Want A Brewski? Try Asahi! - Beer in Japan

Hendrik Doeff: The Beer Father

When one thinks of alcohol in Japan, beer isn't necessarily the first beverage that comes to mind. Usually, sake is associated with Japan, and with good reason- the sweet rice wine is uniquely associated with Japan and is a very popular Japanese beverage, both at home and abroad. However, beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage in Japan. (Grimm) Beer was first introduced in Japan as a "specialty import" by Dutch merchants in the 17th century, with the first actual brewery starting up in the 19th century. (Grimm) Necessity begets genius, and when the Napoleonic wars saw a beer shortage in Europe, a Dutch brewer and tradesman, Hendrik Doeff, decided to take matters into his own hands and open his own brewery in Dejima. (Grimm) Commercial beer production began when Norwegian-American William Copeland opened the Spring Valley Brewery in Yokohama in 1870. (Grimm)

The first native run brewery was began when hops were discovered in the island of Hokkaido- Seibei Nakagawa was sent to Germany to learn German brewing, and when he returned, he began the Pioneers Brewing Company, which would brew a very famous flagship beer: Sapporo Cold Brew! (Grimm) Other famous brands would be Kirin and Asahi. (Grimm)

Link: http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2011/08/a-brief-history-of-japanese-beer-sapporo-ichiban-craft-beer-in-japan.html