Orion Beer, known to everyone as “Okinawa’s beer.” Produced in Nago, the gateway to the northern part of Okinawa Island known as “Yanbaru,” its flavor is characterized by its crisp, easy-drinking quality, with the flagship product “Orion The Draft” leading the way. We spoke with Taruoka Makoto, the factory manager at the Nago plant, about Orion Beer’s commitment to pursuing a taste that makes you want to drink it, tailored to Okinawa’s unique climate, terrain, and people.
Beloved as a local beer
Orion Beer, beloved as the beer of the people of Okinawa and boasting the largest market share in the prefecture. Its manufacturing plant has been located in Nago since its founding. “At the time of founding, we considered various factors such as the abundance of underground water suitable for beer production, and decided to build the plant in Nago. In Nago, Orion Beer has been cherished as ‘the local beer’ for generations,” says Mr. Taruoka. The Nago Plant is now a popular tourist spot, offering tours of part of the production line through the “Orion Happy Pack” program.
The History of Orion Beer
Orion Beer was founded in 1957. Amid the post-war stagnation under U.S. occupation in Okinawa, Gushiken Sosei, a politician and businessman, decided to challenge the notion that beer production was impossible in a subtropical climate, aiming to show the island’s youth that “if you try, you can achieve anything.” The company was originally named “Okinawa Beer Co., Ltd.” After spending one and a half years introducing refrigeration and cooling equipment essential for beer brewing in the tropics, and bringing in brewing technicians from Tokyo University of Agriculture, the beer was finally produced. In November 1957, a public contest was held in newspapers with a prize for the best name, and from the 2,500 entries received, “Orion Beer” was chosen. Orion Beer was launched nationwide in May 1959. That same year, the company name was changed to “Orion Beer Co., Ltd.”
The Birth of Draft Beer
At the time, beer in Okinawa was primarily consumed in restaurants and bars, not at home. Bottled beer and draft beer were the norm. In 1960, draft beer (freshly brewed beer) was introduced, emphasizing the freshness of “beer brewed locally and delivered fresh to the store.” This concept quickly gained popularity among residents. When canned beer was launched in 1973, the company remained committed to using draft beer, leading to the creation of the “Draft” brand name. “Fresh beer is beer that has not undergone heat treatment. By avoiding heat treatment, the subtle aromas of hops and malt are preserved, resulting in a fresh, crisp, and light taste,” explains Taruoka. Even today, all the beer produced by Orion Beer is unpasteurized fresh beer.
“Refreshing” drinkability is a tradition
Regarding the characteristics of Orion Beer, Mr. Taruoka says, “While our beers are diverse, we place great importance on the ‘refreshing’ sensation that Okinawans feel when drinking them. The smoothness that makes people want to drink another one after another at a beach party is the tradition of Orion Beer.” At the time of its founding, Okinawa was flooded with American beers like Budweiser and Miller, which had a mild bitterness and a crisp aftertaste. One of the reasons the original beer struggled to sell may have been its strong bitterness, which was modeled after German beer. It’s likely that the crisp flavor and refreshing finish, which suit Okinawa’s climate and lifestyle, are why “Orion The Draft,” born in 1960, has remained so beloved for so long.
Yanbaru water-based brewing
Water has a significant impact on the taste of beer. Orion Beer uses water sourced from a dam surrounded by the Yanbaru Forest for its brewing process. While the water on Okinawa Island, which has many limestone layers, is often hard water, the water in Yanbaru is closer to soft water. “We refer to this process as ‘refining the water.’ After filtering the sourced water, we subject it to sensory testing, where we use our five senses—sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch—to assess its quality. This ensures that the water we use for brewing is of the highest quality, with no taste or odor, perfectly suited for beer production,” explains Taruoka.
Commitment to the manufacturing process
The main ingredients of Orion The Draft are malt and hops. Malt is mashed in a mash tun to produce wort, which is then filtered using the husks of the malt to remove any residue from the mashing process, resulting in “clear wort.” The hops added during the boiling stage are carefully adjusted in terms of quantity and timing to impart the ideal bitterness and aroma. The mixture is then fermented and aged in tanks with beer yeast, allowing the natural carbonation from fermentation to remain, resulting in a fine, crisp foam. This process gives “Orion The Draft” its unique smoothness and pleasant aftertaste.
A new challenge in beer
Currently, Orion Beer has about eight standard products. Including limited-edition products, the company manufactures about 15 products annually, including sparkling beer and non-alcoholic beverages. “It is true that beer consumption among younger generations is gradually declining in Okinawa. With an increasing number of people who do not prefer alcohol, we must make efforts to increase opportunities for people to experience the taste of beer by offering non-alcoholic and low-alcohol products,” says Taruoka.
Regarding beer production, since the Tax on Alcoholic Beverages Act was revised in 2018, the range of permissible secondary ingredients has expanded, allowing beers with strong bitterness and aroma that were previously unacceptable to be produced. “The possibilities have broadened,” he explains. Let’s take a look at some of the products currently sold by Orion Beer.
Orion The Premium
Released in 2022, “Orion The Premium” is a high-value-added line true to its name and has become a hit product following “Orion The Draft.” It is made using a new beer yeast, “Okinawa Yeast OB-001,” derived from over 3,000 samples of plants native to Okinawa. It features a smooth finish, deep richness, mild bitterness, and a fragrant aroma reminiscent of sake or wine.
75BEER Series
Inspired by the birthplace of Orion Beer, Nago, comes the craft beer “75BEER (Nago Beer).” In collaboration with the Nago Crossroads Shopping District Association, the “75BEER PROJECT” was launched to create a Nago-exclusive beer. The craft lager features the aroma of Okinawan shikuwasa (a type of citrus fruit) and a copper-red color evoking the sunset over Nago Bay.
In October 2018, a test sale was conducted exclusively within Nago City, and all 23,000 bottles sold out in just four days. As a result, it was released in December 2019 as Orion’s first premium craft beer.
Orion Teeda Red, Orion Coral Blue
The “Orion Tida Red” and “Orion Coral Blue,” limited-edition color beers (sparkling beer) using natural pigments, were released in spring 2024. “Orion Tida Red” is colored red with hibiscus extract, evoking the summer sun of Okinawa, while ‘Orion Coral Blue’ is colored blue with butterfly pea extract, inspired by the seas of Okinawa. When poured into a glass and blended together, the two beers create a purple color, offering a unique drinking experience.
Toward the future of Okinawan beer
“This year has been a year of challenges for us, with the launch of our first craft beer created in collaboration with the local shopping district, and a colored beer inspired by the idea of ‘breaking the stereotype that beer must be golden.’ Going forward, we aim to continue proposing diverse ways to enjoy beer that celebrate each beer’s unique character,” said Taruoka.
In parallel with new product development, since 2022, the company has been producing small-batch craft beer using a miniature brewing facility that is approximately 1/100th the size of its regular production equipment, and this initiative has been well received. Incidentally, this craft beer is available at Orion Beer’s own hotel.
Additionally, through foreign tourists visiting Okinawa, the company is expanding its fan base overseas, currently exporting products to 16 countries and regions worldwide, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, the United States, Australia, and Brazil.
Orion Beer continues to uphold the traditions it has built up over the years while also keeping an eye on the next generation, who are said to be increasingly turning away from beer, and on new markets around the world. The company will continue to challenge the possibilities of “Made in Okinawa” beer with its characteristic open-minded ideas, true to the spirit of the tropical island of Okinawa.
