Iwate Kura Beer is a craft beer brand rooted in the Iwate Prefecture of the Tōhoku region in northern Japan. The brand operates under Sekinoichi Shuzo, a sake brewery with over 150 years of history, and began producing beer in 1995–1996, shortly after Japan legalized microbreweries. The venture was backed by five regional companies and reflects a broader movement to revitalize local craft brewing in the Tōhoku region. The brewery is based in Morioka, the prefectural capital of Iwate. Iwate Kura Beer is firmly committed to locally sourced ingredients, contracting directly with farmers and agricultural cooperatives to grow wheat and process malt in the region. This farm-to-glass philosophy gives its beers a distinctive regional character. The portfolio spans a range of craft beer styles, from lagers to specialty ales, including the collaboratively brewed Bakusui Lager, which was developed as part of the Tohoku-damashi Beer Project — a community-driven initiative celebrating the spirit of the Tōhoku region. The brewery has gained international recognition for its experimental brewing. Its Oyster Stout was awarded World's Best Experimental Beer at the World Beer Awards 2024, cementing Iwate Kura Beer's reputation as one of Japan's most innovative small craft breweries. The Japanese Herb Ale Sansho, brewed with sansho pepper, is another standout expression of the brewery's commitment to incorporating local Japanese botanicals into its recipes.