 2015
- Products on sale: "KAGUA" White, "KAGUA" Rouge
- Local sales partner: Joon Trading International
- Target sales: High-end restaurants and bars
There are two varieties in the lineup: "Blanc," a light-colored, top-fermented beer made with wheat, and "Rouge," a dark-colored, top-fermented beer made with roasted malt.A major feature of these beers is that they can be enjoyed with different dishes, just like white and red wines.
Our products are sold in famous and popular restaurants that have been awarded stars in the Michelin Guide, as well as luxury hotels and restaurants overseas.
*Since "KAGUA" uses yuzu and sansho pepper, it is classified as a happoshu (low-malt beer) under Japan's liquor tax law.
*Although it is a happoshu, the malt ratio and manufacturing method are the same as beer, and it is taxed at the same rate as beer. Furthermore, according to the standards of many countries, including Belgium, where it is produced, "KAGUA" is classified as beer, so it is sold as beer in overseas markets.
About Japan Craft Beer Co., Ltd.
Our mission is to "Democratize beer" - to "restore the diversity and richness of beer, which has become a standardized mass-produced product due to industrialization." We have two brands, "KAGUA," a Japanese-flavored ale, and "Far Yeast," a Tokyo-themed ale, and we are promoting unique beers to the world based on each brand concept.
[Website] http://www.nipponcraftbeer.com/
[facebook] http://www.facebook.com/kagua.beer/
[twitter] http://twitter.com/kaguabeer/